Automation specialist Neuberger honours work anniversaries

There was no social gathering and no reunion with colleagues from all over the country who normally travel to the Christmas party. The popular Neuberger Christmas Market, normally held annually on the company premises, also had to be cancelled. The pandemic also forced Neuberger’s 570 or so employees to miss out on this year’s popular Christmas party. Despite this, the management team at the building automation and room automation specialist did not pass up the opportunity to honour the work anniversaries of six longstanding and deserving members of staff at a low-key ceremony on 11 December.

This year saw four employees celebrate their fortieth year working for the company. Doris Ballmann started her career at Neuberger in September 1980 as an apprentice mechanic for electrical appliances. Having completed her apprenticeship with aplomb, Ballmann went on to train as an electronics engineer for energy appliances in February 1984. Since then, she has worked as a test engineer for electronics testing at the Rothenburg site. Klaus Langer and Markus Burkhardt are also celebrating their 40-year anniversaries. Both men started at Neuberger in September 1980 as apprentice electrical fitters. Having completed his apprenticeship, Burkhardt moved to the control cabinet production department, where he is still responsible for the creation of parts lists, along with other duties.
Langer initially spent three years in the service department. With a wealth of practical experience as a service engineer, he moved into project planning in 1987, where he worked as a technical draughtsman and project manager for major projects. He ended up moving from planning to sales in 1998, where he still has a managerial role. Frank Wetzel is the last of the four employees celebrating 40 years of service at Neuberger. He also started his working life as an apprentice electrical fitter. Since passing his final exams, Wetzel has been a permanent fixture in Neuberger’s production facility as a control cabinet wiring technician.

In addition to the longstanding employees, Andreas Engelhardt and Thomas Hellenschmidt were honoured for 25 years of service. Both men started out as apprentice electronics installers in plant engineering at the company. Engelhardt then moved to the IT department, where he is still a technical adviser with responsibility for control and management systems at customer sites, while Hellenschmidt initially became a service engineer in the field. Since early 2009, he has been part of the in-house technical support team.

“While it is unfortunate that our colleagues can’t be present, and this isn’t the Christmas party, I would like to thank you all very much on behalf of the management for your commitment, your reliability and for your loyalty and attachment to the company,” said managing director Klaus Lenkner in his address. In gratitude for their years of loyalty to the company, all those celebrating work anniversaries were presented with vouchers along with certificates from Neuberger the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) for Middle Franconia. The six staff have notched up an impressive 210 years with the company.