Wetzel update

Wetzel
update
February 09

Editorial
Future-oriented new management and equity structure for
a family-controlled company rich in tradition.
The Wetzel Group has extended its international market
presence in the printing and embossing industry within the
last few years. Apart from the main operating company,
WETZEL GmbH in Grenzach-Wyhlen, and the WETZEL
Gravotechnik branch office in Rodgau-Weiskirchen, the
group now also has two international manufacturing sites in
Warsaw and Dublin at its disposal.
The group’s various shareholdings are brought together under
the umbrella of WETZEL Holding AG in Münchenstein,
Switzerland. This holding structure allows the newly composed
board of directores and the management to organise
the different group companies under a centralised management
that is aligned with the orientation of the internationally
grown group in order to provide a solid basis for the
family-controlledcompany also in the future. wetzel SERVICE
AG, which is a subsidiary of the holding company, constitutes
a shared service center to the group as well as to external
customers providing services in the areas of marketing, corporate
identity and public relations.
The family-controlled company therefore does not just comply
with the international standards of modern corporate
governance, but is also well established to continue serving
its customers as a powerful and innovative partner for highquality
products in the areas of printing and embossing.
Dr. Christoph B. Bühler
Chairman of the Board of Directors
c.buehler@wetzel-service.com | Tel. +41 61 31 79 450
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Content News by Wetzel Printing & Embossing
News by Wetzel Printing & Embossing
5 Wetzel Group of companies, a short profile
5 Wetzel Dublin
7 News from Warsaw
8 Markets on the move
News by wetzel SERVICE AG
9 “Who are we”?
Events & Exhibitions
11 ERA Packaging Conference 2008
12 Euromold 2008
13 MIAC 2008 in Lucca
14 WOC09
15 Interzum 2009 Preview
15 Upcoming fairs
Flexibility & Standards
16 Printing optimisation project
17 Order control using the SAP ERP system
18 The future – “Made by Wetzel” – Small lot production
19 The sQuba project
19 Microline
Man & Knowledge
20 The “Wetzel Super-Apprentices”
23 10 years success with Ewa Dzwonkowska – WETZEL Sp.z.o.o.
24 Happy Birthday Detlev Liebschwager
25 Happy Birthday Ulrich Wetzel
4
Wetzel Group of companies, a short profile
The Swiss-based WETZEL Processing Group is one of the
most powerful and innovative company groups in the printing
and embossing industry. The biggest production site is
WETZEL GmbH in Grenzach-Wyhlen, other manufacturing
plants are based in Rodgau-Weiskirchen, Warsaw and Dublin.
As well as manufacturing engraved cylinders and Flexo printing
sleeves, the company also produces embossing rollers
and machines. Wetzel products can be found in the furniture
industry, the packaging industry, the aviation industry and the
automotive industry, among other things, and are also used
in decorative everyday objects such as tissues, wallpaper and
toilet tissue. The company, which was established in 1923 by
Walter Wetzel, is now a market leader in the “Printing and
Embossing” industry. An essential constituent of the company
philosophy is the self-conception of being a full service
provider. Wetzel provides all of its solutions in-house – from
initial idea to design development and process consultancy,
and the machining and manufacture of the finished printing
and embossing rollers. The company’s own research and development
department carries out basic research and optimises
existing processes. As a result of this, the WETZEL
Processing Group, Printing & Embossing has comprehensive
technical knowledge at the cutting edge of research, which
benefits customers in all process cycles. Wetzel employs
about 430 members of staff and 55 trainees. The globally
operating company is represented on all important markets
and achieved a turnover of about 50 million Euros.
Wetzel Dublin
Excellent Service through closeness to the market
Patrick Stafford, Managing Director of Stafford Engineering
Limited, Dublin Ireland, has joined forces with Wetzel Group
to create an up to date fully automated gravure cylinder
engraving and service centre in Dublin.
Patrick has for over 30 years worked with the printing indus-
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News by Wetzel Printing & Embossing
try in Ireland and is known for his expertise in the operations
and maintenance of all types of printing machines.
J. J. Stafford Engineering provides a turnkey operation for
maintenance of these machines from roller refurbishment to
maintenance and new parts manufactured.
Along with the expertise and competence of Wetzel, another
string has been added to Stafford’s bow. Gravure rollers
done to a high quality standard are now provided by Wetzel
Dublin to Irish customers with Alcan Packaging in the forefront
and with a view to providing more customers in both
Ireland and the UK.
