Two gold and 13 silver: Jubilee honours awarded to long-serving members of staff for their loyalty to the company
At Paul Craemer GmbH, jubilee honours are traditionally the high point of the year. This year, the jubilee event took place for the 59th time. So far, 264 employees have been recognised for 25 years of loyalty to the company, 46 for 40 years of service, and three for 50 years of service. A day out with those celebrating is also something of a tradition. To celebrate the occasion, the management, around 100 long-serving staff and the Craemer choir set off for Rietberg. The ‘Seerose’ café on the grounds of the state flower show was chosen as the place to honour this year’s new additions: Two members of staff celebrating golden jubilees and 13 members of staff celebrating silver jubilees.
As Dr. Achim Brandenburg pointed out in his address, “at Craemer, people have always been the focal point”. In particular, the crisis year of 2009 has once again shown just how much an experienced and loyal workforce is worth within a company. As the company manager went on to state, “craftsmanship and personal ties prove themselves in difficult times”. This year’s anniversaries were the focus of the afternoon - first Friedhelm Kuhlmann and Bernhard Oehle, both of whom joined Craemer 40 years ago to complete their training as toolmakers. Today, Kuhlmann works as a moulding cutter in the tool making section and in 1993, Oehle moved from moulding cutting to material preparation. After a review of world events in 1985, all attention was cast to the new silver pin carriers. Brandenburg thanked the celebrating staff for their commendable service and awarded them the gold and/or silver Craemer pins. All received a certificate from the local chamber of industry and commerce (IHK) as well as a cheque. Those celebrating a silver jubilee also received a watch. Finally, the chairman of the works council, Ralf Timmer, passed on his congratulations to the workforce.
Craemer has had the following in its team since 1985: Gregor Ahlke from the plastics warehouse – Andreas Baum, the head of planning in the tool making department – Joachim Bensch and Ludger Volkmann, both shift managers in the metal production department – Reinhard Eggenwirth, head of logistics – Christa Falkenreck from the plastic sales office and Jürgen Stricker from the metal sales office – Manfred Kreienbaum, the foreman, Peter Odau, the cutter and Jürgen Rolf, the group leader – all three from the tool making department – Peter Lübbert from the tool warehouse – André Rabe, the machine operator from the plastic manufacturing department and Ulrich Rosenthal, the head of the metal warehouse. Baum and Rabe will pick up their honours later on because they weren’t able to take part in the day trip to Rietberg due to travel commitments and/or health treatment.
