WCA September 2017

Industry news

Successful through difficult times Before the First World War broke out, Troester had established itself as a manufacturer of special machines for the rubber-processing industry. The company was economically well positioned; however, it was faced with new challenges during the war and post-war turmoil. The good times returned in 1924, with Carl Bredemeyer, who took the destiny of the company into his hands. As part of the Buna programme, Troester experienced an economic high point in the 1930s. The company profited from the development of synthetic rubber and thermoplastics. The equipment manufacturer conquered new business sectors, for instance with extruders for PVC processing. Yet the Second World War brought difficult times. By 1945, the plant in Wülfel had virtually been completely destroyed by two air strikes. However, currency reform, the lifting of seizure by British military authorities and the Marshall Plan ensured that relations were soon normalised. The reconstruction of the destroyed facilities

❍ With the new 3,200m 2 production hall, capacities and factory logistics are ready for the future

began, and Troester presented itself to the public for the first time in 1947, on order of the British-organised ‘Export Trade Fair Hannover’, the predecessor of what later became the ‘Hanover Fair’. Employee know-how is the best capital Over the years, the company has developed from a classic equipment

manufacturer to a system provider, accountable for comprehensive electronics, controlling and automation of state-of-the-art units, in addition to manufacturing. Among other things, the company is based on in-depth research and development work, which has always been a top priority at Troester. The company spends about two per cent of its revenue on these areas. Key competencies and special know-how stay in the company. “Courage and tireless commitment are characteristics that have shaped Troester since its founding,” added Dr Schmidt, who took over managing the company from his father in 2003. “The workers and staff feel like they are part of a family.” On average, each employee has been in the company for about 16 years, while many are celebrating their 25 th and even 40 th anniversaries. Equipped for the future The company is committed to its location in Germany. As part of restructuring and optimisation of production conditions at the Wülfel plant, a new production hall with a surface area of 3,200m 2 was constructed in 2016. A second construction phase with several buildings follows this year, which will expand the factory premises in Hanover to over 25,000m 2 – about 15,300m 2 of which is production space – thereby positioning Troester’s capacities and plant logistics for the future. New investments are already in planning to equip the company for the challenges of digitisation and Industry 4.0. Troester GmbH & Co KG – Germany Website : www.troester.de

❍ The continous kneaders from X-Compound have a wide range of applications – including gentle processing of cable compounds

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Wire & Cable ASIA – September/October 2017