Patrick Stafford quotes on the Joint Venture: “My idea was
to further develop my market presence and to grow in an
industry I partially know. To secure a success for this endeavour
I have choosen Wetzel as a well-known player in the
industry. And it has already proofed to be a perfect fit of the
partners though not only on business aspects but also in the
personal relationship.”
Wetzel Dublin is managed under the expert eye of Jason
Brennan, who has many years experience in the gravure
roller industry. Numerous cylinders have already been processed
through Wetzel Dublin since it started production
in August. Satisfaction with the excellent service has been
proofed by customers by the quantity of rollers sent to the
newly established Wetzel Dublin.
The partners envisage this company to develop step by step
to a sustainable success story on the Irish and the UK market.
.
6
News from Warsaw
The move to the 4800m² new building in 2007 has given
WETZEL Sp.z.o.o. room to expand. Among other things, this
has helped the company to acquire new customers from
Russia, the Ukraine and Scandinavia. Its clear market focus and
high quality standard have made WETZEL Sp.z.o.o. an important
partner to printers and end customers. The company’s
clear market leadership position in Poland often makes Wetzel
Warsaw a reference for other Wetzel Group sites.
With 70 employees, the factory in Poland is now the second
largest site within the group. Wetzel exclusively manufactures
engraved cylinders for the packaging and decoration market
in Poland.
In February 2008 the technical prerequisites for becoming a
full service provider in the “tobacco” market segment were
created by installing the direct laser process in copper, i.e.
being able to supply electronically engraved and laser-engraved
cylinders. This innovation has made it possible to supply
many customers in the tobacco area with cylinders that have
been directly engraved using lasers.
The investments were completed with a new printing machine
that made it possible to increase capacity in this important
segment.
As well as technical adaptations to market requirements, a
project for optimising internal procedures was started. Based
on a new production planning system, detailed scheduling is
carried out, and process and quality parameters are recorded
and systematically analysed.
Not least because of these investments, WETZEL Sp.z.o.o. is
equipped for increasing market demands and will continue
to do all that it can to impress its customers with quality and
service.
Ewa Dzwonkowska & Clemens Hatt
e.dzwonkowska@wetzel.pl | c.hatt@wetzel.de
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News by Wetzel Printing & Embossing News by wetzel SERVICE AG
Markets on the move
The last few months have revealed that the change over the
last years which has often been complained about suddenly
fades into the background when companies and entire industries
have to adapt to new market conditions triggered
by the unexpected financial crisis.
Even though markets have always been on the move, the
crisis now places extraordinary demands on the flexibility
of companies and their stakeholders. Whereas companies
permanently have to adapt to new market conditions, more
far-reaching measures are now required in this particular
situation.
“Flexibility and standards” is the guideline of the Wetzel
Group. At first glance, standardisation and flexibility might
be considered as opposites, having this motto seems almost
paradoxical.We at Wetzel are convinced that, with this guideline,
we are well prepared for markets on the move: due
to standardised processes we are in a position to provide
maximum quality at all our sites. Flexibility startswith thinking
and working out solutions that are optimally tailored to the
requirements of customers and partners. Even in these turbulent
times, guided by the motto “flexibility and standards”,
we are well prepared to provide our customers with high
quality products and excellent services.
Martin Siebold
m.siebold@wetzel.de | Tel. +49 7624 301 130
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“Who are we”?
‘Having a wide range of tasks requires inventive solutions’.
wetzel SERVICE AG operates as a professional and creative
service partner in accordance with this guiding principle. Purposeful
and made-to-measure implementation of customer
requirements ensures that you can concentrate on everyday
business and therefore your own core competencies.
In order to meet the multitude of demands that are made
of a service agency, a well-organised team is needed that can
cover all aspects of the services. wetzel SERVICE AG has an
excellent network of partners who can meet all individual
needs. The specific customer requirements are explained beforehand
in an intensive briefing, so that a service package
that is tailored to the customer can then be put together.
wetzel SERVICE AG evolved from the WETZEL Processing
Group, Printing & Embossing as a ‘Shared Service Center’.
Kathrin Wetzel, managing director of Service AG, has many
years of experience to fall back on: as a member of the company
management of Wetzel she was responsible for the
Marketing, CI and PR areas. wetzel SERVICE AG efficiently
combines the advantages of having internal employees and
those of an external service provider by providing excellent
service, having in-depth knowledge of process procedures
and by maintaining close relationships with customers. As
well as its ties with the Wetzel group of companies, wetzel
SERVICE AG also operates on the free market as an independent
service company. Among other things it organises
exhibition appearances, prepares employee training, controls
and organises coaching and combines all areas of corporate
communication. The comprehensive portfolio of services also
includes the planning, design and implementation of service,
press and PR work and corporate identity initiatives.
