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Almost 400 enthusiastic guests gathered in the municipal theatre of Bielefeld: On November the 7th, 2007 BOGE proudly celebrated its 100th company
anniversary!
Otto Boge founded his business in Bielefeld, Germany on November 7, 1907. From its modest beginnings and over several generations, the company developed into a strong and prosperous family
enterprise. The innovators and forerunners of the company’s success are the founder's son-in-law Ernst Thomas and his grandson Wolfgang Meier-Scheuven. The mechanical engineering company is now run by its fourth
generation with worldwide activities in the field of compressors and compressed air solutions.
In their welcoming speech, both Hartmut Schauerte, Parliamentary Secretary of State in the Federal Ministry for
Economics and Technology and Federal Commissioner for the SME as well as Dr. Michael Stückradt, Secretary of State in the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Science, Research and Technology of North Rhine-Westphalia,
accentuated the role of the SME as the backbone of growth and the trigger of innovations.
In the Andreas Liebold hosted talk show on the issue of "German Family and Mechanical Engineering Companies as
employers, seen from an industry related and regional based viewpoint", all participants underlined the steady commitment of BOGE. Participating guests were:
- Hartmut Schauerte, Parliamentary Secretary of State in the Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology and Federal Commissioner for the SME
- Dr. Dieter Brucklacher, former VDMA President (German Machinery and Plant Manufacturers Association)
- Dr. Luitwin Mallmann, General Executive Manager of 'Arbeitgeber NRW' (i.e. the North Rhine-Westphalia association of employers)
- Herbert Sommer, Chairman of 'Unternehmen für OWL-Marketing' (i.e. companies for East Westphalia Marketing)
- Thomas Niehoff, General Executive Manager of IHK Ostwestfalen, Bielefeld, Germany (Chamber of Commerce of East Westphalia)
BOGE had asked all invited guests to donate in favour of the 'Studienfonds OWL' (i.e. East Westphalia Scholarship) created to sponsor college
students in this region. Mrs. Prof. Dr. Rennen-Allhoff, rector of the FH Bielefeld, took the opportunity to explain the relevant goals.
An entertaining medley featuring a reminiscent soundtrack of the varied
BOGE company history served as an amusing intermezzo and a journey through the world of musicals.
At the grand piano: William Murta, Songs by: Bettina Meske, Carolin Soyka, Thomas Winter.
On occasion of
its 100th anniversary, the Mayor of Bielefeld, Eberhard David awarded the company a bronze Leineweber (i.e. linen weaver) - the landmark of the town. Finally, guests were invited to a selection of culinary
delicacies.
Just having turned 100, BOGE, in its jubilee anniversary year, expects to achieve a two digit growth and, for the first time in its history, to exceed the 100 million Euro turnover target. This
positive development is particularly due to consequent internationalization. BOGE is presently selling compressed air receivers to more than 80 countries and successfully managed, by adding India and Russia, to
expand its current number of company owned agencies to 13 altogether, which means that, during the past 10 years, BOGE was able to create a total of 150 new jobs.
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