The current figures and forecasts for German industry do not look promising. This is particularly true for the mechanical engineering sector. According to the latest data from the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), orders in the mechanical engineering sector have declined sharply. ARKU is nevertheless optimistic. "We are creating our own economy," says Albert Reiss, Chairman of the ARKU Management Board, explaining the motto for these times. "This means that we have done our homework and are prepared for all scenarios. We have strengthened our team for the future and developed innovative products to increase our competitiveness." A lack of orders was not the issue in 2023, and ARKU will close the year with record sales. "After the turbulence of the Covid and material crisis, the challenge was rather to get back to normal operations and get the internal processes back on track," continues Reiss. This year, for example, a complete flow production facility for series machines was set up at the location in Bühl, Germany in order to shorten delivery times. Capacity utilization will last well into 2024, so planning for the new year is already in place.
This was also the message of the ARKU boss's speech at the ARKU Christmas party. The SCC fanfare corps Haueneberstein ensured a good atmosphere. With a flag bearer, trombone, horn, trumpet and percussion. ARKU also maintained its Christmas fundraising campaign as part of the celebrations. Among other things, the main donation was made to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF): ARKU supports whale conservation projects that also protect dolphins from bycatch, remove ghost nets and protect the oceans as a complete ecosystem. Another donation goes to the Badisches Tagblatt's, a local daily newspaper, "BT readers bring Christmas joy" campaign, which supports needy families and single people through a local organization. Last but not least, FV Haueneberstein and its ten youth football teams were thrilled to receive a donation.
Thanks to Ruth Gampp-Raquot
ARKU Maschinenbau would not be in a good position if the company could not count on its employees. Reiss had to bid farewell to one of them on her well-deserved retirement, not without first giving her special thanks. Ruth Gampp-Raquot has been with ARKU since 1 July 1980 and has worked in all commercial areas: Initially she was a secretary and assistant in the Sales department, from 1991 she took on these tasks for the Marketing & Project Planning department. She later worked in the service department as a sales representative.
Fortunately, young people are always joining ARKU. Of the more than 200 employees worldwide at the Baden-Baden (Germany), Bühl (Germany), Cincinnati (USA) and Kunshan (China) sites, 15 are currently completing an apprenticeship and 7 are studying at a DHBW university. Among them, six apprentices and two students started in September 2023. ARKU is currently training apprentices in the professions Industrial clerk, metal technology specialist, industrial mechanic, mechatronics technician and, for the first time this year, IT specialist. For the DHBW degree porgrams, there is a choice between business informatics, computer science (information technology), mechatronics, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. As an attractive employer, ARKU offers young talent many opportunities: Stays abroad in the subsidiaries in the USA or China, team-building workshops, social projects, working on customer or development projects.