The Service AG impressively demonstrated its competence
in the trade fair coordination area at drupa 2008: the stand
that was designed for the Wetzel group of companies with
illuminated pillars and backlit display boxes created an attrac-
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News by wetzel SERVICE AG Events & Exhibitions
tive location for communicative get-togethers and creative
discussions.
A prerequisite for service is enthusiasm for the projects. Enthusiasm
that we always bring with us! We look forward to
receiving your inquiry!
wetzel SERVICE AG moved into new offices in January
2009.
Visit our website www.wetzel-service.com for further information.
Kathrin Wetzel
k.wetzel@wetzel-service.com | +41 61 97 32 031
10
ERA Packaging Conference 2008
Conference attendees visit the WETZEL Processing Group,
Printing & Embossing in Grenzach-Wyhlen
As part of the annual packaging conference organised by the
European Rotogravure Association (ERA) at the exhibition
centre in Basle (15/16 October 2008), around 80 international
conference visitors came to the Wetzel site in Grenzach-
Wyhlen, Germany.
The first day of the conference comprised presentations on
changes and innovations affecting the industry with a focus
on “Packaging pressure – trends in Europe and North America”
and is traditionally followed by a factory visit to one of
the companies attending the event.
Managing director Martin Siebold welcomed the guests and
was delighted to have the opportunity to showcase the
Wetzel site in Grenzach-Wyhlen to customers, suppliers and
competitors during an extensive tour. A special highlight was
the automated rotogravure cylinder production line, which
entered service in autumn 2007 and is unique worldwide in
terms of its configuration and complexity. Highly automated
production as a sub-project within the overall production line
offers customers relevant benefits: enhanced productivity,
short delivery times and high delivery reliability, while guaranteeing
maximum process reliability and retaining existing
quality standards. Automated rotogravure cylinder manufacturing
is successfully integrated into workflow at WETZEL
GmbH as a key innovation. The rotogravure production line
is linked to the laser departments at Wetzel, laser engraving
with autotypical etching and the lexus direct laser engraving
process on copper. Since October 2006, Wetzel has
been able to supply rotogravure printers worldwide with
lasered copper cylinders for direct engraving. The lexus solution
from Wetzel is a globally unique method of direct laser
engraving. Developed in-house by Wetzel’s own research
department, lexus (which stands for laser excellence using
ultra-short pulse beam sources) underlines the Wetzel
Group’s pioneering role: Wetzel is the first company in the
11

Events & Exhibitions
world to bring to market an engraving system for direct laser
structuring of copper cylinders. In approximately two years
since the launch, more than 3,000 lexus rotogravure cylinders
have been successfully deployed by customers in production.
So far the Wetzel Group has installed four lexus
machines at its plants.
Following the tour of the facility, the visitors seemed impressed
and unanimously praised Wetzel’s professional approach.
Wetzel thanks all the visitors for their interest and
the ERA for its exceptional organisation of the conference.
EUROMOLD 2008
Wetzel presented new embossed surfaces and innovations
for the automotive sector / Collaboration with Krüth / New
laser engraving machine at the Grenzach-Wyhlen site
The world’s leading trade fair for mould-making and tooling,
design and application development (EUROMOLD)
was held in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, from 3 to 6 December
2008. For the second time, WETZEL GmbH presented
in partnership with Krüth (expert in mould-making and etching
from the German city of Solingen). The joint stand has
showcased exhibits from the automotive sector. At the heart
of the collaboration between Wetzel and Krüth is a commitment
to the ongoing development of digital duo grain, a
technology which has undergone continuous expansion and
optimisation in the past year. The innovative techniques for
surface laser engraving featuring multilayer structures and 3D
structures of outstanding quality which have resulted from
the collaboration between the two companies were presented
at EUROMOLD. They exemplify the possible applications
of direct laser engraving, as well as showing how laser and
etching technologies can be combined.
Wetzel and Krüth have announced the launch of a wide and
varied range for injection moulded parts and embossed foils
for the first half of 2009.
MIAC 2008 in Lucca
Wetzel presents innovations in the tissue area
The “tissue” product area is extremely diversified, and the
dynamic nature of the market makes it an area with many
opportunities and associated new developments. Lucca, the
traditional stronghold of the Italian tissue industry, provides
the best presentation platform at the annual MIAC exhibition,
where Wetzel was also represented again this year in
order to exhibit its new developments.
