Tim Bolder, New Managing Director of Edelmetallgalvanik Moosbach & Kanne, Interview: Robert Piterek
You recently started sharing the management of the company with Dr. Moosbach. How did this come about?
As the son of Dr. Moosbach's sister, I am part of the Moosbach family and the great-grandson of the company founder. I did my apprenticeship at Moosbach & Kanne and also worked here during my training as a master craftsman. After that, I worked at BIA for a long time. The year before last, at a family celebration, my aunt and I discussed the subject of succession and it turned out that she had already been thinking about gradually stepping down. This led to the development of this succession plan.
Is the work of a plastic electroplating shop compatible with that of a precious metal electroplating shop?
Absolutely. It's not as if everything in electroplating is limited to the base material. We are looking at the many different processes that are used. The work in electroplating is more about specific processes and how to deal with upcoming tasks and technologies. In this respect, I have learned a lot from my time at BIA, including knowledge from the automotive world. The current challenge is to find the right balance, because BIA and Moosbach & Kanne differ in terms of structure and size. I am currently working on which content that makes sense at BIA can be transferred and which cannot.
"My motivation is to continue to run the company appropriately"
How do you view the long history of Moosbach & Kanne?
First of all, it is impressive and also represents a major challenge for me. Of course, the drive is to continue the company in an appropriate manner, possibly to optimize or refine it in one area or another and perhaps even expand it. Only time will tell. The current situation is not easy, for example with regard to energy costs. In electroplating, it is not possible to operate any electrochemical bath cold. The question arises as to how energy can be generated or purchased ina CO2-neutral manner. Energy efficiency is also important. But there will come a point when it becomes clear that a further reduction in emissions is difficult or impossible. After all, electroplating is not done with water alone. We need chemicals, we need a certain temperature and a certain amount of electricity. But we are not at that point yet.
How is the company doing these days?
We are a relatively small craft business and have a fluctuating order situation. But things are looking very positive at the moment. We have interesting projects that are about to start and require new solutions. It remains exciting.
What is the division of labor in the management?
We are currently in the process of finding out. I only started at the beginning of December. At the moment, we are trying to keep an eye on everything together and I am concentrating particularly strongly on operations and production management, where I have also gained relevant experience at BIA as deputy head of the electroplating department. In the medium term, the plan is for my aunt to be able to retire step by step and at the same time continue to support me.
What goals have you set yourself?
One current question is whether we will make a technological change in heat generation this year. We operate a CHP plant in collaboration with the Solingen public utility company, for which the contract is due to expire. We are currently examining whether we have a chance to make further technological advances in terms ofCO2 savings.
INFO
Tim Bolder is 40 years old and lives with his partner of many years in a house with a large garden, which provides a balance to his professional life. His heart beats for heavy metal and motorcycling.
