Plant surface increases by 40 %

During a Kaizen project (Continuous improvement process) in 2001 the workforce created a lot of improvement ideas. Some of the best ideas could not be realized due to the limited space in the existing buildings.

These two factors together with some other ideas lead towards the end of 2001 to the decision to add 1.400 m² of space for the production equipment. Besides offering more space this measure should also improve the working conditions in the plant. Both the improvement of the air quality as well as the handling of heavy goods and machine parts are at the top of the improvement agenda.

    continue

Permission to build was granted very fast by the local authorities. Therefore the work on the building could already start by the end of March 2002. The building contractor, Zapf GmbH of Bayreuth, handed over the keys punctually by the beginning of August. Precisely defined requirements and a very tight control of all tasks by Zapf GmbH made sure that everything was completed on time and Kirson is very satisfied with the quality of the building.

Removal and improvement of five production lines

Every four weeks one of five production lines will be moved from the older part of the plant into the new production hall. Many improvements will be added to the machines by the Kirson engineering department as well as the other suppliers involved. The first machine has already been relocated and started production at the end of August.

Overtime of the Kirson workforce at the weekends helps that the customers will not have to suffer delays or other consequences due to the removal and improvement works on the production lines.

From today's point of view, all works will be completed on time

Four of the five machines that shall be relocated will already run in the new production hall in November. During the opening celebration on Friday, November 15th, many customers and invited guests from the area will have the possibility to convince themselves of the successful relocation. The fixed date for the opening is both incentive and motivation for all the people involved at Kirson to finish their work on time if nothing unforeseen should happen.

During the Whitsun flood 1999 in Neustadt on the Danube Kirson had almost been afflicted. Even though the plant is several kilometres away from the river, the waters of the flood came to a stop only less than 100 metres in front of the factory gates. If the level of the flood had risen for another 50 cm, Kirson would also have been affected.

Several workers of Kirson were less fortunate at that time. Three of them were very heavily afflicted. Their houses stood several metres under water and had to be refurbished completely after the flood. Because our affected colleagues experienced a great wave of solidarity from many different sides in 1999, the Kirson management and works committee wanted to pay back some of this solidarity to the victims of the flood disaster in Bavaria and Eastern Germany.

Due to the actual high demand for scrims and a lot of additional work caused by the building of the new production hall, many employees and workers have worked a lot of overtime recently. Therefore the proposal was made to donate not only money but also overtime. In order to enhance the willingness to donate, the company promised to add a certain amount on top of each given Euro.