From Altensteig for Altensteig: Regional Partners Hand Over New School Furniture for Friedrich-Boysen-Realschule

1 September 2026

With the symbolic handover of new school furniture, another milestone has been reached in the comprehensive refurbishment of the Friedrich-Boysen-Realschule on the Hohenberg School Campus. Representatives of the City of Altensteig, ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Altensteig GmbH, and VS Vereinigte Spezialmöbelfabriken GmbH & Co. KG officially presented the new furnishings to Principal Klaus Ramsaier.

At the start of the new school year in September, the furniture will fully equip the extensively modernized classrooms. It therefore represents an important component of the ongoing renovation project and creates optimal conditions for modern teaching and learning. As part of the refurbishment works, the school building has been fundamentally modernized and new learning, recreation, and collaboration spaces have been created.

A unique aspect of this project is its regional value chain. The new school furniture was manufactured by VS Vereinigte Spezialmöbelfabriken GmbH & Co. KG. The steel tubing used for the furniture frames was supplied by ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Altensteig GmbH, meaning it was produced directly in Altensteig. The City of Altensteig financially supported the acquisition of the new furnishings, deliberately investing in quality, sustainability, and regional partnerships.

The furniture already delivered has been specifically designed to match the school’s new pedagogical space concept. It supports flexible learning approaches in future cluster, self-learning, and collaboration areas and ensures that the spatial opportunities created by the modernized school can be utilized to their fullest potential from day one.

The story behind these new school furnishings can therefore be summarized in a single sentence: From Altensteig for Altensteig. High-quality school furniture is created from regionally produced steel and will accompany generations of students in their hometown.

For the symbolic handover, Principal Klaus Ramsaier welcomed Oliver Valha, Mayor of the City of Altensteig; Martin Jocher from ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Altensteig GmbH; and Steffen Weis, Commercial Managing Director of VS Vereinigte Spezialmöbelfabriken GmbH & Co. KG.

Steffen Weis, Commercial Managing Director, VS Vereinigte Spezialmöbelfabriken GmbH & Co. KG

"Experience your roots – broaden your horizons. As the manufacturer of the school furniture, we are proud to contribute to this motto of Friedrich-Boysen-Realschule Altensteig. While our furniture is delivered all over the world, our headquarters and production facilities are located in Tauberbischofsheim. We also source most of our raw materials regionally. The steel tubing for the chair frames even comes from Altensteig, supplied by ArcelorMittal Tubular Products. The plastic seat shells of our student chairs are also manufactured in southern Germany. This means students are literally sitting on a piece of their homeland, while broadening their horizons through learning with our support."

Oliver Valha, Mayor of the City of Altensteig

"Thanks to the renovation, we now have a state-of-the-art Hohenberg School. The fact that we can rely on the craftsmanship and quality of local companies such as ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Altensteig GmbH for its furnishings highlights the strength of our local economy. We are proud of that."

Klaus Ramsaier, Principal of Friedrich-Boysen-Realschule

"At the start of the new school year, we will not simply be moving into a renovated school building. We are creating a new learning culture. The new furniture is a key element of our pedagogical cluster concept and supports flexible learning formats, independent work, and close guidance of our students. Step by step, we are creating a learning environment that meets the demands of modern education."

Martin Jocher, ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Altensteig GmbH

"This project demonstrates how regional value creation directly benefits the local community. The steel tubing for the new school furniture comes from our plant in Altensteig and will be used by students every day. As a company and as part of this region, we are especially proud of that."

With the delivery and symbolic handover of the new school furniture, another important milestone in the comprehensive refurbishment project has been achieved. In time for the start of the new school year, the modernized classrooms will be fully equipped and provide students with excellent conditions for successful learning. The project serves as an exemplary demonstration of how municipalities, schools, and regional businesses can work together to strengthen educational infrastructure. “From Altensteig for Altensteig” is far more than a slogan; it represents a living regional partnership whose results will be visible in classrooms every day.