Further developments in the embossing area and new products
in the area of printing on tissue materials were introduced.
Particularly in this area of the market, once more it
emerged that innovations are the key to success, and particular
interest was shown in printing on kitchen roll material
in near-photograph quality.
The quality of our flexo-sleeves convincingly demonstrated
that the possibilities of printing on tissue are anything but
exhausted. Particular in this area, there is a considerable
amount of potential in optimisation and constant further development
so that the customer can be provided with the
best possible systems and customer requirements that are
continuously increasing and changing can be fulfilled.
The napkin market in particular is culture-dependent, extremely
diversified and rich in ideas in the depiction of the
motives, and is subject to never-ending trend variations and
varying consumer preferences.
The fact that Wetzel can meet these specific market challenges
was shown in the exhibits that were on show, be it
napkins, kitchen rolls or embossed and printed toilet paper,
all of which were well received.
Embossing tissue with materials made by the Wetzalit
group as an alternative to steel proved to be an innovative
challenge that has met with widespread agreement on the
market. It emerged that Wetzel has a good position in the
12 13

tissue market and will meet challenges with far-sightedness
and as a reliable partner.
Wind of change with Wetzel in Frankfurt
The Heimtextil exhibition in Frankfurt was the 6th time
that Peter Pier-Wetzel and Dejan Kovacic had invited their
customers to the “Wind of Change” event, which has been
adapted to the new structure in the printing & embossing
units. Similarly to 2003, the majority of customers who were
invited to this series of events originated from the wallpaper
industry.
The end of a strenuous but surprisingly successful week at
the exhibition was celebrated in an extraordinarily good atmosphere
in the wonderful ambience of a mirror tent.
The main attractions were about three-and-a-half hours of
top class entertainment and an unforgettable 4-course gourmet
menu.
The culinary delicacies and top class entertainment provided
by the Palazzo Wohlfahrt gourmet theatre consisted of an
entertaining mixture of breathtaking skills, sublime humour
and epicurean delicacies.
An extra-special “Wind of Change” evening that every customer
will remember for a very long time.
Thank you to all employees, helpers and the Palazzo Wohlfahrt
team, whose input helped to make this wonderful evening
so successful.
Dejan Kovacic
d.kovacic@wetzel.de
14
Events & Exhibitions
15
Interzum 2009 Preview
The design team of the WETZEL Processing Group, Printing
& Embossing will be represented at INTERZUM in Cologne
(13th – 16th May 2009) with a wide range of new designs.
We will use the impetus of this leading international supplier
exhibition to show you our creativity and our innovative
force with more than 100 new patterns for the furniture
and flooring sectors. The themes will be grouped into four
topical trend subjects that reflect the modern era.
The patterns will be presented using two media: brilliant
proofs printed in the original size and accurate in every detail,
plus a digital representation that will be projected on
giant plasma screens. Customers can compare examples of
floor patterns on the monitor and examine various complexions
and possible variations and combinations on site.
Something new that we are introducing this time is pattern
mapping. This innovative method has made it possible
to display patterns realistically as furniture surfaces in a 3D
view for the first time. The effect of the patterns is revealed
immediately, optionally adapted to the respective individual
customer specifications.
We look forward to your visit to our stand at INTERZUM!
Ralf Imbery & Ulrich Hartmann
r.imbery@wetzel.de | u.hartmann@wetzel.de
Exhibitions to come
Come and see us at:
• March 23rd - 26th 09 Tissue World
Hall 1, Booth C 185
• May 10th - 12th 09 Miac
Booth 12
• May 13th - 16th 09 Interzum
Hall 6.1, Aisle B, Booth 051
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Flexibility & Standards
Printing optimisation project
In the last few years, the Wetzel Group has continuously
worked on optimising the cylinder manufacturing process and
is using a considerable and meaningful level of automation.
We now manufacture almost exclusively on fully automatic
production lines at all 4 manufacturing sites, which is reason
enough to turn our attention to the level of GMS-proofing
which is still a manual process. With the intention of making
the internal procedure as efficient and standardised as possible
on one hand, we also want to improve customer value,
on the other hand. A Printing-Competence-Team was established
in order to develop and to implement new solutions.
The team consists of the relevant responsible persons from
the individual manufacturing sites.
