:: Mill for the World - 100 years of Loesche

"100 years is a long time." These were the first words of Dr. Thomas Loesche’s opening address at the grand Anniversary Gala on 1 September 2006. His retrospective on the company’s eventful history revealed that it owed its success to many people who had accompanied and supported the firm over the last hundred years. Reason enough to celebrate this special anniversary in grand style with employees, customers, business partners, friends and their partners.

Work came first, though. Loesche GmbH’s subsidiaries in Spain, the UK, the USA, Brazil, South Africa, India and China and a large number of representatives came together for a conference on 30 August. The first customers arrived in the course of the day. In the evening, all the guests were welcomed at dinner by the two Managing Directors, Dr. Thomas Loesche and Dr. Joachim Kirchmann. A short movie about Loesche GmbH past and present set the tone for the coming days for employees and customers. Video welcome messages followed from customers all over the world, congratulating Loesche on an anniversary to be proud of.

The next morning saw the launch of the third Loesche Symposium, at which around 250 customers from more than 40 countries, Loesche employees and external experts were represented. For two days, presentations were held about the latest developments in the comminution industry and experiences with Loesche mills. However, the program held more than just presentations and discussions: Loesche also closed two contracts. Ms. Fang Fang, President of the China National Building Material Equipment Corporation Ltd. (CBMEC), signed one contract on behalf of Union Cement Company (P.S.C.), U.A.E. and Emirates Cement Co., U.A.E. . Another deal was concluded during the symposium with Cementos Bio Bio of Chile.

The company had allowed its creativity free rein to bring its past, present and future to life. An entertaining movie traced the history of the firm: from its foundation in Berlin in 1906, expropriation after World War II and a new start in Düsseldorf in 1948 through to its rise to become the leading manufacturer of cement grinding mills in 2006. The eventful history of the firm also provided the topic for an address by Managing Director Dr. Thomas Loesche, whose grandfather joined the company in 1912. He described the development of the company from the point of view of the Loesche family.

However, the anniversary was not just an occasion for looking back, but also a time to look forward to the future of the company. This task was left to the second Managing Director, Dr. Joachim Kirchmann. In a speech laced with humor, he explained Loesche GmbH’s aims: to develop the mineral market, increase the construction of turnkey plants and expand its global market position.