Wöhler Bohemia – Leader in the Production of Single-Purpose Automatic Machines for Paint Roller and Brush Manufacturers

Wöhler Bohemia sro was founded in Pelhřimov in the mid-1990s as a subsidiary of the German holding Wöhler, whose history dates back to 1932. Initially, it focused on the production of technical brushes and the sale of measuring and inspection instruments. Today, it has its own product portfolio and supplies automatic machines to customers all over the world.

The company is currently led by two executives – Jaroslav Markvart and Jiří Vondrák. It is Jaroslav Markvart who describes the company's current direction and outlines its plans for the future.

Could you briefly introduce your company to us?

Wöhler Bohemia was founded by my father and Mr. Wöhler in 1994. We have been operating on the Czech market for 31 years. Originally, we produced exclusively for our German parent company - mainly technical brushes and cleaning equipment.

Have there been any changes since then?

Yes, in a significant way. We have gradually built our own product portfolio and customer base, independent of the parent company. By the way, the holding also includes the company HTFilament, which produces special fibres for technical brushes. I also lead this company as a Managing Director.

What can we imagine under the term “special brush fibres”?

HTFilament is a small company with seven employees. We produce filaments that are suitable for polishing, grinding, superfinishing or deburring due to their high temperature resistance. We often mix abrasive particles into them.

Abrasive particles?

That's right. An abrasive is added to the fibres – microparticles of diamond or silicon carbide, which are so-called "baked" into the fibre. This gives them higher grinding capabilities and extends their lifespan.

Let's go back to Wöhler Bohemia. What key areas of your production would you mention?

I would divide our own production into four main areas. The most important is the production of automatic single-purpose machines, which we started in 1998. These machines are used, for example, to produce brushes, paint rollers or paintbrushes. We are able to supply equipment that processes raw material to the finished product. For example, a brush - separating the bristles, inserting them into the hole, inserting the handle. Or a paint roller - bending the wire, winding the plush, cutting, assembling. In this segment, we have no competition in the Czech Republic.

What are the other three areas?

The second area is the production of special brushes, for example for chimney sweeps, gas or air engineers, also spiral rollers for finishing sheet metal in industrial production.

The third area consists of classic metal production such as material cutting, welding and component assembly. In this segment, we cooperate most with companies that provide underground cable laying, mainly in Italy and Germany.

The fourth area is the smallest. We act as sales representatives for our parent company. We sell measuring instruments, for example for measuring pressure, air flow velocity, flue gas analysis, water hardness or inspection equipment. These products are used by chimney sweeps, heating engineers, plumbers and other craftsmen.

So, it would be very misleading to see you only as a brush manufacturer?

Absolutely! Our main domain is the development and production of single-purpose automatic machines for paint roller and brush manufacturers – and we are the only ones in the Czech Republic. We supply these machines practically all over the world.

For example, which countries do you export to?

Europe, North and South America, we are currently trying to penetrate Africa - especially the north - and in the future we have the ambition to expand to the Far East. With this in mind, we are looking for new employees across professions, from workers to designers to managers.

What should a job applicant in your company meet?

Responsibility, independence and precision are essential. We are looking for people who think about what they do, are innovative and efficient. It is not just about improving machines. We also have to be flexible in terms of price and adapt to the market.

Are you successful in filling new jobs?

Honestly, it's difficult in the industrial sector. Many people don't want to think, they prefer to "do" the assigned work and go home. That's why we established cooperation with the Jihlava Polytechnic University and, through partners, with other educational institutions (VUT and CTU). From the original 10 employees, we have grown to the current 50 to 60. However, today we feel a shortage of people across the entire company, including blue-collar professions.

Do you plan to expand the production of automatic machines in the future?

Yes, our goal is to expand this division beyond the brush industry. We want to produce automatic machines and entire lines for other industrial sectors as well. The Czech Republic is an industrial country full of skilled people and companies that have to respond to the pressure to reduce costs. Automation is a natural step. We do not want to go the automotive route, but to focus on sectors with a high proportion of manual labour. Automation and robotization – that is the direction we want to take.