A party like Bausch+Ströbel
Birthday gala with citizens' medals
For more than 40 years Bausch + Ströbel has designed and built automatic machines for packaging of pharmaceuticals in Ilshofen, to a standard that is close to perfection. So it's not surprising that the world market leader in the manufacturer of prefilled syringes should aim for perfection when it comes to celebrating. What the company offered to its 1,550 guests and employees from around the world at its birthday party at the Arena Hohenlohe on Saturday was a typical Hohenlohe form of rousing entertainment: on one hand, the very down-to-earth, unassuming directors, Siegfried Bullinger, Markus and Rolf Ströbel, and on the other, an evening of superlative performances and culinary delights.
The behind-the-scenes planning for the event started three months ago. The result was a truly entertaining mix of multimedia corporate presentations, comedy and acrobatics by 40 specialists in their fields, stimulating talks with professional entertainer Dirk Denzer, and a glittering ball. Further, the 1,550 guests were treated to a gourmet gala buffet prepared by the renowned chefs of the Flair Park Hotel. The seven-hour party passed in a flash.
During the evening, shareholder Siegfried Bullinger left no doubt as to whom this party was dedicated: the almost 900 employees without whom it would never have been possible to reach the top. As shareholder Rolf Ströbel put it: "Having a great team like this is the only way to build great machines and become the world market leader".
The management were obviously relaxed about the future, following the reorganisation of the company in 2007. "We are looking ahead to a promising future with very good prospects", said Bullinger to applause at the Arena. What began as a four-man business in a garage grew steadily over four decades, underwent progressive expansion at Ilshofen, and is today in a very good position, with just under 900 employees. In its entire history, the company has never had to resort to lay-offs in order to economize operations. Friday's HALLER TAGBLATT carried a 12-page special supplement with detailed coverage of the company's remarkable development.
The current town council leaders of Michelbach an der Bilz and Schwäbisch Hall are no doubt lamenting their predecessors' refusal to allow company founders Bausch, Ströbel and Bullinger setting up business within their communities forty years ago. As a result, the tinkerers tried Ilshofen, where their application was approved - by the slimmest of margins. That's something for which Mayor Roland Wurmthaler to this day is deeply grateful to his predecessor, Hermann Merz. Bausch + Ströbel has been instrumental in making Ilshofen an extremely attractive place to live and work, with 2,000 jobs and a population of 6,400 today.
In view of the above it wasn't a hard decision for the Ilshofen council to give the Mayor a special gift to bring along to the company's birthday celebration: The council unanimously resolved to honour the founding partners, Rolf Ströbel and Siegfried Bullinger, with the very rarely bestowed citizens' medal "in recognition of their commitment to Ilshofen", as Roland Wurmthaler acknowledged.
