THE LATEST NEWS FROM KUHN
New developments related to KUHN GmbH.
Ruhrverband visits KUHN
January 2025 | Multi-stage solution developed
Right at the beginning of the year, we welcomed a visit from the Ruhrverband’s construction department to present KUHN’s products and services.
An important sewage treatment plant is located in the Ruhrverband’s catchment area, where particularly high demands are placed on screenings retention. In order to find solutions here, theoretical principles were first presented, which could be confirmed in our water laboratory with tests specially designed for the plant to be upgraded. The respective variants were then discussed together and a multi-stage solution was developed.
Donation for the volleyball players of TSV Höpfingen
December 2024 | New jerseys for the mixed team
The new mixed team of the TSV Höpfingen volleyball department was delighted to receive new jerseys from KUHN. Our managing director Michael Kuhn, himself an active player in the recreational group, was very keen to donate these jerseys to the new team.
We are excited to see how the new outfit will affect the team’s playing success.
125 years of the Emschergenossenschaft
November 2024 | Celebrations in Bochum
125 years of the Emschergenossenschaft/Lippeverband – a reason to celebrate. On Thursday, numerous well-known guests met in the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum. In addition to our Managing Director Dr. Michael Kuhn, our Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, were among those celebrating.
As a special statutory water management association, the Emschergenossenschaft is a public corporation responsible for water maintenance, wastewater discharge and treatment, groundwater management and the regulation of the consequences of mining in the Emscher catchment area with around 2.2 million inhabitants. Its history was primarily characterized by the technical expansion of the Emscher waters. Today, the Emschergenossenschaft also fights against the consequences of climate change and the improvement of flood protection.
We at KUHN congratulate them on their 125th anniversary and are proud to support the Emschergenossenschaft with our machines and services.
DWA Federal Advisory Board meets at KUHN
November 2024 | New concepts were developed
The Federal Advisory Council of the DWA German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste met at the end of November – this time at the premises of KUHN GmbH in Höpfingen.
The Managing Director, Dr. Lisa Broß, first reported on the DWA’s new strategy process. Small teams worked out which topics are important for the DWA now and in the future and drew up corresponding concepts and proposals on how these tasks can be tackled.
The event was rounded off with a tour of the company, during which Dr. Michael Kuhn gave an insight into screen and screw production as well as the hydraulics laboratory.
A new village community center for Waldstetten
November 2024 | KUHN supplied the heating technology
A new village community center with a two-group kindergarten for Waldstetten.
What was decided more than three years ago by the Höpfingen municipal council is now finally becoming a reality. The inauguration of the building complex took place on November 22.
The site of the former sports hall has been completely reorganized and can now be used for multiple purposes. In addition to the premises for a two-group kindergarten, the building also includes rooms for the village community as well as new parking spaces. The special feature: everything was built on top of each other using modular timber construction.
We at KUHN were also involved in this new building. Our building services department was responsible for equipping the entire heating system, ensuring that the kindergarten children and visitors to the village community center are always comfortably warm.
When the ZDF rings…
November 2024 | KUHN GmbH on ZDF heute journal
Last week, the phone rang in the morning. “Hello, this is ZDF. Mr. Kuhn, do you have time for an interview at short notice? We’re looking for a medium-sized company that exports to the USA. Could you give us a statement on what impact the results of the US election could possibly have on the German economy?”
Of course we didn’t say no. Three hours later, a camera team from the ZDF regional studio in Stuttgart was in the yard. Camera, light and sound were set up and off we went.
Our Managing Director Dr. Michael Kuhn was on hand to answer questions and explain the negative consequences to be expected in Germany following the US election from the perspective of KUHN GmbH.
The entire report was broadcast on Saturday, November 2nd on ZDF heute journal. Click here to go to the ZDF media library
KUHN worldwide: On the road in India
October 2024 | Dr. Michael Kuhn presented us internationally for more than a week
India is developing into one of the future markets for environmental technologies. IFAT India is already the leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and recycling there. The first major travel stop for our Managing Director Dr. Michael Kuhn was therefore IFAT India in Mumbai.