One of the basic philosophies of the Wetzel group of companies
is to manufacture engraved cylinders with as much
standardisation as possible. The same goal also applies to the
proofing area once the project is finished.
The use of different engraving parameters and colour profiles
should therefore be kept to a minimum. The focus will
be directed on the type of printing material, the type of printing
(reverse-printing/surface printing) and the type of ink
system that is used. Whereby it is not strictly necessary to
use the same ink-system in print-proofing as the one that
will be used later during production run. Ultimately, the different
printing speeds between print-proofing and production
runs and the drying times that are not applicable in printproofing,
must be compensated for using specially optimised
ink-systems.
The standards that have been worked out are then used at
all manufacturing sites, which is particularly advantageous for
brand owners with their products, particularly if the same
type of packaging or brand is being produced by a range of
different printers within Europe. Irrespective of the factory
in which the cylinders are manufactured, we can guarantee
consistency.
16
Our customers will have the advantage of standardisation by
the time when the cylinders are proofed within the Wetzel
factories, as all the proofs are created per the same parameters,
which gives an optimal level of evaluation of our proofs
Aids such as an ink-recipe that is supported by measuring
technology ensure that these standards are adhered to.
The topic of “waste-reduction” and “shortening set-up times”
is more important then ever in the majority of our customers.
The results that have been achieved in our project have
generated a large number of opportunities to collaborate
with you on this subject. Our competence team is looking
forward to starting a project with you.
Challenge us!
Björn Kammertöns
b.kammmertoens@wetzel.de | Tel. +49 6106 690 799
Order control using the SAP ERP system
In the 2008 financial year, Wetzel achieved a milestone on
the way to increasing customer value by means of extreme
flexibility and a super-fast delivery service by activating the
interface between the SAP R3 system and the master controller
of the state-of-the-art rotogravure automatic line.
The automatic line is activated directly from the SAP customer
order that is entered in the sales department. On the
basis of the parameters that are recorded during customer
order processing, all of the information that is needed for
cylinder manufacture is first transferred to the master controller
of the automatic line. It is then converted into the
relevant manufacturing recipes. The cylinder is therefore manufactured
automatically in accordance with the information
in the customer order. When the cylinder is inserted into the
production line, all production stages and all of the main production
parameters for each individual cylinder are automatically
fed back to the SAP system. This makes it possible to
control and monitor production directly in the SAP system,
17

Flexibility & Standards
meaning that the position of the individual cylinder can be
interrogated. The use of the SCM module for planning and
capacity control during production means that the complete
reproduction of all order and production processes that are
related to rotogravure will shortly be complete.
Flexographic and embossing production will be linked to the
SAP system in the same way in subsequent sub-projects. This
means that order entry will be even more tightly interwoven
with production control. Wetzel is therefore continuing to
carry out further process optimisation with the goal of increasing
customer value.
Please e-mail me if you have any questions.
Michael Freund
m.freund@wetzel.de
The future – “Made by Wetzel”
Small lot production
As part of a research and development project lasting several
years, a multi-functional pilot line was installed at Wetzel
in Grenzach-Wyhlen in December 2008. As well as the
special coating and embossing applications for the current
research project, the line is equipped with all of the technologies
that are needed to develop and use new application
methods under production-like conditions.
Since the system is equipped with Zeus Sleeve technology
and the in-line quick-change system, all Wetzalit materials
can be tested for the relevant requirements in an uncomplicated
way. For example, the engraving parameters
for an optimal adjustment and the process parameters for
new embossing applications or special customer materials
can be easily determined beforehand using this system under
real production conditions. If small sampling quantities
are inadequate, this system has the capability of low volume
production.
18
19
As well as the important aspect of being able to carry our
process optimisation outside of the existing manufacturing
environment, the main focus of this investment is the further
development of the Wetzalit materials and the embossing
technology for your special requirements. If we have aroused
your interest and you would like further information, please
contact b.lehmann@wetzel.de
The sQuba project
Surfaces with outstanding technical characteristics
By combining digitalisation techniques with state-of-the-art
laser technology, Wetzel can both generate surfaces with
outstanding technical characteristics and engrave even the
finest microstructures onto surfaces. A shining example of
this fusion of technologies is the special foil designed and
embossed for Rinspeed for its sQuba concept car. The exclusive
submersible car features an aesthetically sophisticated
embossed sharkskin foil with special 3D effect.
