Schimmel 作為德國最具代表性的鋼琴製造商之一，自二十世紀以來一直以創新精神與精湛工藝聞名。近年來，隨著全球市場的變化與企業結構的調整，Schimmel 在保持德國傳統製琴核心價值的同時，積極推動現代化改革與國際化布局。以下將從生產與所有權、產品創新、全球策略以及當代理念四個層面，概述其最新發展。
生產與所有權
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德國製造：Konzert 與 Classic 系列仍於德國布倫瑞克（Braunschweig）生產，並獲得德國鋼琴協會（BVK）「德國製造」認證。
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波蘭工廠：部分中階型號於波蘭卡利什（Kalisz）生產，並由 Schimmel 全程監督。
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Fridolin Schimmel 系列：自 2016 年加入中國珠江鋼琴集團後，入門級 Fridolin 系列於廣州工廠生產，藉此拓展全球市場，同時保持高階系列在德國製造 。
產品創新
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Konzert 系列更新（2020 年代）：
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Schimmel 對旗艦 Konzert 系列三角鋼琴進行全面改良。
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所有型號（K175、K195、K219、K230、K256、K280）均配備 音樂會級擊弦機構，不再因尺寸而有所差異。
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外觀設計與弦列比例經重新設計，使小型三角鋼琴亦能展現大型樂器的音色深度與控制力。
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改良包括更高等級的音響板與琴橋，並投入更多時間於 音色調整與精修 。
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「三部曲概念」退場：過去多個型號共用同一擊弦機構的設計已被淘汰，如今每一型號皆配備完整的音樂會級機構，全面提升演奏表現。
全球策略定位
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四大產品系列：
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Konzert —— 頂級系列，德國製造，音樂會級水準。
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Classic —— 多功能系列，德國製造，適合專業與進階演奏者。
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Wilhelm Schimmel —— 「歐洲製造」，於波蘭生產，面向學生與音樂機構。
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Fridolin Schimmel —— 入門系列，中國製造，德國設計監督。
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榮譽與肯定：Schimmel 仍是 獲獎最多的德國鋼琴品牌，累積超過四十項國際設計與音色大獎 。
當代理念
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傳統與現代的平衡：Schimmel 強調德國傳統手工藝，並結合現代工程技術。
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多層次市場：透過德國、波蘭與中國的分級生產，提供不同價位選擇，同時維持高端品牌形象。
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全球拓展：在珠江鋼琴集團的支持下，Schimmel 擴大了亞洲市場的分銷網絡，但仍以布倫瑞克工坊作為創新核心。
Schimmel 近年的發展重點在於 Konzert 系列的現代化升級、全球化的生產策略，以及 德國工藝核心的堅守。如今，Schimmel 已成為一個多層次的鋼琴製造商，從入門級 Fridolin 到世界級 Konzert 系列，皆展現其傳統與創新的融合。
Reference:
Wikipedia – Wilhelm Schimmel
Piano Buyer – Schimmel’s Updated Konzert Series Grand Pianos
Pianos made by: Wilhelm Schimmel Pianofortefabrik GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany (Schimmel)
and Kalisz, Poland (Wilhelm Schimmel)
Website: www.schimmel-piano.de
The Schimmel Piano Co. was established in 1885 by Wilhelm Schimmel in Neuschonefeld (near Leipzig),
Germany.
The company built high quality upright, grand and player pianos, and with quick growth, a larger factory was built in 1897 in Leipzig-Stoetteritz. Wilhelm retired in 1927, and his son became president of the firm, while is brother managed the retail store in Leipzig. In the late 1920s due to the Great Depression, a group of piano manufacturers formed a co-op and production facilities moved to Braunschweig, Germany.
The Schimmel Piano Co. left the co-op in 1931 and continued operations in Braunschweig as the Wilhelm Schimmel Pianofortefabrik GmbH. In 1961 Nikolas Wilhelm Schimmel, the third generation member of the company, took control, and acquired the May Pianofortefabrik of Berlin by 1967. Nikolas Wilhelm Schimmel was known as a true innovator, crafting many different designs and art case pianos of the highest quality.
By 1980 their modern production facilities were completed, with new woodworking facilities specializing in cabinet parts and wooden components for piano and furniture industries added by the late 1990s. Nikolas Wilhelm Schimmel retired in 2003, and Hannes Schimmel-Vogel (husband of Viola Schimmel) became president, now representing the fourth generation of family management and ownership. In 2003 the company acquired a piano restoration factory in Kalisz, Poland where it started to manufacture the Vogel brand, a moderately priced line named after the president of the company. This line was then replaced by the Wilhelm Schimmel brand in 2013. Some pianos bearing the name Meyer were exported to the USA until supply of those instruments were exhausted. In 2007, Schimmel began importing an entry-level piano series made in China under the May Berlin label, a name long owned by Schimmel but not recently used. May Berlin pianos were discontinued by the end of 2012.
Schimmel had primarily served the US market. Two thirds of its sales were lost because of the recession in 2009. This forced the firm to declare bankruptcy at the end of July.
In 2014, Schimmel selected Young Chang North America to manufacture the Fridolin piano (named after Fridolin Schimmel, younger brother of founder, Wilhelm Schimmel) exclusively for Schimmel dealers, replacing the price point of the previous May Berlin model. Schimmel has been a pioneer of piano manufacturing in Europe, now using state-of-the-art computer engineering software and machinery combined with handcrafted attention to detail.
In 2016 Jan, 90% of Schimmel share was purchased by Pearl River Group.
湯 先生/ Mr. Tong
英國註冊鋼琴技師 / Registered Piano Technician (MPTA)
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