By Michael Schwarz
INGELFINGEN It all started with a bet. "I guess I was a little uncareful", Heribert Rohrbeck, CEO at Bürkert says in retrospect, remembering the day he and Hohenlohe District Administrator Helmut M. Jahn got involved in the following: in June of last year - the day of the groundbreaking for the new Systemhaus in Ingelfingen-Criesbach - Jahn daringly made a forecast that less time would pass between the building application and granting the "red dot" building license than the company would need for their internal planning. Rohrbeck was in, he and Jahn shook on it, the bet was on.
"We received the building license on 11 June 2006, our planning wasn't done until a month later", Rohrbeck admits today. Now it was his turn, the betting debt has to be paid. He did so by inviting the District Administrator and some of the district office staff to a huge suckling pig dinner. Ingelfingen's mayor Michael Bauer and his main office director Manfred Schmitt didn't want to miss the chance as well when they were invited to join the company as a dinner guest.
"Our planning wasn't done until a month later.
Heribert Rohrbeck, CEO of the Bürkert Group
Modern building First however the visitors used the opportunity to take a look around the approx. 3000 square meter big building. An "incubator for new solutions" was the term used by Rohrbeck to describe the very openly designed Systemhaus, in which "blue coats and white coats" - technicians and scientists - work and research together. Bürkert requests flexibility from its employees - even when it comes to their own desk. Every employee can work on every flat screen.
Their documents are always taken along by the employees. Rohrbeck: "That's why the tables always have to be cleaned up in the evenings". This is a rule everyone has to stick to in the new Systemhaus, including Josip Martis. "Of course I don't have my own office either", the manager of the Systemhaus says. To give everyone the chance to retreat for a short time-out or discussion, modern lounges with sofas and seats are provided in several places.
"I can only encrouage you to make such a bet with us more often."
District Administrator Helmut M. Jahn
Time-Out "We also have showers here in case someone wants to go for a run to clear their head", Rohrbeck informs the interested group. At this point even the District Administrator considered tongue-in-cheek if such working conditions weren't something to be considered for the office as well. Helmut M. Jahn is pleased with his office's work. "I can only encourage you to make such a bet with us more often."
Lost bet: Bürkert CEO Heribert Rohrbeck (right) invited District
Administrator Helmut M. Jahn to a suckling pig dinner. Photo: Michael Schwarz
Source: Hohenloher Zeitung
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