Newest company has link to original New Bern settlers

Newest company has link to original New Bern settlers
Newest company has link to original New Bern settlers
Sue Book
June 17, 2009 - 9:15PM
Drahtzug Stein began forging metal chains and coins in 1423 in a small town in southwestern
Germany which current company president Wolfgang Stein said turned out to be home to 400
original New Bern settlers.
Stein has now forged another connecting link with New Bern, opening a dishwasher basket
plant in the building formerly housing Amitel Spinning Corporation on Bosch Boulevard.
"We are glad to bring 12 new settlers," Stein said, to a town he "fell in love with" when
visiting BSH in May 1996.
Drahtzug Stein chief operating officer Wolfgang Ritter said the core production team that has
already started work expand an already more than decade-long relationship with the New
Bern BSH plant.
"We have finally hired people from the local community," for 40 to 45 initial jobs, Ritter said.
Drahtuzg Stein is the sixth supplier for BSH Home Appliances Inc. to bring an operation to
Craven County, said Jason Jones, chairman of the Craven County commissioners.
Jones thanked BSH for that and welcomed company officials to Craven County, as did New
Bern Mayor Tom Bayliss, at the company's official opening Wednesday afternoon.
Bayliss said the location offers room for the company to grow and ideal proximity to BSH for
its "just in time delivery" business model. "I don't know how you can be any closer than
across the street."
He said New Bern takes "pride in the people here" who have a commitment to education and
the right work ethic to help Stein succeed.
Uwe Klossowski, BSH dishwasher plant manager, said Stein's new plant will enable BSH to
do more custom marketing and continue to grow its market share, as it has during the recent
down market.
BSH human resources director, Chuck Dale, said, "We are very excited about having another
of our vendors locate in New Bern."
Jim Davis, Craven Economic Development Commission director, said, "It's encouraging,
while a lot of people are looking for jobs, to have a company like this come to New Bern."
City and county officials toured the building with other local leaders from Craven County
Economic Development Commission, Craven County Committee of 100, and leaders of
North Carolina state departments of Commerce, Community College, and Employment
Security Commission, and the N.C.'s Eastern Region.
http://www.enctoday.com/common/printer/view.php?db=nbsj&id=46048
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6/19/2009

Newest company has link to original New Bern settlers
Drahtzug Stein is a leading international manufacturer of wire goods to European household
appliance manufacturers from plants in Germany, and France, Spain, Italy, and, until now
most recently, Poland. The family-owned business was purchased in 1941 and now employs
about 1,400 workers.
Stein said the company is made up of small-town people with devotion to community they
bring with them to their operations here which will intimately involved a $16 million to $18
million investment. No government incentives are involved.
http://www.enctoday.com/common/printer/view.php?db=nbsj&id=46048
Page 2 of 2
6/19/2009