"REYHER - More Than Just Screws": RWTH Alumni Visit REYHER in Hamburg.
After more than three years, an alumni meeting finally took place again in Hamburg on November 11, 2022. The meeting, which was originally planned for March 2020, had to be postponed again and again due to the pandemic. The anticipation and expectations for this meeting were correspondingly high, and the 16 participants were not disappointed.
RWTH alumnus Arne Schwertfeger, head of logistics and member of the management board of Reyher, welcomed us in a conference room with a magnificent view of Hamburg and started with a short introductory lecture about Reyher.
Founded in Hamburg in 1887, the company is still family owned and it is a global trading company for connectors and fastening technology. The customers from industry and trade appreciate the high delivery availability of the company (more than 130,000 products are permanently in stock). They also value their ability to develop, produce and provide individual solutions together with the customers from many sectors (for example automotive, wind industry, agriculture, and many others).
This introduction was followed by a lively discussion and the participants asked many questions about the organization, the process and especially about the logistical challenges during the pandemic. After Mr. Schwerfeger had answered them in detail, a guided tour of the entire warehouse area then began in two groups, which was expertly led by Mr. Schwertfeger and his deputy, Sebastian Hübner..
During this tour, even the logistics experts were amazed by the high number of conveyor systems and the size of the complex that is located in the middle of Hamburg's city center. One unique feature, for example, is a high-bay warehouse in which two stacker cranes have been installed one above the other, significantly increasing throughput while using less space. This type of construction is unique in mainland Europe.
After a heartfelt thank you from the participants to Mr. Schwertfeger and Mr. Hübner, the official part of the event ended almost an hour late. Afterwards, a good half of the participants took the opportunity to talk shop or exchange ideas on other topics in a nearby restaurant. What's more, they were already making plans for the next meeting.
Author: Dr. Winfried Sturm