Microline : A new laser technology
In response to increasing market demands, the Wetzel
Group has committed to a programme of investment in
the continuous development of laser technology. November
2008 saw the installation of a new laser engraving machine
at the company’s Grenzach-Wyhlen site. The machine, which
will also be used for the automotive sector, is unique in its
support for Microline laser technology, which is able to
achieve fine structures with engraving depths of up to 0.1
mm. Wetzel’s internal design department has also undergone
expansion in order that developments for the design of
new vehicles can be processed more efficiently.
19

The “Wetzel Super-Apprentices”
A great deal of value is placed on training at Wetzel, and the
training quota has increased continuously over the last few
years.
Whereas the company had just 15 apprentices in 2001, the
number has now increased to 44. However, it is not just the
number of apprentices that is an indication of the value that
we place on training, it is the quality of the training and the
results that are achieved which are particularly important.
Success stories; a long road 2005 - 2008
Stefanie Celic – impressive: Wetzel is one of the few companies
to come up with the idea of including media information
technology at the Mannheim vocational academy in its
“programme” of training subjects. At first, the decision met
with scepticism. What do we hope to achieve with this course
of study? How are we going to meaningfully integrate it in
our working processes at Wetzel? However, it soon transpired
that Stefanie Celic, the first student to follow this course
of study, was in considerable demand for various projects
during the practical phase.
Of course, a lot of this has to do with Stefanie herself. Commitment,
power of comprehension, independence and her
test results at the vocational academy revealed that we had
made a good choice.
Suddenly, the perspectives were also there. Whilst she was
still in her second year, the idea came up of offering Stefanie
Celic a position as reprographics management assistant
when she completed her studies. Because of her excellent
performance, we were also able to grant her request to gain
experience abroad before taking up the position. We used
our business contacts to arrange an 8-week period abroad
in San Francisco. 5 weeks of this were spent doing practical
work at Anthen Worldwide, and the remaining 3 weeks were
spent finding out about the country and the people.
20
Man & Knowledge
However, before she went abroad she still had a dissertation
and her final examinations to take care of. Together with her
new boss Klaus-Dieter Klormann, she chose the subject of
“Development of a concept for optimising the preliminary
printing process, taking internal communication into consideration”
as the subject for her dissertation. The result of
the work brought some initial success in the reproduction
area. Stefanie Celic was awarded the top mark of 1.0 by the
vocational academy for her excellent performance, achieving
the maximum possible mark of 100 points. Extract from the
assessment by the professor who corrected her work: “Extremely
good work, sound, systematic, it is a pleasure to read
her work, exemplary, and from my experience it would be
difficult to improve her ERP project planning”.
An outstanding performance of which she can be proud.
And we are proud of her! Stefanie completed her studies as
the fifth best student in the entire year.
She has now been working for us as a qualified media computer
scientist since 17.11.2008, and we are convinced that
she will continue to be equally successful.
Daniel Biesinger – challenging: Wetzel also went in a new
direction with student Daniel Biesinger, the first mechanical
engineering student at WETZEL GmbH. Neither party knew
exactly what to expect. Although Wetzel is not a classical
mechanical engineering company there was no serious cause
for concern, since engineers can be utilised in a wide variety
of areas.
Daniel Biesinger’s first area of responsibility was in the Technology
& Innovation area, where he initially assisted the team
in different areas so that he could independently manage
smaller projects at a later date.
However, the highlight of his training was his dissertation on
the subject of “Construction and implementation of a partially
automated winding machine for manufacturing innovative
flexo sleeves”.
The reason for this work lay in a manufacturing process for
flexo sleeves that was to be newly developed (known as
Floh ). Since the tools for productively manufacturing these
printing forms did not yet exist and there was no appropriate,
low-cost machine on the market, it was decided to
convert a grinding machine that was no longer being used
into a winding machine.
The result of this dissertation is a partially automated, fully
functional winding machine that complies with all of the
safety standards and does not just make the manufacturing
process much simpler, but also stands up to economic aspects
with regard to material costs and manufacturing time.
The ease of handling and simplified control, which was developed
in collaboration with an electrical engineering company,
made the work of the machine operators considerably
easier. Daniel Biesinger also had reason to be pleased with
his excellent mark of 1.3 (average mark: 1.5). He is currently
working as a design engineer in the technical mechanical
engineering area.
Susi Bechtel – impressive: When Susi Bechtel looks back
on her three years of vocational academy study, it will be as
though she became a part of many different small worlds.
On the one hand, there was “vocational academy world”:
learning, examinations, lectures, discussions with peers, disappointments
and successes: “student life” – and then there
was “Wetzel world”: projects, everyday stress, scepticism and
acceptance, meetings, customer contacts, teamwork etc.
