KEB Automation celebrates 50th anniversary
Max Giesinger heated up about 3,000 guests in Barntrup
KEB Automation celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. On Saturday this was celebrated with a big anniversary party on the company site in Barntrup. Around 3,000 visitors were offered a varied programme - and the strong appearance of a surprise guest.
In 1972, the year the company was founded, KEB employed six people - today, some 50 years later, there are 1,550 people worldwide who develop, produce and sell drive and automation solutions for plant and machine construction. Around 1,000 people are employed at the headquarters in Barntrup alone. They, their relatives as well as partners and guests from Germany and abroad were invited to KEB's anniversary celebration and Barntrup's mayor Borris Ortmeier did not miss the opportunity to personally drop by and convey his congratulations on the anniversary.
“With the anniversary celebration, we want to express our gratitude. Because without our committed employees and the good cooperation with our partners and customers, KEB would not be what it is today: an innovative company with products that can be found in machines and plants all over the world,” says shareholder Gabriele Tavella.
Thomas Brinkmann, managing shareholder, adds: “The foundation stone of KEB was laid by brakes and clutches. And today we supply the complete drive from a single source – from the control system to the motor to the frequency converter. That is a development that probably no one could have expected at the time.” The company was founded by Tavella and Brinkmann's father, Karl-Ernst Brinkmann – KEB for short.
Program for the whole family
Gabriele Tavella and Thomas Brinkmann welcomed all the guests in their opening speeches, which took place in front of the newly built, 25-metre high-bay warehouse. With construction costs of around 15 million euros, the warehouse is the largest single investment in KEB's history. It will go into operation in the coming days and then ensure the automated supply of the in-house electronics production.
In addition to a large culinary selection, the visitors enjoyed exclusive insights behind the scenes of the company. Thus, the guests explored the factory halls, where brakes, clutches, inverters and much more are produced, on their own during a tour. In the afternoon, the “Livin Music Family” provided the appropriate musical setting and thrilled the visitors with live cover versions of numerous well-known hits.
Star guest in the evening
The surprise of the evening was the performance of Max Giesinger, German songwriter and singer. With songs like “Auf das, was da noch kommt” and “80 Millionen”, Giesinger, also known from "The Voice of Germany", created a good vibe among employees, family members as well as partners who had travelled to the event. Until the very end, it was not announced who would perform in the evening. The event in Barntrup came to a festive close with a firework show. “We are very happy about the successful anniversary celebration and that we were able to welcome so many guests. We are already very excited about what the next 50 years have in store for KEB Automation,” said Brinkmann and Tavella.