There, he not only presented us as an important company in the wastewater sector at the German Pavilion, but also chaired a panel discussion on green hydrogen from (waste) water in his capacity as a member of the board of the German Water Partnership (GWP). Sounds strange at first, but it is actually one of the most advanced water technologies of the future and plays a key role in revolutionizing energy production and sustainability.
After intensive days at the trade fair in Mumbai, Michael then traveled on to Chennai. From October 20 – 23, 2024, the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, organized a showcase for German companies in the sustainable water and wastewater industry.
The core of the program was a symposium with specialist lectures, discussions and company presentations by the German participants to selected stakeholders from industry and politics. Networking and individually organized meetings complemented the programme. Michael Kuhn was able to take part in a panel discussion and contributed to a successful event.
The economic potential offered by the water industry in India is already enormous and is set to grow further in the coming years. However, market entry for international companies is associated with many hurdles. Market knowledge and product adaptations are almost always required and a large network and the right contacts to decision-makers are essential. The exhibition in Chennai helps German companies in particular to sharpen their understanding of the local market, explore business opportunities and increase the visibility of their own solutions and products.
The course has been set for potential cooperation.
Technology from Höpfingen can be found worldwide
August 2024 | Dr Andre Baumann, State Secretary in the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, took a look around the Kuhn company
Report from the Fränkische Nachrichten from 02/08/2024:
“Höpfingen. How is a long-established global company in the rural area, which is now in its third generation of management and will soon be celebrating its 100th anniversary, doing? A question that was answered very vividly and clearly on Thursday at the Kuhn company in Höpfingen: Dr Andre Baumann, State Secretary in the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, took a look behind the scenes, asked questions and received interesting answers from Managing Director Dr Michael Kuhn.
They had first met at the IFAT GreenTec trade fair in Munich, where Kuhn had a stand (as reported by FN). It quickly became clear that they spoke the same language: “GreenTec is also very important in Baden-Württemberg as an automotive and mechanical engineering state,” emphasised Kuhn, who was delighted with the visit. “Ministries rarely find their way to North Baden,” he emphasised, referring to the company’s entrepreneurial and creative-technical focus on hydraulic engineering.
Informed about projects
He discussed river catchment areas, the “much too late” master plan for Baden-Württemberg’s water supply, the global sewerage network and water conflicts. At the same time, he provided information on plant engineering in the areas of drinking water supply, wastewater treatment and rainwater treatment, mechanical engineering in the field of mechanical wastewater treatment and current national and international projects.
It became clear that the slogan “water experts – world wide” is more than just a catchy advertising slogan: technology from Höpfingen can be found not only at numerous locations in Germany, but also in Prague, London, Los Angeles, Newark, Sydney and Invercargill in New Zealand. There was also joy about the succession solution. With Peter Kuhn and Janis Kuhn, the next generation is already in the starting blocks.
Finally, a great deal of space was given to discussing current issues that sometimes concern even a global player like Kuhn: Dr Michael Kuhn recalled the high and almost unmanageable bureaucratic requirements and the difficulty in recruiting employees despite 180 employees and a good reputation. “We have massive problems attracting skilled labour from the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region to Höpfingen. Technical positions in particular are difficult to fill, especially as working from home has proven to be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it takes the pressure off the family life of office workers; on the other hand, it fuels certain dissatisfaction among workers and fitters, for example, who feel disadvantaged because it is harder to reconcile work and family life,” he conceded.
The only chance is to train and develop our own employees: “We currently have 13 trainees,” emphasised Kuhn. But here, too, the application situation is not ideal at the moment: “The fact that there are no more secondary schools is making itself felt. Those with a secondary school leaving certificate are rarely interested in the commercial sector,” he noted.
The State Secretary pointed out that the skilled trades in particular were helping to achieve climate protection targets. “However, politicians cannot solve the problem alone – society must help and convey the message that the skilled trades have more golden ground than ever before. Real climate protectors learn in the skilled trades,” he explained. Modern technology can also solve many problems and certain flexibility must be put into practice. With this in mind, the State Secretary promised to take the knowledge and insights gained in Höpfingen back to the Ministry of the Environment. Dr Michael Kuhn went on to point out the situation with water screw conveyors, which not every expert accepts: Since a certain risk of injury to fish could not be ruled out, the company was occasionally tilting at windmills and hoping that the situation would ease.
