German parliamentarian, consul general visits Duncan site

The Dräxlmaier operations in South Carolina continue to draw interest from domestic and foreign politicians alike. On Oct. 1, Harald Leibrecht, a member of the German Parliament, became the latest politician to visit the Duncan, S.C., plant to see for himself how the positive business climate in the region affects the success of international companies.

Leibrecht, who also serves as the coordinator for transatlantic cooperation in the German Foreign Office, was accompanied by his wife, Ulrike, the newly appointed consul General for the German consulate in Atlanta, Christoph Sander, and his wife, Becky, and William Lasser, a professor at Clemson University who coordinated the politician’s visit to the Greenville-Spartanburg area.

After a brief presentation, which outlined the history, competencies and products of the Dräxlmaier Group, the honored guests went on a plant tour. While learning about the different steps required in building premium interiors for cars like the BMW X3 and the Cadillac XTS, Leibrecht and his entourage also saw for themselves the technology and human skill that goes into the Dräxlmaier products.

“Mr. Leibrecht was very impressed with the high-level of technology and craftsmanship that goes into our interiors,” said Duncan plant manager Klaus-Dieter Nagel who led the visitors through the plant. “He also was very happy with that family-owned DNA that is ingrained in our company because this helps to foster loyalty and retain our workforce.”

The Dräxlmaier facility marked the first stop on Leibrecht’s two-day tour through the South Carolina Upstate, which he called “an impressive example of our strong German-American partnership.” He also described the region in general and the Greenville-Spartanburg area as a leading example of close transatlantic business relations between Germany and the USA.

“There are lots of opportunities to work together,” said Leibrecht, a member of the business-friendly, free-trade endorsing German Free Democratic Party.