The Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed division joined the “Wirtschaft für ein weltoffenes Sachsen” association at the beginning of 2020. With this step, the Radebeul-based company, as a globally active printing press manufacturer, is committed to supporting and promoting the integration of immigration into the economy with concrete measures.
Koenig & Bauer has already supported democracy and tolerance as well as the integration of refugees in the past. In 2015, two asylum seekers from Pakistan began their vocational training at the plant. Last year, the two refugees, who had fled for political and religious reasons respectively, passed their exams as mechatronics engineers at the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Since then, they have been employed on a permanent basis in the printing press manufacturer’s assembly department.
Last year, a mechanical engineer from Syria began his temporary employment at Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed. The 32-year-old lived on the outskirts of Damascus and came to Germany at the beginning of 2016. Since the beginning of August 2018, he has been working as a technical draughtsman in the design department for large-format sheetfed offset presses.
Koenig & Bauer employees travel to almost every continent for contract negotiations, press installations, service assignments, international trade fairs and specialist events. In addition, customers and interested parties of different skin colors and religions regularly visit the plant in Radebeul to obtain information, purchase printing technology or take delivery of their presses. Ralf Sammeck, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, explains: “We are open to the world and want to contribute our attitude and experience to our society.”
This also happens in public. At some of Dynamo Dresden’s home matches last season, Koenig & Bauer promoted cosmopolitanism and tolerance on the perimeter boards. Ralf Sammeck wants this not only from his employees, but from all Saxons: “Take a critical look at the issues of xenophobia and populism. Fight to ensure that our democratic values are preserved,” is his appeal.