Finally, the delegation went on a tour of the company. Dr Michael Kuhn showed State Secretary Baumann the modern hydraulics laboratory and provided an insight into the production of water screw conveyors. He did not fail to mention that the first Kuhn water screw conveyor was manufactured in-house in 1978. Dr Baumann thanked the company for its “highly professional commitment to the most important element of life over several generations. Mayor Christian Hauk also expressed his delight at the high-profile visit, which he described as a “very appreciative gesture for Höpfingen”. He did not fail to mention that the Kuhn company, as the largest local employer, plays an important role in local life. ad”
A sporting weekend for KUHN GmbH
July 2024 | TSV Höpfingen invites you to the sports festival
At the end of July, TSV Höpfingen traditionally invites everyone to its annual sports festival. This means exceptional conditions in Höpfingen and a colourful programme for young and old.
The TSV charity run took place on Saturday, with KUHN employees and their families competing in the 5km and 10km races – all for a good cause, of course. Whether runners or walkers: everyone contributed to the joint best performance and simply looked great!
On Monday, we took part in the company tournament with two football teams. A pure KUHN team and a mixed team “Lehrer x & KUHN GmbH” showed their skills on the ball in KUHN kit. After exciting matches on the small pitch, the mixed team finally won the cup in the final against Sparkasse Tauberfranken with a penalty shoot-out victory.
Thanks to TSV Höpfingen for a great sports festival – we are already looking forward to next year.
Two long-serving employees go into well-deserved retirement!
June 2024 | Franz-Karl Bechtold and Jürgen Hilpert bid farewell
Two long-standing employees are leaving the company. Franz-Karl Bechtold can now finally call himself “retired” after more than 32 years at KUHN and Jürgen Hilpert has also reached his well-deserved retirement after more than 13 years.
With them, two very reliable and competent colleagues are leaving us. We will miss both of them very much with their many years of experience and their great knowledge.
Dear Franz and Jürgen, we wish you all the best for the new phase of your lives, and above all many more decades of good health. You are always welcome here.
THANK YOU for everything!
After a 2-year break, IFAT was finally back in May!
May 2024 | World’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management
More than 142,000 visitors from around 170 countries and regions came to Munich this year for the world’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management – that’s a new record!
Climate, water, energy and the environment are among the most important issues of our time. We at KUHN GmbH deal with these issues on a daily basis and are therefore proud to have been part of this impressive event.
With a new exhibition stand and all kinds of innovations in our luggage, we presented ourselves for five days as a competent and holistic partner for our customers and interested parties in the field of wastewater technology.
We focused in particular on our modern and reliable machines – old technology that is reinventing itself, but also many new products that are revolutionizing the market. Coupled with our KUHN 360 as an essential component of active water management.
THANK YOU for five intensive days full of interesting discussions, nice contacts, great impressions and hours of fun!
And above all, THANK YOU for your visit to our stand and your great interest in our products as well as our holistic solutions and the expertise of KUHN.
KUHN will be 100 years young in 2026!
You can already look forward to IFAT 2026 and celebrate the anniversary with us in the midst of tomorrow’s innovations.
KUHN at IFAT India
October 2023 | Feasibility study signed
In October, our Managing Director Dr Michael Kuhn took part in IFAT India in Mumbai, together with our Indian partner, as an exhibitor at the German joint stand.
In this context, a feasibility study was signed between the city of Chennai, the water ministry of the state of Tamil Nadu and German Water Partnership (GWP). The Federal Ministry for the Environment had commissioned several companies for this purpose. The aim was to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to rehabilitate the Nesapakkam wastewater treatment plant. The process technology of this plant is to be completely modernised. KUHN would like to supply the inlet group for this.
An official report on GWP’s partnership with India was published in the magazine “Wasser & Abwasser International” (wwt).
26 years in daily use under the toughest conditions
July 2023 | A special order at KUHN
Our customer Porta Westfalica has decided to replace a wash press for screenings treatment at the Möllbergen wastewater treatment plant.
