Member of the Bundestag Ralph Brinkhaus for talks at Seppeler Feuerverzinkung

In the conversation with Ralph Brinkhaus, member of the German Bundestag of the CDU parliamentary group, Seppeler Managing Director Thomas Weise emphasized that the hot-dip galvanizing industry and the entire industrial SME sector are helping to make the energy turnaround possible. He said that much more attention should be paid to industrial SMEs, as they represent nothing less than the backbone of industry. According to Weise, a well-thought-out plan is lacking, especially when it comes to energy policy. "Up to 19,000 hot-dip galvanized screws are installed in a wind turbine. Hot-dip galvanized substructures stabilize PV systems on fields throughout Germany and Europe. Hot-dip galvanized steel also secures a stable energy supply for our society via electricity pylons," says the Seppeler managing director. "In this way, our material can help achieve climate protection targets. At the same time, we see that industrial SMEs are faced with more and more bureaucracy and legislation. We are being burdened and large companies are fleeing the poor location conditions. In addition, we lack a roadmap in energy policy, here the federal government must deliver," explained the Seppeler managing director.

Stefan Neese, Managing Director of Seppeler Holding und Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, echoed his colleague's arguments and called for more planning security. "As an industrial medium-sized company, we want to invest in our plants and position ourselves for the future. However, many questions are still open. For example, it is unclear which energy sources are available and what costs we should expect." The duration of the approval processes is also questionable, he said. "Here, as a family business, we need planning security and timely solutions," Neese emphasized. Frank Sommer, business unit manager of Seppeler Feuerverzinkung Gütersloh GmbH & CO. KG, wished for more efforts in the recognition of degrees and new ways that are politically supported. "As a business unit manager, I am in constant competition for skilled workers at the site. Here I would like to see politics break new ground and accept the realities of the working world. For example, the 'hot-dip galvanizing specialist' offered by the hot-dip galvanizing industry association should be recognized. That would help us in the competition for skilled workers," Sommer explained. Member of the Bundestag Ralph Brinkhaus commented on all the points and stated, "Seppeler Feuerverzinkung Gütersloh GmbH & CO. KG provides the material that is needed, among other things, in the construction industry, renewable energy or energy infrastructure. The company thus makes an important contribution to the challenges of our time. At the same time, the medium-sized industry, which includes hot-dip galvanizers, is burdened by high energy costs, a shortage of skilled workers and increasing bureaucracy. The German government must create a framework to give companies the conditions they need to process their products competitively in Germany. This includes a serious energy policy, planning security and above all faster approval processes."