The Schunk plant fire department at the Heuchelheim site has been protecting the technology group's employees and local residents since 1934. On Friday, the 90th anniversary was celebrated together with numerous guests from politics and fire departments.
“Without you, dear colleagues from the fire department, Schunk could not exist in this form here in Heuchelheim,” said Peter R. Manolopoulos, CEO of Schunk, to the Schunk firefighters at the ceremony. As a technology group with a large industrial production facility, Schunk must be able to protect its employees and local residents from potential dangers at all times.
It is crucial that Schunk has its own fire department at the plant, continued Manolopoulos. “Because you, dear firefighters, know the site, you have the best local and plant knowledge.” The Schunk plant fire department consists exclusively of company employees - this guarantees fast response times, both during the day and at night or on weekends and public holidays.
“I would therefore like to say quite clearly: We are all happy and proud to have you. And on behalf of the management and all employees here at the site, I would like to thank you very much for your commitment to the Schunk Group.”
Protection for employees and neighbors
Claudia Coburger-Becker, Head of Department II - Occupational Health and Safety and Internal Affairs of the Regional Council, also emphasized the great importance of the Schunk plant fire department for safety not only in the company but also beyond in her welcoming address as representative of the Regional President.
Gunthard Sommer, Chairman of the Board of the Ludwig Schunk Foundation, and Sascha Langer, Head of the plant fire department, led the audience through the history of the plant fire department. A few years before Ludwig Schunk bought the Windhof in 1918 and set up his company for the production of carbon brushes here, the former excursion restaurant had been badly damaged in a fire.
With a fire engine and ladder
Schunk's fire brigade was founded in 1934, presumably as a result of a fire at a nearby sawmill in the Abendstern industrial estate in Heuchelheim. At the time, ten employees joined the Schunk fire department to work for fire protection. They were equipped with a TS 8 portable fire pump, hoses and nozzles as well as a mechanical ladder with an operating height of 17 meters.
As the Schunk company grew, so did the requirements and equipment of the fire department. In 1953, the fire department was recognized by the municipality of Heuchelheim as a plant fire department, with a team size of 34 at the time.
Veteran fire engine pays a visit
The first real fire engine did not arrive until 1981, and this is where the good partnership between the plant fire department and their colleagues from the Heuchelheim volunteer fire department became apparent. The LF 8 type Borgward B2000, built in 1953, was taken over from them. It was returned to the Heuchelheim firefighters 16 years later, when the Schunk fire brigade's vehicle fleet had expanded. It is still in service today at exhibitions and classic car meetings and was on site at the Schunk anniversary, where it was admired by the guests.
60 firefighters to protect Schunk
Today, the Schunk plant fire department consists of 60 members - 57 men and three women. They regularly take part in internal and external exercises and training events to improve their technical skills and local knowledge. They are called out around 45-60 times a year, often due to false alarms caused by smoke or dust. Thanks to comprehensive fire protection measures, major damage to the site has so far been avoided.
Throughout the day, there was an open day for Schunk employees and the families of the firefighters - with a vehicle exhibition, picture collages of the history, fire safety education and information, firefighting trainers and a bouncy castle for the children.