Not really worthy of a headline. But what is so special about this order? This wash press was one of the very first to be developed and built at the time. After more than 26 years of reliable and faithful service, it is now being replaced by a more advanced but equally robust KWP-Premium 250/600 model due to its age. There are currently well over 2,500 of these KUHN machines in use around the world – something we are naturally more than proud of!
Head of Production Elmar Kaiser retires after 48 years at KUHN
December 2022 | Management and colleagues thank Elmar Kaiser
Managing Director Dr Michael Kuhn called Elmar Kaiser a “living KUHN encyclopaedia” when he bid farewell to him in December 2022. Almost five decades earlier, Kaiser had applied for an apprenticeship as an electrician at Franz Kuhn oHG. However, the position had already been filled, so he was offered an apprenticeship as an office administrator. “I accepted the offer and have never regretted it,” says Kaiser. “Thanks to the foresight of the respective managing directors and the commitment of each individual employee, a lot has been tackled and achieved in the 48 years.” And that, added Managing Director Jürgen Kuhn, was not least thanks to Elmar Kaiser himself: “Elmar never lost sight of the big picture. No matter how stressful a situation is: Elmar remains friendly and calm, he finds solutions instead of problems. He was and is always very popular with all colleagues, customers and partners!”
The Höpfinger not only experienced decades of change at KUHN, but also helped to shape it: The small craft business became a nationally and internationally recognised expert in the field of water and wastewater with over 170 employees. Trainee Elmar Kaiser first became a commercial employee in sales and the building services department, drew up quotations, became an expert in stocktaking and in 2012 became head of the production department. He lived up to his motto: “There’s a lot to do. Let’s get on with it!” Kaiser was a highly valued point of contact for experienced and young colleagues and set standards in terms of reliability, expertise, collegiality and loyalty.
In his farewell speech, Elmar Kaiser impressively described what 48 years of change inside and outside the world of work means: “When I started my apprenticeship in 1974, Germany had just become football world champion for the second time. A litre of regular petrol cost 83 pfennigs, a beer at the Oktoberfest 3.20 DM. Communication at KUHN was by telephone, in writing with letters and, if it had to be quicker, “chatting” by telex. Fitters had to find a telephone box for every enquiry and construction sites or customers were found using maps, car atlases and directions. Water experts – world wide was still a long way off.” In keeping with the tradition of his work, Elmar Kaiser concluded his speech with an optimistic wish for his colleagues to continue to pull together. After all, this attitude had brought him a happy working life for 48 years.
Not only the management, but also Kaiser’s colleagues thanked him for his commitment to KUHN over his 48 years with the company. KUHN in Höpfingen is certain that Elmar Kaiser will remain part of the family business even after these 48 years.
Sparkling drinking water for Gerichtstetten primary school
October 2022 | Donation makes purchase possible
Quote from the official gazette and newsletter of the municipality of Hardheim with the district of Gerichtstetten:
“There was great joy among the pupils and teachers at the primary school in Gerichtstetten when the new water dispenser was put into operation. It is thanks to both the Kuhn company from Höpfingen and the primary school’s support association that the children can now come to school with a little less weight in their satchels, as they no longer have to bring their drinks from home, but can quench their thirst with chilled, still or sparkling water from the new water dispenser, depending on their taste.
The children were particularly enthusiastic about the drinking bottles specially made for all pupils and teachers at Gerichtstetten Primary School to mark the introduction of the water dispenser. The bottles are adorned with a very attractive imprint, consisting of the logo of the sponsoring organisation and the children’s names, which makes the bottles something very special. The attractive design of the drinking bottles was developed by Mrs Ehrenfried-Dittmar from RED Kreativ.
The purchase of the high-quality stainless steel bottles was organised with great commitment by the support association team led by chairman Florian Dörr and was only possible thanks to the very generous donation from the Kuhn company.
Managing Director Jürgen Kuhn emphasised at the handover that the donation was made with great pleasure for Gerichtstetten primary school and was delighted with the result and the opportunity to support a meaningful and useful project.
At the end of the handover, headmistress Daniela Taranto expressed her great thanks to all those involved in the “water dispenser” project, especially the Kuhn company, the support association team and Mrs Ehrenfried-Dittmar, without whose commitment and financial support the implementation would not have been possible.”