Among other things, Susi Bechtel was confronted with the
“principle of authority” that was battling against reforms, the
“general equal rights law” that required the company to deal
with the subject of anti-discrimination, the idea of a “Welcome
Day” for new employees, and trade fair follow-up and
organisation work in the Wetzel world. And not least, the
dissertation included the customer benefit analysis, which
was intended to optimise the “balanced scorecard” and
the customer-related strategy implementation of WETZEL
GmbH. She dealt with all of these projects successfully, and
made a lasting impression.
21

Daniel Biesinger
Susi Bechtel
Man & Knowledge
The time at the vocational academy time also left its impressions.
Because of her outstanding performance, in her
third semester she had the opportunity to become part of a
completely different world for 4 months at the University of
California in Santa Barbara, USA. Studying on a campus next
to the sea, the unbelievably impressive awareness of life, the
cultural differences and the indescribable country all filled
her with enthusiasm. Having started in marketing and making
intermediate stops in accounting, sales and personnel, the
final destination of her vocational academy study is now a
career in controlling. Well armed with valuable impressions,
she now moves on to the next stage: working as a sales controller
at WETZEL GmbH.
10 years success with Ewa Dzwonkowska
WETZEL Sp.z.o.o.
The company known as De-Be based in Chrosla, Poland,
which originally focussed mainly on the decoration printing
area, became another international location of the Wetzel
group of companies when Wetzel 1998 initially purchased
a 76 % share of the Polish rotogravure cylinder manufacturer
and operates as WETZEL Sp.z.o.o. since 2000 when
the remaining shares have been acquired. The Polish factory
moved into the new company building in Duchnow near
Warsaw in 2007.
Since 1998, continuous expansion has taken place in the packaging
segment. Today this area represents about 93% of
the company’s turnover and 7% is generated with decoration
cylinders. The factory is equipped with the latest laser and
electromechanical engraving technology and an automatic
copper line for rotogravure cylinders. An additional strength
is the highly qualified in-house reprographic department.
WETZEL Sp.z.o.o. has achieved an amazing transformation as
far as capacity is concerned during the short period in which
restructuring from decoration to packaging printing has taken
place. The company has increased its output from 70
or so cylinders per month in 1999 to approximately 1.000
engraved rotogravure cylinders per month in 2008.
Since 1999 Wetzel Warsaw with an actual workforce of 70
employees has been managed very successfully by managing
director Ewa Dzwonkowska. Mainly based on the ongoing
further development of the personell driven by Ewa Dzwonkowska
WETZEL Sp.z.o.o. is able to realise customer requests quickly,
reliably and individually. The company has its own transportation
vehicle, which ensures that the cylinders are delivered
with maximum efficiency. The export to neighbouring countries
such as Belarus, Russia and the Ukraine is rapidly expanding.
Another new export region is Scandinavia.
22 23

WETZEL Sp.z.o.o. achieved turnover of about 4.5 million Euros
in the 2008 financial year which is intended to be increased
to about 6 million Euros in 2009.
The board of directors, the company management and particularly
the family members would like to thank Ewa Dzwonkowska
for her tireless efforts over the last 10 years.
All of her colleagues and employees would like to thank her
for the success that she has achieved on behalf of the entire
group of companies at Wetzel Warsaw. And on a personal
level we hope that she continues to enjoy many more memorable
moments within the Wetzel group of companies
and with her customers, partners and employees.
On behalf of all “Wetzels”, Thank you Ewa!
Kathrin
24
Man & Knowledge
Happy Birthday Detlev Liebschwager
Congratulations on 60st birthday
We wish Detlev Liebschwager all the best! He now celebrates
his birthday for the 40st time surrounded by Wetzel
employees. He always was and still is the motor that drives
the packaging department of Wetzel. The only reason why
he would not be working on his birthday is the fact that it
is a Sunday.
The father of three children, who has meanwhile also become
a grandfather, is Managing Director of WETZEL GmbH and
of WETZEL Gravotechnik. He also took over responsibility
as President of WETZEL SpZoo, Poland. Since the past year
he has also extended his working area to Irland. As CEO for
the Packaging Division, he is responsible for the largest division
in the WETZEL Processing Group, Printing & Embossing,
which generates some 70% of the company’s revenues.
Commitment was the key to Detlev Liebschwager’s unusually
successful career. His responsibilities always took prece-
dence over his personal interests. As Partner and Managing
Director, he played a major role in helping a trades-oriented
firm evolve into the internationally operating group of companies
that is WETZEL Processing Group today.
