EMMERICH, Germany – At a ceremony last Friday, representatives of Probat SE thanked a total of 25 employees for their many years of loyalty to the company. The ceremony took place in the festively decorated company restaurant “Werk III”. Employees celebrating anniversaries as well as future pensioners were honored. In addition to the honorees and their line managers, CEO and jubilarian Wim Abbing and Works Council Chairman Christoph Derksen also attended the event.
Honoring jubilarians and retirees has a long tradition at Probat and a firm place in Wim Abbing’s calendar. This event is also something special for the chairman of the works council, Christoph Derksen. This year, seven colleagues celebrated their 25th anniversary and three their 40th.
In total, 15 employees were officially sent off into well-earned retirement. Among the guests of honor was Wim Abbing, who celebrates his 25th anniversary with Probat this year. Since taking over as sole CEO in 2009, he has not only successfully kept the company on course but has also determined the direction of the international coffee market with his bold entrepreneurial decisions.
In his speech, in which Wim Abbing addressed the guests of honor with personal words, he repeatedly emphasized that Probat would not be able to look back on more than 150 years of success without the commitment and loyalty of its employees. And this day was also a very special one for him: “After 25 years at Probat, I now finally have my place on the wooden plaque in the foyer of our company headquarters alongside all the other employees who have been with the company for 25 years or more.”
He is concerned about current developments in the coffee market, which is struggling with the sharp rise in green coffee prices. However, the acquisitions made this year allow him to look to the future with confidence: “The entire Probat Group is benefiting from the cross-segment projects that have resulted from this year’s acquisitions in the cocoa and chocolate sector. All the more reason for me to thank you all for your dedicated work and your contribution to shaping a promising future for Probat.”
Finally, the honorees rounded off this special day together with all other Probat colleagues at the atmospheric Christmas party − a wonderful finale that once again made the team spirit and appreciation within the company tangible.
The jubilarians:
25 years: Wim Abbing, Michael Aengeneyndt, Marco Derksen, Sven Gründer, Jens Kerst, Dennis Landers, Thorsten Naves
40 years: Michael Damen, Michael Derksen, Gerd Kock
The retirees:
Johannes Otto Becker, Heinz Boers, Gert Braam, Gregor Eikeln, Martina Fandrei, Gerhard Gertsen, Berthold Hoppmann, Norbert Klümpner, Gerd Kock, Roland Liesmann, Annelore Peekel, Ernst Stricker, Jürgen Ticheloven, Klaus Versteegen, Peter Wanders
About Probat
Probat has been developing pioneering solutions for the coffee industry for more than 155 years. The company is the global market and technology leader for coffee processing plants and machinery. Its range of services includes the development, design and construction of roasters and grinders as well as the planning and implementation of industrial production plants.
Probat’s product portfolio also includes machine and plant controls, environmental technologies, and comprehensive services. Together with subsidiaries in Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Scotland, the Netherlands, and the USA, PROBAT employs around 1,200 people. In addition, representatives in more than forty countries ensure that Probat’s many years of experience and know-how are available worldwide.
