Countless guests from the local business and political communities accepted the AlzChem and BASF invitation to meet and celebrate the New Year in CHEMIEPARK TROSTBERG. The circle of guests was somewhat bigger and the accompanying festivities more solemn, as 100 years of Chemistry were being celebrated in Trostberg.

Stefan Greger, Managing Director of AlzChem Trostberg GmbH, started the evening by casting a retrospective look at the turbulent past year and welcomed the guests, in particular the President of the Bavarian Parliament, Alois Glueck, as Guest of Honour and Guest Speaker.

During the previous year, the company had a full calendar of special events and campaigns, among which was the recruitment of apprentices leading up to their final qualification as journeymen. Also mentioned were the sponsorship given by AlzChem to Trostberg Chiefs, the various structural reorganisation measures undertaken, the inauguration of the Cement Technology Centre, the afternoon reunions for pensioners, the launch of NaWi( Natural Sciences- how does it work?) co-operation, as well as  product standardisation. The list was very long; so was that of Martin Weichselgartner, Site Manager of BASF Bauchemie in Trostberg. The guests were duly impressed by the degree of complexity involved in the structure of a big company like BASF.

The outlook for 2008 was also interesting. The jubilee year is likewise punctuated by several special events which should reflect the long tradition of cohesion and neighbourliness among the town, its citizens and the industrial sector.

The milestone for AlzChem this coming year will be starting the production of CreAmino. Two million Euros have been spent on the production site alone, which went on line in December 2007, to bring this entirely new product onto the market. The active agent in CreAmino is a natural substance which occurs in all vertebrates. It serves as a precursor in the bio-synthesis of Creatine, a substance present in our body, which, among other things, is indispensable for ensuring the energy supply in our organism, particularly in our brain and muscles. CreAmino is expected to be marketed primarily as a feed additive.

The selling off of AlzChem will probably start in March. By the end of the year, AlzChem may well have a new owner.
Stefan Greger insisted: “I can’t say it often enough: We still want to make a significant contribution to the future security of the Trostberg industrial site. The 42 apprenticeship places that, together with BASF, we have planned for this year are a clear example of this. As an innovative and motivated company, which we have already proved to be more than once, we have the pre-requisites for a positive future. We shall continue to foster cooperation with the town, its citizens and our neighbours.

The highlight of the day’s speeches was that delivered by the guest speaker, Alois Gluck, the President of the Bavarian Parliament. Under the heading, “Think globally and Act locally”, he urged his audience to think and act like the new and emerging industrial nations and subsequently to opt for and support the local enterprise.
Borough Councillor, Hermann Steinmassl also expressed his gratitude for the good team work and underlined the significance of the local industry for the district.

A few years ago, the tradition of a New Year Reception was started at the Trostberg chemical site and, since then, it has quickly established itself as an Information and Discussion Forum. “I am curious to see what issues we shall be grappling with next year. In any case, I hope that yet again it will be well attended”, added Greger.