In this issue
Message in a Bottle
Origin of Christmas Glass
Baubles
Everyone loves seeing a Christmas Tree sparkling with
pretty glass baubles and other decorations. But when and
where did this tradition begin?
In fact, the practice of putting shining ornaments on
a Tree dates back hundreds of years but, originally,
they were most likely to be ordinary objects – like pea
pods, apples, bird’s nests or butterflies – either made
from or covered in a lustrous metal. It wasn’t until the
early 19th century, in Lauscha, a small town in eastern
Germany, that craftsmen began to reproduce similar
things in glass, the first ones being attributed to Hans
Greiner.
Glass baubles soon followed and really began to
become popular in the 1840s when Prince Albert, husband
to Queen Victoria of England, and a German himself, set
up a Christmas Tree at Windsor Castle, traditionally
decorated with German glass ornaments. Photographs were
published and popularity soared. So much so that mass
production of glass baubles began in Lauscha in
1847.
Amazingly, considering the subsequent history of the
region, there are still about 20 small glass-blowing
firms active in Lauscha that produce baubles. How’s that
for a Christmas miracle?
Imprint
Heye International GmbH
Lohplatz 1
31683
Obernkirchen
Germany
T: +49 5724 26-452
F: +49
5724 12 88
management@heye-international.com
www.heye-international.com
Ust-Ident-NR DE 220504231 |
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Introduction
As we approach the end of 2011, we at Heye
International have a very simple message for all our
partners: thank you! Thank you for the spirit of trust,
mutual respect and professionalism that has cemented all
our relationships and helped to make 2011 a highly
successful year for all of us. It has been a year full
of welcome surprises.
Unfortunately, however, there have also been
some unwelcome ones. In addition to many disasters in
the our world, earlier in the year we were all shocked
by the Japanese earthquake and its aftermath but now we
have also had to endure the shock of a second natural
disaster – the flooding in Thailand. However, Heye
International is proud to have been able to assist the
victims of these terrible events, in particular
providing onsite support to a client whose employees
suffered significantly as a result. Our thoughts go out
to all those who have been affected.
And so, we look forward to 2012 with anticipation
that it will be a great year for all, both personally
and professionally, and wish you all a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Yours,
Dirk Pörtner
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Success
Story
Super Speed Start-Up in Gaoyao!
In the latest news from China,
Heye International, together with the team at Tong Chan
Packaging Group, has proved just how fast a start-up can
be. Last month, 3 IS-Machines (1 triple gob and 2 double
gob machines) were put into operation in a single day!
Not only that, but they achieved their target
performance in a matter of hours! This outstanding
performance goes to show once again that experience not
only benefits the mechanical engineering, but is also
irreplaceable in production engineering, project
management and employee training. Heye International is
proud to be in partnership, providing technology to this
specialist manufacturer of high-end container glass, and
both companies look forward to continuing their
cooperation in the future.
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Heye as Founder Member
of Glass Cluster Weser Highlands
The Weserbergland region of Germany is a centre of
the German glass industry, and is not merely home to
Heye, which was founded in 1799. These days, the
regional association for economic development wants to
develop a ‘Glass Cluster’, comprising companies and
expertise from all sectors of the glass industry.
The central goal of this initiative is to further
develop the region to become one of the leading centres
for economic, innovative and technological achievement
for the glass industry worldwide.
The idea is to
build networks and communication between the individual
specialist businesses in order to promote innovation and
further develop industry qualification and training
levels for all skilled workers and specialists.
Heye is delighted to support this enterprise as a
founder member.
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