The company, based in Neuenburg am Rhein, sums up its mission with a clear slogan: “The power station on your farm: energy infrastructure tailored to your needs”. Bidirex sees itself as an energy company – one that combines industrial manufacturing expertise with the development of sustainable infrastructure. For local authorities, the property sector, industry and agriculture. The fact that Rosenbauer is one of its main customers and that Bidirex manufactures fire service turntable ladders as a system supplier is part of this story. The next chapter is marked by the all-rounder: the ByTube Star 330.
In Neuenburg am Rhein, rows of steel tubes are stacked against the walls, cranes move quietly under the factory’s ceiling, and sparks scatter as lasers cut through metal. What has changed over time? Just about everything: the name on the front gate, the tools inside, and the variety of jobs now taken on.
Neuenburg am Rhein is a town along the Upper Rhine, bordered by the Black Forest and neighboring France. It’s where a company, established in 1910 under the name Schmiede Eckerlin, has grown and shifted its focus repeatedly: trailers, vehicles, and tilt bearings. Decades later, Hans Leisinger took over management. Then in 2008, Alexander Eyhorn, at 32 years old, became the new owner after returning from the U.S., where he worked as a development engineer for Daimler AG. Back then, the company was a small supplier business with ten employees and an overwhelming workload.
Just after Eyhorn took control, the financial crisis of 2009 hit—a tough challenge for the young entrepreneur and his newly acquired business. However, Alexander Eyhorn remained focused, making upgrades step by step: robotic welding systems, 3D design capabilities, SAP integration, advanced CNC tools, an optical shaft measuring device, and data collection for production. Slowly, the traditional workshop transformed into a modern industrial operation.
“When challenges arise in one area, the others provide stability. Our goal has always been to maintain a broad range of capabilities with a solid focus.”
Two brothers, one vision
In 2018, Daniel Eyhorn, the younger brother, joined the company team. His engineering background, developed in the United States, added significant value to the business. Leadership roles were divided thereafter: Alexander Eyhorn became the managing director and owner, while Daniel Eyhorn stepped into the position of Chief Technology Officer. The management team also includes Steffen Stöckle, the Team Leader for Laser Technology, who later played an essential role in the integration and ongoing operation of the ByTube Star 330. Although the company now operates on a larger scale, it remains grounded in its roots as a family business.
In 2019, the company introduced its first Bystronic tube laser, the FL 300, to the facility. The decision was driven by a major client, Rosenbauer, a globally recognized manufacturer of fire trucks, which stores tube materials for its turntable ladders at Leisinger. Rosenbauer strongly encouraged the investment in this advanced technology. This proved to be a strategic decision. The FL 300 not only secured Rosenbauer as a dedicated customer but also attracted a new wave of clients, including businesses that had not previously considered laser technology for their manufacturing needs.
The Shift: Leisinger Transitions to Bidirex
In 2022, a major milestone is reached as Alexander Eyhorn teams up with his lifelong friend, Prof. Dr. Ali Yarayan, to establish Bidirex GmbH. Their goal is to bring together expertise in industrial manufacturing and advancements in energy solutions under one organization. Shortly thereafter, Leisinger Deutschland GmbH is acquired and merged, evolving the supplier into an energy-driven company.
Today, Bidirex has a workforce of around 100 employees across two locations. Acting as a system supplier, the company manufactures over 1,000 specialized parts for fire department turntable ladders, working with Rosenbauer, a globally leading fire truck manufacturer based in Karlsruhe. In parallel, Bidirex constructs charging stations and bolted foundations for projects like the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, an internationally renowned institution for architecture and design. Their latest piece, “Doshi-Retreat,” exemplifies artistic innovation. A key strength of Bidirex is its impressive manufacturing expertise, which encompasses everything from sheet metal work and welding to electrical installations.
“The support has always been excellent—approachable and cooperative. It’s always felt like a great partnership.”
When the Bottleneck Sparks Change
Growth came with new obstacles. The FL 300—introduced in 2019, efficient but a first-generation CO₂ laser—had reached the extent of its capabilities. “The 3D cutting head was restricted to movement in one direction,” says Daniel Eyhorn. “For 3D cuts, the tube itself had to be shifted, which slowed things down and created limitations.” Meanwhile, rising demand was outpacing capacity, and some orders had to be declined.
