PETpla.net Insider 10 / 2018

imprint EDITORIAL PUBLISHER Alexander Büchler, Managing Director HEAD OFFICE heidelberg business media GmbH Bunsenstr. 14 69115 Heidelberg, Germany phone: +49 6221-65108-0 fax: +49 6221-65108-28 info@hbmedia.net EDITORIAL Kay Barton Heike Fischer Gabriele Kosmehl Michael Maruschke Ruari McCallion Waldemar Schmitke Anthony Withers WikiPETia.info petplanet@hbmedia.net MEDIA CONSULTANTS Martina Hirschmann hirschmann@hbmedia.net Johann Lange-Brock lange-brock@hbmedia.net phone: +49 6221-65108-0 fax: +49 6221-65108-28 LAYOUT AND PREPRESS EXPRIM Werbeagentur | exprim.de Matthias Gaumann READER SERVICES Till Kretner reader@hbmedia.net PRINT Chroma Druck & Verlag GmbH Werkstr. 25 67354 Römerberg Germany WWW www.hbmedia.net | w ww.petpla.net PETplanet Insider ISSN 1438-9459 is published 10 times a year. This publication is sent to qualified subscribers (1-year subscription 149 EUR, 2-year subscription 289 EUR, Young professionals’ sub- scription 99 EUR. Magazines will be dispatched to you by airmail). Not to be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. Note: The fact that product names may not be identified as trademarks is not an indication that such names are not registered trademarks. 3 PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 10/18 www.petpla.net Yet again, it is not just the plastics industry that suffers great losses due to fire or water. And as with all disasters, those most affected are often the least prepared. In 1998 disaster struck the production facili- ties of the BIG company, known for its Bobbycar. 2002 saw devastat- ing floods at Engel in Schwertberg, which left the factory under two meters of mud, water and boulders. These are just two spectacular examples of natural calamities affecting the plastics industry. On Monday, September 10, Herbold, based in Meckesheim, Ger- many was hit. A huge conflagration devastated the warehouse and an outdoor storage area, leaving both burnt-out shells. Firefighters managed to salvage the production areas and offices, but the spare parts warehouses and the logistics facility were completely destroyed. Fortunately, there were no casualties, either here, or in the Austrian and German disasters described above. Werner Herbold, one of the two managing directors at the site, estimated the total damage at five to ten million euros. But is there another side to the story apart from the physical damage caused? The two “historic disasters” described above have shown that catastrophes can sometimes generate a hopeful new beginning. Outdated structures can be replaced without any ill effects. Staff come together in a mood of positive cooperation, teams are rebuilt, and suppliers make the impossible possible. At a speed no-one would believe possible, machines and components are quickly replen- ished, so that everything is up and running. Customers rally in support of the affected company. A year from now, let’s hope that Herbold and all their staff can look back with satisfaction and say: “We’ve done it. The scars left by the fire have now been healed.” For our part, we wholeheartedly wish them every success. Yours, Alexander Büchler PS: Shortly before closing this issue for printing Herbold Meckesheim officially stated: In the second half of October, Herbold Meckesheim will once again be producing at the same level as before the fire, with the additional expenditure covered by business interruption insurance. Dear readers,