If you want to operate sustainably, you must fundamentally rethink not only concepts and production processes, but also personnel and energy management. This is one of the points the participants of the two-day industry forum in Lohne took home. Plastics company Pöppelmann hosted the symposium this year, an event, organized by Verlag Moderne Industrie every year.
Ready for an intensive discussion: from the left Claus Wilk (conference moderator), Christoph Kämpf (Carmelite Brewery), Anita Engler (Daimler AG), Torsten Ratzmann (Pöppelmann), Christoph Leifer (Phoenix Contact Electronics), Stefan Waldeisen (Verlag Moderne Industrie ), Magdalena Münstermann (Bernd Münstermann GmbH), Matthias Lesch (Pöppelmann) and dr. Eberhard Niggemann (Weidmüller Academy). Image: Pöppelmann GmbH & Co. KG Kunststoffwerk-Werkzeugbau
Christoph Kämpf is Managing Director of one of the oldest companies in Germany: He directs the fortunes of the Carmelite Brewery in Straubing, which was founded by monks in 1367. "We do not think in managerial years, but in generations," he said in his lecture at the top industry forum at Pöppelmann in Lohne, emphasizing the prerequisite of sustainable action. Kämpf told the participants how the traditional brewery is currently becoming energy self-sufficient and has already reduced its CO² footprint by 40 percent.
A presentation that met with great interest: Christoph Leifer, Managing Director of Phoenix Contact Electronics (Blomberg), explained the new concepts of his company for a resource-saving building technology; Magdalena Münstermann, senior partner of the special equipment manufacturer Münstermann in Telgte, reported on the diverse activities of her company for employee retention - including a stay abroad for each trainee; Dr. Eberhard Niggemann, Head of the Weidmüller Academy and Sustainability Officer of the Weidmüller Group (Detmold), explained how Weidmüller implements the concept of sustainability in the areas of business (through financial independence), the environment (through integrated energy management) and society (through the promotion of young talent).
The blue pot that gets everything going: Production Manager Ulrich Lampe (left) explained the Lohner Mayor Tobias Gerdesmeyer (right) some things on the production of the new recycling product as part of the XXL factory tour.
Great attention was also given to the speech by Anita Engler, Recycling Manager of Daimler AG. Her topic was the possibilities of using recyclates in the automotive sector. She made it clear that it was basically about "using the right material in the right place". And: All technical and qualitative requirements must be met in every respect. This means: In its material properties, recyclate should not be different from virgin material.
Pöppelmann CEO Torsten Ratzmann explained how the Lohner Kunststoffverarbeiter tackled the issue of sustainability itself as a prelude to the conference. "For the shareholders, the topic is at the top of the agenda. Together with them, we have developed ideas and concepts that we bundle in our Pöppelmann blue initiative," he said. The aim and drive is to preserve good living and working conditions for future generations. He pointed out that the company will present a sustainability report over the coming year: "We want to prove these things: How are we moving? How close are we to our goals? And in which areas can we improve?"
Matthias Lesch, Head of Pöppelmann Innovation Management, gave an insight into the first successes of company initiative Pöppelmann Blue: "In the medium term, only solutions that work within a material cycle via reusable and recycling systems will be accepted, especially for short-lived plastic products." What difficulties are involved in getting such a cycle going, explained Mr. Lesch, using the example of the plant pot in "recycling blue". This newly developed product from the Pöppelmann Teku Division has recently become available as a herbal pot in the retail sector and consists of 100 percent waste originating from the recycling bin. The problem that had to be solved: How do waste sorting systems recognize the individual types of plastic that need to be sorted for reuse?
The approximately 60 participants of the symposium from different industries and all over Germany did not only listen to lectures, but also had intense discussions at various themed tables, about the possibilities and prerequisites of a broad-based circulatory system for plastic products.
An intensive discussion took place on the first day of the symposium, which included an XXL factory tour of the Pöppelmann company in the afternoon and an evening event including a buffet in the Evers restaurant in Lüsche with professor dr. Michael Baumgart starting off as speaker. The chemist provocatively presented the principle he had developed: "cradle-to-cradle". This recycling concept is now marketed with its own label. The approach: Even with as products are developed, the further use of the material -after use- must be considered. This would allow all resources to flow back into a materials cycle again and again, explained Baumgart.
After two days of talks and discussions, the editor-in-chief of trade journal Produktion, Claus Wilk, thanked the Pöppelmann company on behalf of the organizer: "It was really a great event. We are grateful for the experience and your incredible hospitality."
For more information:
Pöppelmann GmbH & Co. KG Kunststoffwerk-Werkzeugbau
Ansprechpartner: Ruth Honkomp
Bakumer Straße 73 , 49393 Lohne, Deutschland
Telefon: 04442 982-9100, Fax: 04442 982-112
E-Mail: RuthHonkomp@poeppelmann.com
www.poeppelmann.com