High quality and with a low ecological footprint

Many credits and certificates for hinge supplier

Breuer & Schmitz has been the address for quality hinges for commercial and residential construction for 140 years. From ball bearing hinges to plain bearing hinges, ball pin hinges and heavy project hinges, equipped with all required approval marks and available in a wide range of finishes such as galvanized, stainless steel, old bronze, matte brass and bright brass. 

Besides the popular black powder coated hinges, BSW can coat the hinges in various other RAL colors on request. Extensive customization is also possible, whereby customers can rely on comprehensive service, fast delivery as well as sustainable and environmentally conscious production.

The BSW Portus hinge is available in a variety of designs and finishes.

More and more companies in the construction chain are paying attention to sustainability and environmentally conscious production. Breuer & Schmitz has been fully and highly committed to this for years. For example, as early as 2016 and as the first and only hinge manufacturer in the world, it had a large part of its product range certified according to the Cradle to Cradle level bronze. Last December, it even achieved silver certification. For example, for the Topforce 804 and Allround 818, but also for the project hinges
and frame structures. 

"A great reward for our long-standing commitment to cleaner, circular and healthy building materials," says Gijs-Bert Drost, account manager for the Netherlands. 

"As a family business, we would like to leave a beautiful and healthy earth for our children. This is why we handle our materials, production and people as sustainably as possible. Environmentally-conscious production processes, the use of healthy, recyclable materials, an efficient water supply and the application of clean energy are important pillars for doing business in an environmentally-conscious manner. Dust-free work and further automation are also part of this process. Fully automated punching and laser cutting techniques and high-quality dies guarantee consistently high quality, minimizing waste due to error production. In addition, we are working to eliminate as much plastic as possible from our packaging. As a company, we are very aware of our responsibility for the environment, climate and society. We believe in European products and short supply lines. This not only generates logistical gains, but also reduces our footprint. That is what we are all about."

New and sustainable new construction

An important role in the growth toward Cradle to Cradle level silver is played by Breuer & Schmitz's new and highly sustainable company building in Solingen, which was inaugurated in May 2022. More than 4,000 m² of solar panels have been installed on the roof of the new building, enabling almost energy-neutral production. 

"Heat pumps provide all-electric heating, cooling and domestic hot water preparation, while appropriate plants, trees and wildflowers encourage biodiversity in the area," Drost says. With the new premises, Breuer & Schmitz is better prepared for the future. "The routing is fully optimized and tailored to the demands of our time. Lower noise requirements also enable 24/7 production in shifts, making us even more flexible."

Supplier of the Year 2023

On June 1, during the relationship day of purchasing organization Zevij-Necomij, Breuer & Schmitz received the Supplier of the Year 2023 award. For example, because it has been responding flexibly and quickly to customer requests and market developments since 1883. A good example of this is the new and 4 mm thick Portus hinge, with which Breuer & Schmitz responds to the trend of heavy, wide and thickened doors. For example, in double garage doors. Breuer & Schmitz is also coming out with a new model HiDe-3D blind hinge. 

"Our well-known HiDe-3D hinge 130-70 hinge will be upgraded to a HiDe-3D hinge 130-80 with an even better deflection around the frame and simple 3D adjustability. In combination with a higher load capacity of 80 kilos, we will soon offer the solution for the Dutch market, where doors are often assembled with recesses."

Certifire certification 

A nice development that Drost concludes by explaining is the Certifire certification from Warringtonfire Ltd for the hinges with plastic plain bearings. "Plastic simply reacts differently to heating than steel. This is why we had our hinges tested individually for fire resistance. Both in wood/wood, wood/steel and steel/steel. With an EW 120 for wood/wood and an EW 240 for wood/steel, architects, contractors and building owners are now assured of optimum fire resistance, meeting both European and British requirements."