And isn't that what childhood is all about? A world of creativity and imagination! The fagus workshops are known beyond the German borders for their iconic beech-coloured natural wooden vehicles with red rims and black tyres. “We also offer marble runs and small, colourful vehicles for children from the age of one. Recently, we have also added high-quality craft materials to our range,” adds Schülingkamp. The toys are manufactured without screws, staples or nails, but are dowelled, glued and dovetailed in the traditional way. “On the one hand, this is a very time-consuming 24
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Issue 11 3
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January 2024
process,” explains the sales manager, “but on the other hand, it is what makes our toys special and has been appreciated by our customers for years.” Another feature is the longevity of the wooden toys, as Schülingkamp confirms. “fagus toys are often handed down from generation to generation. We stock spare parts and offer a repair service for damaged toys. Sometimes we repair wooden vehicles that have been played with by several generations for more than 40 years. This, for us, is practised sustainability!” In the fagus workshops, the focus is not only on the products, but also on the people who make them. “The fagus brand stands for a range of meaningful jobs for people with disabilities,” explains Schülingkamp. “We currently employ around 800 people with physical, mental and psychological disabilities. The employees here have the opportunity to develop personally through manual work and to become an important part of a
Things remain colourful and productive in the fagus workshops, as Schülingkamp reveals. “We will be presenting five new models at the upcoming Nuremberg International Toy Fair - three revised classics and two new designs. But we're not revealing exactly what they will be just yet.” www.fagus-holzspielwaren.de/en
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“Wooden toys stimulate children's imagination and turn them into explorers," says Detlef Schülingkamp, head of sales at Rhede-based toy manufacturer fagus. "We have noticed that children who play exclusively with natural wooden toys quickly immerse themselves in a colourful fantasy world and become incredibly creative.”
productive community. The people and their achievements are valued and they have their own income. This is an aspect that should not be neglected, especially in the light of current discussions about an equal society.”
TEXT: SILKE HENKELE
Carelessly manufactured toys can often rob children of the pleasure of play. Not so with the lovingly handcrafted wooden toys from the fagus workshops. Their products are not only the product of skilled hands, but also of great commitment.
PHOTOS: CARITASVERBAND FÜR DAS DEKANAT BOCHOLT E.V. BÜNGERN-TECHNIK
WOODEN TOYS FROM FAGUS: EXCITING WORLDS FOR YOUNG EXPLORERS