Memorable moments for the family album of 125 years

All 1,700 guests in the decorated warehouse are gazing up at the summer sky. It was time for Werner Schmidt-Weiss, the managing director, to fall from the sky. He is celebrating his 50th birthday with employees, neighbours and friends. One of the highlights is his first tandem skydive. But there were even more reasons to celebrate: the 60th anniversary of the Crailsheim plant, the 25th anniversary of Fritz Schmidt, Werner's brother, and the anniversaries of several other long-serving employees. Later, there will be dance performances, a tug-of-war between departmental teams and a wheelbarrow race between departmental managers. The summer festival in Crailsheim is a day of family celebration. It is a day when the emphasis is on spending time together, a day that brings the Weissianers even closer together. And so the festival became the first in a whole series of – there is no other way to describe it – legendary LEONHARD WEISS summer festivals in Crailsheim, and later in Satteldorf and Göppingen. 

In 1992, the Wildecker Herzbuben played, and helicopter flights and hot-air balloon rides could be won. In the anniversary year of 2000, an entire amusement park was built in the style of the turn of the century – with a merry-go-round, historical games and attractions. In 2006, the Weissianers danced with the Zillertalers and in 2008, the crowd went wild when Bata Illic performed. In 2014, the spectators marvelled at a spectacular ballet with excavators, pyrotechnics and music, and in '17, the company broke all records with more than 6,300 visitors and a packed party tent. Alongside the traditional celebrations at the annual joint staff meetings, the summer parties are unforgettable moments – all of them immortalised in the hearts and in the LEONHARD WEISS family photo album

Where normally only machines and materials are stored, there is a crowd on this day. Around 5,000 visitors stroll around the company premises, watching the foundation engineering department dig deep holes with the large rotary drilling rig and the track construction department lay rails professionally. Children work on mini building sites and young people find out about training opportunities. On the open day, the construction company plays host – anyone who wants to can come and see and be amazed. 

Of course, there are also official celebrations to mark major anniversaries, with invited guests from business and politics. In 1990, Ulrich Weiss honoured his father Walter Weiss for 45 years of service to the company. In 2000, Minister President Erwin Teufel held the keynote speech at the company's 100th birthday party and awarded Werner Schmidt-Weiss the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. The family business uses these milestone anniversaries to commemorate its history and keep its values alive. In 2010, on the occasion of the 110th anniversary, Stefan Schmidt-Weiss, Ralf Schmidt and Alexander Weiss still talk about their great-grandfather Leonhard Weiß, his courage and his joy of creation, which still characterise the company today

A special year lies ahead for LEONHARD WEISS. Preparations for the 125th anniversary in Satteldorf have been underway not just for weeks or months, but for years. Historical documents have been secured and events planned. A splendid summer festival with countless attractions is intended as a very personal thank-you from the shareholder families to all employees, to the large LW family. As always, a lavish finale will crown the day for all guests. The rest will remain a surprise. What is certain is that there will be plenty of moments for the family album.