Soepenberg has trained its first apprentice
Jessica Wesling had already worked at Soepenberg prior to her apprenticeship and has now successfully completed her two-year apprenticeship. After passing her exam she is a “Management Assistant in Wholesale and Foreign Trade” and with this new qualification she will keep on working at Soepenberg. Martin Teloo, Head of Purchasing and Sales, professionally supported her apprenticeship at the company: “We are very proud of our first apprentice and will definitely provide further apprenticeship training positions in the future.” Soepenberg trains management assistants in wholesale and foreign trade and in retail. The number of apprenticeship training positions is determined depending on the general economic development. People interested in training positions can get information directly from Soepenberg.
New Soepenberg premises in Trvnava
The new Soepenberg headquarters in Trnava, Slovakia is larger and more centrally located. The move into the prestigious building of a former bank had become necessary due to a lack of space. “We now have more room and better possibilities to realize our projects professionally,” says a pleased Chris Slagter, Managing Director of Soepenberg Slovakia. By now a total of 32 employees work for Soepenberg in Slovakia. In addition to Trnava there is a second Slovakian location in Zvolenská Slatina. Further Soepenberg’s Eastern European sites are located in the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Sustainable Investments
The Soepenberg Corporation is planning to build and operate a biogas plant in Solvay’s industrial area in Rheinberg. The plant will use grain starch to produce renewable energy according to an innovative process. “The plant will differ noticeably from conventional biogas plants which generally use corn or slurry”, explains Norbert Scholten, Soepenberg’s Chief Executive Manager. “The basic idea of the innovative concept is not to add any products to the fermentation process that cannot be fermented. Byproducts are removed before and sensibly used in other processes”, Norbert Scholten points out. “Fermentation residues are thus reduced to a minimum.” The plant will be operated at a high level of efficiency in resources and energy. It will generate approximately 21 megawatts of electrical power. More detailed information on this project, which is still in the planning phase, can be found in “Biogas Plant”.
Soepenberg supports Research
The Soepenberg Group actively participates in research projects that examine possible fields of application of secondary raw materials. Alternative recovery and recycling of waste material help to save costs; prevent pollution and safeguard the natural world. Using his innovation voucher of the state for € 6,000 one student improved the reprocessing of mineral remainders from the soda-ash process in the course of his bachelor thesis. SF-Soepenberg GmbH and the institutes IHHP and A.U.G.E. were involved in the cooperation with College Niederrhein which came up to a total volume of € 19,000. The objective of the thesis was the characterization of the waste material lime lenses which are produced during soda-ash production and trying to find possible fields of application for further utilization. The findings will be integrated in the practical business process if possible.
Soepenberg is promoting preparations for the track and field world championship in 2012
Soepenberg sponsors young athletes: A sponsorship contract has now been concluded with the Dresdner Sports Club 1898 (DSC). The athlete Martin Grothkopp, who is preparing for the Olympic Games 2010 in London at the DSC, is sponsored. Last year Grothkopp became the German 400 meter champion with his personal best time of 45.94 seconds.
Regional athletes are also promoted by Soepenberg: the company sponsored the jerseys of the soccer bambinis (candy league) of the DJK Grün-Weiß Appeldorn and booked perimeter advertising space in the stadium of the sports club Budberg in Rheinberg.
Takeover of Location in Braunschweig
Change of ownership in Thune: The former oil storage has been taken over by Soepenberg. The adjustment activities are in full swing. Unused pipelines are being removed, tanks, pumps and pendulum exhaust air systems fixed or newly installed. New truck scales will be installed in July. Soepenberg employees who were hired for the Braunschweig site, the TÜV Nord and the Trading Standards Office are monitoring the activities. In the course of a fire brigade drill that will soon take place on the premises, all extinguishing installations will be checked thoroughly.
The proper landscaping is also taken care of: Soepenberg has commissioned the Lebenshilfe (disabled workshop) to professionally take care of landscaping the outdoor facilities.
CEO Norbert Scholten on the state of affairs: “All preparations to ensure safe and smooth operation of the plant are made in close collaboration with the authorities. I assume that this work will be completed latest by the end of the year.” The company Soepenberg has been dealing in fertilizers and secondary raw material which are used, among other things, in the agricultural area. ASL and AHL solutions, vinasse, molasses, glycerin and vegetable oils which can be used as fertilizers will be stored in Braunschweig.
Information:
H. Florijn, Tel. 02 81/4 75 56 15, h.florijn@soepenberg.com
Setup Unpacking Line
In order to process expired food swiftly and efficiently Soepenberg is currently setting up an unpacking line. Having developed various techniques food, which cannot be used according to its original purpose, is unpacked and utilized as secondary raw material for biogas plants. Soepenberg takes care of the entire process from delivery and unpacking to the production of environmentally-friendly electricity in a biogas plant.
Contact:
S. Ramacher, Tel. 02 81/4 75 56, s.ramacher@soepenberg.com
Logistics Expansion
Soepenberg offers package solutions which also includes conceptual design and organization of logistics. Transports are executed with the Soepenberg subsidiary G.U.T. Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Transporte (corporation for environment and transports). In the future this service can be expanded due to the acquisition of a container and transport service company.
Contact:
G.U.T. H.Hoff, Tel. 02 81 / 4 75 56 13,
h.hoff@gut-umwelt-transport.de
