I was delighted to have been invited on behalf of Brush Expert Ltd to attend the 100th anniversary celebrations of Roth Composite Machinery in Burgwald, Germany. I received a very warm welcome by the family Roth and employees, some of whom I have known for many years.

I was greeted at the airport by Winfried Schaefer, Senior Sales Manager for Roth Composite Machinery now covering mainly for the pleating machines for the filter industries.  He informed me of the recent change in personnel: A new Sales Director, Mr Dirk Henrich, has been appointed within the last 6 weeks.  Dirk Henrich has built his reputation on his qualifications in engineering and economics and his long-term experience, amongst others, as managing director in international companies; some in the construction of special machinery. 

I was introduced to Roth Industries’ owner, Herr Manfred Roth, who explained about the Roth family business. We had reported in 2016 about how the company converted from a group of companies with various portfolios to a monogamous unit with one uniform brand. This merger has proved very successful and the brush and broom machinery section has gone from strength to strength.  The Roth brand is the face of the family-owned company, providing it with a global entity.

I then met the CEO of Roth Industries, Mr Matthias Donges. Mr Donges has a separate pastime within Roth as he plays the flugelhorn in the Roth company band that performed during the reception and later during the celebrations.

The official celebrations were opened in the grand marquee by Managing Director, Dr Andreas Reimann who, having introduced the proceeding, asked Chairman, Dipl. - Vw. Mr Manfred Roth, to address the visitors.

Mr Roth introduced and thanked the band then welcomed all to the ‘truly remarkable and pleasant occasion; the 100th Anniversary of Schlesinger, today known as Roth Composite Machinery’.  He congratulated those present on the success of the business over the past 100 years, referring it to reaching a biblical age, saying “who of us would not like to live to be 100 and then still be in such good shape?”

He explained the difficult times at the start of the company working through two world wars but explained that Friedrich Schlesinger was an ‘entrepreneur of the old school’ who mastered technology and knew the market, as many of his employees had agreed, with significant pioneering innovations for the brush industry as a result of his inventiveness.

Since taking over the company in 1971, Mr Roth observed with great respect the company’s progress and quickly recognised the Schlesinger Company’s concept of success, which can be reduced to the simple formula “High-tech, Flexible, Safe and Inexpensive” giving Schlesinger a competitive advantage right from the start.

Manfred said that he and his wife liked to reminisce on those early days at Burgwald as well as being at the Freiburg trade fairs getting to know their customers which they will be looking forward to no doubt, as Roth are again exhibiting at Interbrush in 2020.

Stating that he owed its success to their employees, on behalf of the management of Roth Industries and his family, he thanked the entire workforce for their tremendous commitment and loyalty. He also thanked his business partners and customers who have remained loyal to Schlesinger/Roth for many decades to the present day.

He welcomed all present; among them were past employees and families, business partners, members of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and political representatives, as well as the press both locally and internationally to the event, outlining each section of visitors in turn and thanking them for their presence.

He was proud to introduce the heads of the Roth Composite Machinery GmbH in turn; Dennis Bruckner – Plant Manager, Thomas Halbrucker – Sales Manager, Winfried Schaefer - Senior Sales Manager, Uwe Cronau - head of the works committee, Mr Dirk Henrich - Sales Director. Mr Roth then presented the team with a Jubilee plaque. It had been stood on and easel under a red cloth which was then ceremoniously unveiled. He thanked them all in turn.

Following that Dr Peter Sacha – representative of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Kassel-Marburg gave his greetings to the company. He awarded Alfred Kajeweski and Dr Andreas Reimann a certificate of Honour in recognition of successful work in the North Hessian economy.

The members of The Roth Band, dressed in the company colours of red and black, entertained the audience superbly with their expert performance. The warm and friendly atmosphere shone through and showed the relaxed atmosphere in the company that ensures great working relationships among the staff and management.

Following the band came a review with picture presentation over the past 100 years by Managing Directors Alfred Kajewski and Dr Andreas Reimann. There is a separate press release outlining their presentation of history of the changes over time in the News pages.

Dr Reimann then presented Mrs Roth with a beautiful bouquet from the employees.  Mr Cronau then came forward and gave the audience a summary of the gift that the employees had together provided for Mr Roth; a lesson in flying in a light aircraft that was organised by Mr Schaefer.  He then presented Mr Roth with a picture book showing the events of the flying day outlining memories of a happy excursion.  Mr Roth then gave his view of the day with detail much to everyone’s amusement.

The final gift to be unveiled was a brush picture of Mr Roth made from brush fibres, in black and white; a very good likeness and a sign of excellent skill! Both Mr and Mrs Roth were very surprised and pleased with the gifts and thankfully applauded the employees.

The band then played their finale.  Everyone was then invited to an excellent cooked buffet lunch followed by a visit round factory to see machines running and to look at memorabilia. There were many just as fascinated as I, observing the machinery at work.

For the afternoon and evening the factory was opened to employee’s families with food and refreshments and fun on a bouncy castle - for the children, of course.

A very good day was enjoyed by all.  We extend to Roth Composite Machinery our very best and warm wishes for the next 100 years!

Images from the event are avaible here...

Josie Wadd

Brush Expert Ltd