Thomas Bader, owner and Managing Director of Leipfinger Bader Ziegelwerke, Vatersdorf

The customer is the driving force for our development

Photo/Foto: Leipfinger Bader

»1 The Vatersdorf site – Leipfinger Bader’s headquarters

Photo/Foto: Leipfinger Bader

Photo/Foto: Jens Maurus

»2 Thomas Bader and Zi-Editor Anett Fischer opening the student field trip 2016 at the Vatersdorf plant of Leipfinger Bader Ziegelwerke KG

Photo/Foto: Jens Maurus

Photo/Foto: Anett Fischer

»3 Innovation and investment are the guiding principles in the company for company owner Thomas Bader

Photo/Foto: Anett Fischer

»4 In 2016, the company invested in a new tunnel kiln with Lingl’s PoroControl system

Photo/Foto: Anett Fischer

»5 The Managing Director at Leipfinger Bader Ziegelwerke with two of its star clay brick products – Coriso and Silvacor

Photo/Foto: Anett Fischer

Photos/Fotos: Leipfinger Bader

»6 Clay blocks from Leipfinger Bader can be laid quickly and easily with the mortar pad

Photos/Fotos: Leipfinger Bader

1871Johann Bchner (1845–1896) baut den ersten Ziegelbrennofen. Kastulus Leipfinger (1892–1978) heiratet Johann Buchers Tochter Katharina. Sie übernehmen den Betrieb, der unter Kastulus Leipfinger geführt wird. Aus der Ehe geht eine Tochter, Katharina Leipfinger, hervor.1940Im Jahr 1938 heiraten Franz Bader und Katharina Leipfinger. Zwei Jahre später werden die Namens- und Besitzverhältnisse angepasst. Das Familienunternehmen trägt nun den Firmennamen Leipfinger Bader1963Durch die Industrialisierung und stetig wachsende Nachfrage entwickelt sich die Ziegelproduktion kontinuierlich. Kastulus Bader tritt in das elterliche Unternehmen ein. 1974Massive Modernisierungsarbeiten: Mit der Investition in die vollautomatische Setzanlage im Jahre 1973 kann die Produktion auf 35 Mio. NF/Jahr gesteigert werden – eine Verdopplung der Kapazität. Gleichzeitig wird der Ofen optimiert, um die Ziegelqualität weiter zu verbessern. 1983Das traditionsreiche Ziegelwerk in Puttenhausen wird übernommen. Puttenhausen verfügt über eigene Tongruben und eine sichere Rohstoffversorgung. 1993Das Firmengelände in Vatersdorf wird nach ökologischen Standards umgestaltet.1997Inbetriebnahme einer der modernsten Fertigungs-anlagen für Planziegel in ….. Zertifizierung des Unternehmens in den Bereichen Qualitäts- und Umweltmanagement, Beitritt zum Umweltpakt Bayern.2003Die beiden Ziegelwerke erreichen eine Gesamtkapazität von 170 Mio. NF. Beschäftigt sind bereits 90 Mitarbeiter.2006Thomas Bader tritt in fünfter Generation in das Familienunternehmen ein. Inbetriebnahme der ers-ten, hochmodernen Verfüllungsanlage für Unipor Coriso-Ziegel in Puttenhausen. 2008Das Werk Puttenhausen feiert sein 25-jähriges Bestehen.2014Leipfinger Bader übernimmt die wesentlichen Vermögensgegenstände des Geschäftsbetriebes des Ziegelwerkes Schönlind der Ziegelei Merkl.2016Ein neuer Tunnelofen nimmt im Werk Vatersdorf sei-nen Betrieb auf

1871Johann Bchner (1845–1896) builds the first brick kiln. Kastulus Leipfinger (1892–1978) marries Johann Buchner‘s daughter, Katharina. They take over the company, which is managed under Kastulus Leipfinger. In this marriage, they have a daughter, Katharina Leipfinger.1940In 1938, Franz Bader and Katharina Leipfinger marry. Two years later the name and property issues are adjusted accordingly. The family-owned company now operates under the name Leipfinger Bader.1963Thanks to industrialization and steadily growing demand, clay brick production develops steadily. Kastulus Bader joins his parents’ company.1974Massive modernization work: With the investment in the fully automatic setting equipment in 1973, production is increased to 35 mill. standard size units/year – capacity is doubled. At the same time, the kiln is optimized to further improve brick quality.1983The traditional brickworks in Puttenhausen is acquired. Puttenhausen has its own clay pits and assures raw materials supply.1993The company site in Vatersdorf is redesigned to meet environmental protection standards.1997Commissioning of one of the most modern manufacturing plants for high-precision blocks in ….. Certification of the company in quality and environment management, joining of the Environmental Pact of Bavaria.2003The two brickworks achieve a total capacity of 170 mill. standard-size units. The company already employs 90 people.2006Thomas Bader is the fifth generation to join the family-run company. Commissioning of the first, ultramodern filling plant for Unipor Coriso blocks in Puttenhausen.2008The Puttenhausen plant celebrates the 25th anniversary of its existence.2014Leipfinger Bader takes over the main assets of the business operations of the Schönlind Brick Plant from the brickworks Ziegelei Merkl.2016A new tunnel kiln starts operation at the Vatersdorf plant.

Photo/Foto: Leipfinger Bader

»7 Like the Silvacor, the Coriso is supplied in wall thicknesses from 30 to 49 cm

Photo/Foto: Leipfinger Bader

»8 The Silvacor filled with wood fibres stands for innovative, sustainable building

Photo/Foto: Leipfinger Bader

For around 150 years, the family-run brick company Leipfinger Bader Ziegelwerke has produced clay masonry bricks and blocks – now in the fifth generation. Processes and products have been steadily refined and now include high-thermal-insulation clay blocks filled with insulating material. In 2016 the brickworks hosted the Zi student field trip. At this event, we spoke to Thomas Bader, owner and Managing Director of Leipfinger Bader Ziegelwerke, about his family company.

Your own career at Leipfinger Bader began in 2006. Was joining your parents’ company the obvious move for you?

When you grow up in a family company like ours, it is clear that you will join the company at some point. I studied ceramics at Höhr-Grenzhausen and having completed that course, I followed it up by studying business administration in Cologne. Then in 2006, at the age of 32, I joined my parents’ company. It is a great honour to continue operating a company with such a long tradition.

Leipfinger Bader produces at three sites, the main plant at Vatersdorf, as well as the plants at...