Gruensfeld/ Lauda. Again, the „Pfarrscheune“ in Lauda provided a wonderful scenery for the traditional year-end ceremony of the BOHLENDER GmbH from Gruensfeld. President Volker Bohlender invited his employees and their partners to terminate and review the year 2016.
After the stand-up reception in the atmospheric rectory courtyard, the BOHLENDER employees had their dinner. Afterwards, Volker Bohlender started his 2016 review, employees´ distinction and a preview for the year-to-come.
The year 2016 was affected by hard political and economic circumstances worldwide. The refugee crisis, the uncertain development in the USA and thus restrained investments came along with this year´s business. "Despite these adverse conditions, we managed to beat the prior-year result by means of the high engagement of my employees and targeted marketing campaigns", said Volker Bohlender. "The new editions of our product catalogues BOLA and SICCO as well as the participation in several lab trade shows and in-house exhibitions of customers contributed to the success of this fiscal year. The most important exhibition in 2016 was the International Trade Fair for Laboratory Technology, Analysis and Biotechnology called ANALYTICA which took place in Munich in May. BOHLENDER presented its innovations and classics from their range during four days. Furthermore, they invested in new machine technologies such as a new Injection Molding Machine in order to increase the proportion of in-house manufacturing and to increase their independence from external suppliers.
After his report on the general business development, Volker Bohlender honoured his long-standing employees. Even this year, numerous employees were honoured: Bianca Schweizer and Rainer Brehm for 5 years, Maria-Luise Bender, Hans-Jürgen Strenkert and Torsten Blase for 10 years each. Besides the experience of long-standing employees, it is important to invest in qualified young personnel. That is why Volker Bohlender was pleased to had jobs offered to two apprentices in 2016 and to had three new apprentices employed to become Industrial Mechanics.
"It is valuable and an important future investment to have qualified personnel in times of shortage of skilled personnel", affirmed the entrepreneur his HR strategy.
For this reason, the second information day for Industrial Mechanics took place directly at the company premises on the Waltersberg in July. The company´s training officer and his apprentices gave an impression into their daily life during the apprenticeship and answered the visitors´ questions. Currently, eight young people make their apprenticeship to become Industrial Mechanic at BOHLENDER.
For 2017, another apprentice is searched. Therefore, applications for the training year-to-come are still possible and appreciated.
Volker Bohlender´s speech was accompanied by many photos from the past year, reflecting many old traditions such as the traditional herring meal on Ash Wednesday, the visit of the witches of Gruensfeld on Maundy Thursday, the Holiday Programme of the city of Gruensfeld and many more.
He also named the high-level visit of Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Reinhart with a delegation of the Young Union from Lauda as well as the company visit of the showmen of the yearly fair "Koenigshoefer Messe".
At the end of the official part of the year-end ceremony, Volker Bohlender wished his employees a pleasant evening, a wonderful Christmastime and all the best for 2017.