15 May Cooperation MEDTRON AG and Saarpfalz-Werkstatt für Angepasste Arbeit (SWA)
Partnership with Heart and Responsibility – Medical Technology Meets Social Inclusion.
When you enter the cleanroom of the Saarpfalz-Werkstatt für Angepasste Arbeit (SWA) in Homburg, you see focused faces behind white coats and caps. Amidst the friendly working atmosphere sits Nadine, calmly and skillfully assembling two plastic parts into a component of Medtron’s new ELS 200 syringe. Soft music plays quietly in the background as Nadine proudly looks over to her team leader, L. Vogel: “I think it’s great that we’re making something that will later be used by doctors and patients.”
For Nadine and her colleagues, this work is more than just a routine task – it’s a job with responsibility and meaning.
Since December 2024, MEDTRON AG has been collaborating with SWA – a partnership that not only supports manufacturing but also demonstrates a strong commitment to social responsibility in action.
SWA gGmbH has been in existence since 2004. At its facilities in Blieskastel and Homburg, around 270 people with a wide range of intellectual and physical disabilities live and work. Many of them are directly involved in value-creating activities. Those who are unable to participate in the work areas are cared for in an adjacent day center offering a pleasant, homelike environment – where creative activities such as painting, crafting, cooking, or baking are part of the daily routine.
A team of 90 full-time, highly dedicated staff members ensures the well-being and personal development of everyone on-site.
What makes SWA truly special is its calm, respectful, and empathetic atmosphere – each individual is supported and engaged according to their own abilities and interests.
An important pillar of SWA is the Vocational Education and Training Department (Berufsbildungsbereich BBB), which enables people with disabilities to receive professional training. The goal is to prepare participants either for employment within the workshop or – if suitable – for integration into the mainstream labor market.
A true highlight of SWA is its cleanroom, which has been in operation since 2019. Currently, 24 employees with disabilities work here, supported by two team leaders, one team assistant, and two production aides. The cleanroom is part of a diverse range of work areas that also includes a kitchen with cafeteria, a gardening and landscaping team, a laundry service, and various assembly departments serving well-known industrial clients.
Since the end of 2024, the cleanroom teams at SWA have taken on a highly responsible task for MEDTRON: they assemble key components of the new ELS 200 syringe. Around 30,000 parts are produced each month – with the exact same quality standards that MEDTRON ensures in its own cleanroom production.
Assembly takes place along a kind of production line, or at two large workstations. Some components of the blue, cone-shaped plunger are pre-processed using specially developed equipment before being combined with the remaining parts. Currently, these machines are operated by production assistants, but in the medium term, employees with disabilities are also to be gradually introduced to this step of the process.
Working in the cleanroom is a special experience for the employees at SWA: the bright, friendly environment, a constant temperature of 22 degrees Celsius, and soft music from the radio create a pleasant working atmosphere. Team leaders are always present to support the team, offer guidance, and ensure that the level of professionalism matches that of the general labor market. In case of staff shortages, they step in themselves – though this is rarely necessary. “Our employees really value this work,” says team leader M. Dorscheid. “They find the cleanroom environment both enjoyable and varied.”
Florian Bilz, Technical Director at MEDTRON, is enthusiastic: “This cooperation stands not only for top manufacturing quality but also for true inclusion. We are very grateful for SWA’s support and the valuable work being done there.”
SWA sees itself as a partner at eye level. Frank Fuchs, the facility’s director, emphasizes: “We treat our employees with respect and empathy. Our goal is to support each person individually and to provide them with the opportunity to fully develop their abilities.”
In addition to their work, SWA offers employees a variety of leisure activities to balance their workload – including weekly sports groups, a choir, relaxation techniques, and other activities that enhance quality of life and promote a strong sense of community.
MEDTRON’s new ELS 200 syringe – a product that unites innovation and social commitment – will be launched in the second quarter of 2025.