Porta Westfalica/Taicang, September 2025
BERNSTEIN Safe Solutions Co. Ltd. has been active in China for 20 years this year. What began in 2005 as a bold step into a new market has developed over two decades into a pillar of the BERNSTEIN Group. Today, the Taicang site stands for modern production, efficient processes, agile management and a clear commitment to industrial safety technology.
In Taicang, an economic centre near Shanghai and home to numerous German SMEs, more than 80 employees assemble switch contacts for safety doors in particular. Some employees have been with the site since it was founded – a rarity in the Chinese labour market, which is otherwise known for high turnover, and a testament to the company culture. "BERNSTEIN Safe Solutions is a good example of how we live the values of a family-owned company even across 8,000 kilometres," says board member Achim Bernstein.
Local production capacities have been continuously expanded over the past few years. The competitive Chinese market demands constant innovation and highly efficient processes – serving as a "fitness centre" for the entire group of companies. Jan Aßmann, managing director of the subsidiary in Taicang for three years, heads the site and is committed to a comprehensive digitalisation strategy. Production meets the highest industrial standards. New machines, semi-automated assembly lines and smart solutions for internal material flow are leading BERNSTEIN Safe Solutions into the digital future. Internal processes are being automated step by step. Increasingly digital production and logistics are already enabling new standards of efficiency and precision to be set within the group.
The Taicang site supplies customers in Europe and Asia with the highest level of quality. Most recently, new customer groups have been tapped beyond the traditionally strong customer segment of lifts and escalators in China. Stable sales figures in the current challenging environment show that the strategy in China is proving its worth. "Thanks to our clear vision and strategy, BERNSTEIN Safe Solutions will be able to maintain its position in the Chinese market in the future and establish itself within the BERNSTEIN Group as a location for smart manufacturing," said Aßmann.
"An anniversary like this is more than just a look back," continues Managing Director Jan Aßmann. "It is an expression of reliability, shared successes – and of the many people who have contributed to our growth over the years with their commitment. This anniversary is a good moment to pause, say thank you – and at the same time look ahead with a clear vision."
