EMMERICH, Germany – On the occasion of the 50th company anniversary of Manfred Esters and Johannes Kersjes, Probat CEO Wim Abbing invited to a festive ceremony in the Emmerich Societät last Friday. Semper Probatum: Forever PROBAT! For Johannes Kersjes, the company anthem he composed in 2003 for Carl Hans von Gimborn’s 80th birthday has become his professional credo.
At that time, he had already worked for 30 years at the world market and technology leader, and it was clear to him even then that he would remain loyal to the company until retirement.
Just as he expressed his appreciation for Probat in this way, today’s CEO Wim Abbing now thanked him and the second jubilarian Manfred Esters for their decades of commitment to the company during a dinner in the festively decorated hall of the Societät.
Tina von Gimborn-Abbing, the great-granddaughter of the company’s founder Theodor von Gimborn, also took part in the celebrations alongside many PROBAT companions.
Before Wim Abbing presented the golden watch with personal engraving, which has already become a tradition for this occasion, he addressed words of thanks to the two guests of honor: “In an age characterized by frequent career changes within ever shorter time intervals, hardly conceivable today: Manfred Esters and Johannes Kersjes have been working for PROBAT for 50 years – only the short and at that time still compulsory military service of 15 months in the 70s interrupted the professional career of both of them at Probat.
I have many memories – some of them very personal – with them, as they have been with me since I myself joined the company more than twenty years ago. I would like to sincerely thank you both for your many years of loyalty to the Probat.”
After completing his apprenticeship as a machine fitter, Manfred Esters, who is now 64 years old, initially worked in grinder construction, then in roasting drum construction and has now been a safety officer for the two areas for more than ten years. Johannes Kersjes started his career at PROBAT at the age of 17 and is still responsible for quality control in the incoming goods department.
All Probat employees who have been with the company for 25 years or more can find their names on a wooden plaque in the company’s foyer. This is also an expression of the company’s appreciation for the people whose daily work has made the company what it is today: the world market leader in coffee processing plant and machinery.
