Kocherwerk - House of fastening technology
Opening of the "Kocherwerk" on 18 June 2021
The new "Kocherwerk - House of Fastening Technology" experience in Forchtenberg/Ernsbach has been open to visitors since 18 June 2021. The museum project has found its home in the building complex around the historic red mill in the district of Ernsbach, which has been renovated in line with its listed status. The museum is run by the non-profit organisation "Förderer des Schrauben- und Befestigungsclusters Hohenlohe e.V.".
Information on the project
A permanent exhibition on 400 square metres with free admission shows the region's economic history in the area of screws and fasteners - from the beginnings of industrialisation to the present day. "The Kocher river is the cornerstone of industry in Hohenlohe," explains association chairman Dirk Döllner from Arnold Umformtechnik GmbH & Co KG. "Thanks to the river, many companies have set up subsidiaries in this valley to work with the help of hydropower and use the river as a transport route." Without the Kocher, the first screws would not have been produced here, from which a regional fastening industry cluster with around 30 companies and over 10,000 employees has developed today. "And as we all know, the term plant stands for a manufacturing company, a company, but also for the result of creative work." With an investment volume of EUR 2.5 million, funded by the Würth Group, the historical substance was transported into the present day. Architects and exhibition designers from SPACE4 in Stuttgart played a key role in the project, planning the renovation of the partially listed building and developing the museum concept.
About the concept
"Exhibits and documents from the company's history, digital access and technology that you can touch and try out will guide young and old through the history of the industrial sector in the interactive exhibition," says Maria Würth, member of the association's board, explaining the museum concept. It envisages that the Kocherwerk will also become an information centre on the subject of training, a learning platform for school pupils and a social meeting place with various event formats. The bistro with its terrace overlooking the river invites visitors to linger.
About the foundation
The historic mill in Ernsbach was first mentioned in a document in 1378. From 1898, it was home to the screw and hardware factory of L. & C. Arnold and is considered the cradle of the fastening industry in the Hohenlohe region. The association "Förderer des Schrauben- und Befestigungsclusters Hohenlohe e.V." was founded on 3 September 2018 on the initiative of Prof. Dr. h.c. mult. Reinhold Würth into being. In June 2021, the association already comprised 19 companies from the region, including REISSER Schraubentechnik.
Notes on visiting the exhibition
A visit to the exhibition at the "Kocherwerk - Haus der Verbindungstechnik" in Forchtenberg/Ernsbach is possible by booking an appointment in advance via the homepage. You will then receive a confirmation e-mail authorising you to visit the museum. The existing legal rules also apply here, the current rules can be found on our homepage. It is still mandatory to wear an FFP2 mask or a medical mask. The distance and hygiene rules continue to apply and there is still an obligation to collect data using a form or digitally.
Opening hours: Wednesday - Sunday 11 am to 5 pm, telephone: 07947 9430 755, e-mail: info@kocherwerk.de
Further information at www.kocherwerk.de
