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Partners since 1988 – with a focus on quality, service and new drive solutions

Personal exchange instead of mandatory portals, rapid support when problems arise, and solutions tailored to real-world requirements: this was the focus when field sales representative Norbert Kaufmes and Head of Marketing Dominik Herr visited Becker customer Wismar Markisen GmbH in Heddesheim. In the discussion, Heinz Rebscher (co-founder) and Andreas Rebscher (Managing Director, Wismar Sonnenschutz) provided insights into the company’s development, current market requirements and their cooperation with Becker.

Family-owned company with a clear focus – and an expanded portfolio
Co-founder Heinz Rebscher has been active at Wismar since January 1, 1988. Over the years, two additional companies have been established alongside the original business: Wismar Sonnenschutz and Wismar NFI Vertriebs GmbH. The core business, however, remains the production of awnings and outdoor sun shading products.

Through Wismar NFI Vertriebs GmbH, the company also markets a range of “around the home” products: conservatories, aluminium garden houses, bioclimatic louvred roofs, as well as other modern aluminium building elements such as windows, shutters, and interior and front doors.

Wismar Sonnenschutz, in turn, focuses on interior sun shading such as roller blinds, pleated blinds and vertical blinds – exterior and venetian blind solutions are also part of the portfolio. Having been with the company for 17 years, Andreas Rebscher is primarily responsible for production and purchasing and is Managing Director of Wismar Sonnenschutz. His brother, Alexander Rebscher, is responsible for financial accounting and HR.

Today, Wismar operates at three locations: the main site in Heddesheim with production and a sewing department, a second sewing facility in Wald-Michelbach headed by Christiane Rebscher, and warehouse facilities in Weinheim. In total, the company employs around 50 people on a seasonal basis.

Partnership with Becker since 1988: “Straightforward, accessible, solution-oriented”

The collaboration with Becker has also been in place since 1988. For Wismar, in addition to product quality, reliability in day-to-day business is crucial: short lines of communication, direct contacts and support when it really matters. A key role is played by the long-standing relationship with field sales representative Norbert Kaufmes, who has been Wismar’s dedicated contact person for many years.

“You’re always buying from a person first and foremost,” emphasizes Heinz Rebscher. “Norbert Kaufmes is close to what’s going on, he takes care of things, he’s easy to reach – and if something doesn’t work, he’s the one who takes charge of it. He often answers the phone himself – and if not, he reliably calls back.”

This reliability and easy, straightforward way of working together are, for Wismar, an important differentiator in the market: orders and clarifications are handled without unnecessary obstacles, and when issues do arise, the connection to the right contacts works smoothly – “no matter who you call: you get support and a solution,” as the conversation concludes.

Becker products and applications in use – new drive generation developed from market demands

When it comes to sun shading applications, Wismar relies on Becker solutions and particularly highlights the new E33/C33 PLUS drive generations. These drive series were developed based on specific market and real-world requirements: manufacturers and specialist companies need a solution that combines safety and ease of use – even under increasing price and competitive pressure.

E33/C33 PLUS are sun shading drives designed specifically for awning systems with an emergency manual override. This means: if the power fails, the awning can still be operated manually using a crank and safely retracted – so the system remains functional even without an electrical power supply and can, for example, be closed to protect it in the event of sudden weather changes. The drive then automatically re-establishes its limit positions, ensuring the awning continues to operate safely.

Market requirements: pergola trend, price pressure and major change

From Wismar’s perspective, the market is undergoing noticeable change: classic folding-arm awnings have slightly declined in recent years, while ZIP systems are becoming increasingly important. Conservatory awnings remain relatively stable, and pergola awnings are on the rise. At the same time, pressure is mounting from standardized low-cost imports that are highly visible in retail – often featuring extensive equipment (lighting, radio control, app operation) at aggressive prices.

On top of this comes an environment in which topics such as digitalization, AI developments, advertising and marketing costs, and the situation in the construction industry all have a dynamic impact. Wismar is therefore deliberately focusing on adaptability: continuously developing its portfolio, staying close to customers – and in terms of market cultivation, choosing to “act rather than merely react.”

Product innovations at Wismar: evolution rather than “revolution at any price”

On the product side, cassette awnings have been further developed in recent years, including, for example, the X-Compact. In addition, Wismar is working on complementary solutions such as side panels and flexible shading options.

Customer proximity as a core principle

In conclusion, Heinz and Andreas Rebscher emphasize their own guiding principle: staying modern without abandoning what has proven itself. “With us, customers can still call and speak to us directly – we don’t want to replace communication with rigid processes.” The company aims to provide support wherever partnerships are meant to grow in a sustainable, future-oriented way.

Wismar highlight: exclusive fabric collection

With a clear focus on design and individuality, Wismar also sets accents when it comes to fabrics: a designer has created an exclusive fabric line available only from Wismar. In total, customers can choose from around 250 different fabrics – for tailor-made solutions that visibly combine function and design.