Dear Detlev, amongst all the others, I congratulate you on
your birthday. We thank you for your commitment to your
profession and your loyalty to partners and staff which is an
indispensable element on our shared path.
Most impressive of all is the faith you unswervingly showed
me through all the peaks and troughs we experienced together.
On behalf of the entire Management
Yours,
Uli
Happy Birthday Ulrich Wetzel
The “Uli” era at WETZEL GmbH began in 1963, when 19year-old
Ulrich Wetzel told his father in no uncertain terms
to give up the chairmanship of the company and hand over
control of the company to himself.
When Ulrich Wetzel purchased his first laser from Basel Lasers
in the early 1970‘s in order to modify it in the garage
at his parents’ house. The jury was out as to whether his
intuition could be regarded as brilliant or just plain madness
in view of the possibilities.
Was he throwing huge sums of money out of the window,
or was it the beginning of something extraordinary? As it
did on many other occasions, it turned out that Uli’s intuition
and courage paid off. The introduction of laser engraving
in rubber made Wetzel a leader in the field of flexographic
roller engraving, and the amount of tireless work that was
invested over the years transformed Wetzel into a market
Adressenverzeichnis
25

leader in many markets under the management of Uli and
his partners.
This “laser episode” was a reflection of Uli’s life and the man
himself. An individual who was both crazy and brilliant at the
same time, who never considered himself too good to give
his all for his family and the company. And he always seems
capable of surpassing everything that has gone before.
This includes his ability to motivate his employees. Such as
playing tennis with him at four in the morning, or researching
“passionate” innovations until late at night. His ambition to
be one of the best is admirable, and not just in his business
activities. He was one of the country’s top tennis players, and
he still is an excellent golfer. Here too he had to work hard
for his trophies, spending many an hour hitting balls on the
driving range.
He is still an idealist and visionary, who has handed the Wetzel
company over to the next generation trustingly and full
of hope with the same enthusiasm with which he made the
company great. So that each one of them can prove themselves
like he did. Thanks to his continued full-time commitment
to the company this is an excellent solution, because it
means that everyone can make use of Uli’s experience and
advice to further their own careers.
Ulrich Roland Wetzel, known as Uli, precision mechanic and
photoengraving sketch maker, married to Monika for 46 years,
the father of two daughters and grandfather to Julienne,
Philip and Aline, celebrated his 70th birthday on 19th February
this year.
Congratulations Uli, and thank you for your efforts!
The “Wetzels”
26
Man & Knowledge

WETZEL GmbH
Solvaystraße 31
79639 GRENZACH-WYHLEN
GERMANY
Tel. +49(0)7624 301 0
Fax +49(0)7624 301 108
info@wetzel.de
www.wetzel.de
WETZEL GRAVOTECHNIK GmbH
Boschstraße 2–4
63110 RODGAU-WEISKIRCHEN
GERMANY
Tel. +49(0)610 66 90 70
Fax +49(0)610 66 90 742
gravotechnik@wetzel.de
WETZEL Sp.z.o.o.
Duchnów, Ul. Kresowa 8
PL05-462 WARSAW
POLAND
Tel. +48(0)22 780 20 00
Fax +48(0)22 780 20 03
wetzel@wetzel.pl
WETZEL OOO
2nd Baltic Lane 6
125315 MOSCOW
RUSSIA
Tel. +7(0)495 702 95 52
Fax +7(0)495 702 98 05
k.marikutsa@wetzel.ru
WETZEL Ltd.
Paddingstown
Clonee, County Meath
DUBLIN
IRELAND
Tel. +35 318 026 860
j.brennan@wetzel.de
Tel. +44 79 64 90 52 05
p.ellis@wetzel.de
wetzel SERVICE AG
Frankfurtstrasse 66
4142 MÜNCHENSTEIN
SWITZERLAND
Tel. +41(0)61 973 2030
Fax +41(0)61 973 2032
welcome@wetzel-service.com
www.wetzel-service.com
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Responsible for contents: Kathrin Wetzel
Although all information contained in the paper has been
researched and put together carefully, we don’t take any
responsibility for the correctness, completeness, and upto-dateness
of the given information. Any descriptions or
declarations regarding products or other specifications of
services will in no event replace contractual stipulations.
All rights are reserved. Copies may only be made and distributed
with the prior written consent of wetzel SERVICE GmbH.
Source of picture: Squba, own