Initially, the team considered upgrading the existing machine. However, they soon realized that replacing it would result in a production stoppage. Instead, they decided to invest in a brand-new machine that could work in parallel. “This gave us the ability to take on new orders with the advanced equipment while closing the capacity gap,” shares Daniel Eyhorn.
The ByTube Star 330: Technology for Both Realms
The ByTube Star 330 offers what the company desired: a fully adaptable 3D cutting head capable of producing precise geometries without needing constant tube repositioning. It processes tubes and open profiles from 19 to 305 millimeters entirely automatically and without requiring any setup time. Its robust 10-kilowatt fiber laser source enables it to handle thick-walled tubes and bevel cuts that were previously difficult to manage.
What sets the ByTube Star 330 apart from previous generations is the level of automation. The machine drills, threads, marks and performs chamfering – all in a single pass, without any manual intervention. Loading and unloading are fully automatic; parts up to 12.2 metres long can be sorted and prepared as finished component kits for the next stage of the process. In principle, the machine runs around the clock. Smart functions such as laser scanning, the weld seam detection camera and Quick Cut ensure that precision and speed are not mutually exclusive. The modular machine concept, with six different loading and unloading combinations, also allows for a bespoke configuration – and leaves the door open for future retrofits should requirements grow.
The FL 300 tube laser, though older, remains in use for now—working in tandem with the ByTube Star 330 and the existing Bystronic flatbed laser. Together, these three machines form a unified production line, all sourced from one manufacturer.
The impact is seen right away. A crucial customer order for 220,000 tube parts annually, which was previously handled externally, will now be processed in-house. Frames for the custom-designed loading stations are produced on the ByTube Star 330. Meanwhile, for photovoltaic projects—aluminum profiles for PV carports and structural supports for screw foundations—the production framework is already established.
“This simplifies things significantly,” says Daniel Eyhorn about the decision to partner with Bystronic. “Integration works much better when all the equipment comes from a single partner. The support has always been exceptional—friendly and collaborative.”
Sustainability: The Heart of Modern Business
Bidirex has not treated sustainability merely as a marketing talking point, but as the very core of its business model. Not far from its own premises, Bidirex built the region’s first charging park – a full-surface PV carport with a peak output of 430 kilowatts, which offers shelter from rain and sun whilst generating green electricity for electric vehicles on site. At its neighbour Logad’s premises on the Vitra site, Bidirex built Germany’s third-largest rooftop PV system for Galaxus.
The company has also founded its own energy supply subsidiary, Bidirex Energy, and already operates several sites where self-generated solar energy flows back into its own plant via a balancing group.
The next step followed in October 2024: a joint venture with Arbireo Capital AG to actively help shape the energy transition in the property sector. The focus is on rooftop PV systems, PV carports, battery storage and electric vehicle charging stations. Since November 2024, Bidirex has also expanded its range of services to include screw foundations – a sustainable alternative to conventional foundations that can be removed without leaving any residue. To this end, the company operates its own site in Cham, Bavaria.
Next on Bidirex’s agenda is the implementation of bidirectional charging technology. Charging stations for freight companies, stainless steel parts for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications, and municipal PV initiatives in agriculture highlight the company’s strategic diversity. “If one segment hits a rough patch, the others keep us steady,” says Daniel Eyhorn. “Building a varied but focused foundation has always been our aim.”
"Leaders like the Eyhorns, who commit to early investment in tube processing and steadily advance their expertise, gain access to markets that others haven’t even considered."
Bidirex GmbH
Key sectors: Charging stations for electric vehicles, solar carports equipped with battery storage, firefighting innovations, vehicle construction, tilt bearing designs, medical and pharmaceutical solutions, farming and municipal operations
Year founded: 2022 (historical roots stemming back to Eckerlin Forge in 1910; Leisinger active since the 1950s)
Number of employees: 100
Locations: Neuenburg am Rhein (primary site with two facilities), Cham (Bavaria)
