The 18,000-square-meter production area was full of life – even though it was a weekend – as all 176 employees were there, with the visitors looking over their shoulders as they worked in the century-old, recently renovated factory buildings. The visitors were fascinated to see the traditional artisanry that goes into piano-making here, where many of the high-precision steps in the manufacturing process are still carried out by hand. Another major attraction was the newly equipped machine hall with its ultra-modern CNC machines, state-of-the-art processing technology unmatched throughout the piano-making sector.
At the Seifhennersdorf manufactory, C. Bechstein invests in the next generation of piano makers as well, with currently twenty-four apprentices being trained in the craft. However, as playing a role in the making of a piano doesn’t necessary mean you can also play the instrument, visitors were surprised and charmed as all of the apprentices played the uprights and concert grand pianos that were set up in the courtyard of the manufactory.
C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik AG, established 1853 in Berlin, has been running a production site in Saxony since 1992 and enjoys an excellent international reputation as a cutting-edge manufacturer of upright and grand pianos. Thus it was no surprise that the open day brought visitors not only from the surrounding area, but also from as far away as Leipzig, Brunswick, Hamburg and Stuttgart.
