Last Friday, almost 500 members of the Schmalz staff and their families filled the community centre in Dornstetten to the bursting point. The motto of this year's party was "Schmalz in the Wild West", and this was reflected in the various presentations. After an excellent hot and cold buffet supplied by the local butcher "Metzgerei Wiedmaier" in Glatten, the two managing directors Dr. Kurt Schmalz and Wolfgang Schmalz presented a review of the past fiscal year and the prospects for 2007.

"The very good increase in turnover is a great success in the year 2006. our growth is based, amongst other things, on the successful operations of our companies and marketing partners in countries outside Germany, some of whom achieved growth rates of more than 100 per cent. Today, with more than 400 employees worldwide and 14 wholly owned foreign subsidiaries, we will continue to pursue our strategy of global growth", said Dr. Kurt Schmalz.

And Wolfgang Schmalz added: "The good increase in turnover will ensure our financial independence in the future and provides a solid basis for the financing of our planned investments and construction projects". Looking forward to the coming fiscal year, he said: "I am confident that we will continue to be successful in 2007. We will continue to grow and will be able to offer safe jobs for all members of our staff."
The guests of honour included the mayor of Glatten, Tore-Derek Pfeifer. In his short speech, he emphasised the great importance of the ecologically and economically successful company for the town of Glatten. Only recently, the town council voted for a change to the building regulations for the area "Junge Äcker" in order to permit the planned expansion of the company.

After the various speeches, the managing directors Dr. Kurt Schmalz and Wolfgang Schmalz, Human Resources manager Martin Helbling and the chairman of the works council Reimund Winning, thanked 17 staff members for their long loyalty to the company. Eleven of these have been with the company for 15 years and six for ten years.
After the brief look back at the events at Schmalz in 2006, the entertainment started. This included bull-riding just like in the real Wild West. Further highlights were the dances presented by the Schmalz trainees and the musical offerings of the Schmalz Big Band.

All in all, it was once again a successful party, thanks to the efforts of the Schmalz trainees, who set everything up, arranged the entertainment, organised the entire evening and decorated the hall for the occasion (and also cleaned up afterwards!). As Dr. Kurt Schmalz said, they certainly did a very good job.