.svg){kind=logo}
Social responsibility
NORRES Schlauchtechnik has a long history of responsible behaviour towards the society we live in. We frequently participate in activities that benefit charitable organisations. We are extremely keen to support projects that help the socially disadvantaged, especially when they involve children. We also make an active contribution towards environmental protection.
NORRES Schlauchtechnik makes regular donations to “Noah's Ark”, a charity that describes itself as “a children’s hospice in the region and for the region”. The Ark’s concept, which is the only one of its kind anywhere in Germany, defines two main functions: to offer a haven for incurably ill children and to act as a short-term care centre for youngsters with severe disabilities. The aim is to assist the families concerned by providing professional care and respite for children and teenagers in the Noah's Ark centre. NORRES traditionally makes a donation to this deserving cause at Christmas.
At NORRES, all people are equal. All our staff benefit from the same opportunities. Their ethnic origin, religion, social background, age, sex or disabilities are considered to be irrelevant. NORRES maintains close links with a centre for handicapped people. Disabled staff carry out their work directly on the NORRES site and are therefore fully integrated in the life of the company.
The sustainable use of natural resources is firmly entrenched in NORRRES Schlauchtechnik's daily work processes. The move to our new “Am Stadthafen” facility coincided with extensive investments in eco-friendly production and HVAC technologies. Efficient insulation, double glazing, centrally controlled air conditioning with water chillers and production utilising heat recovery mean optimal protection for the environment. Since taking possession of the new and completely refurbished plant at the port of Gelsenkirchen in 2009, NORRES has succeeded in reducing the consumption of water, electricity and heating fuel dramatically – despite an almost fourfold increase in floor space.
Read the latest news about our social commitment and responsibility!
Success at TOP 100: NORRES is one of the innovation leaders in 2018
For the 25th time, the TOP 100 competition selects the most innovative companies in German SMEs. One of the innovation leaders for this year is the NORRES Group. This was the result of an analysis of the scientific director TOP 100, Prof. Dr. med. Nikolaus Franke. As a mentor of TOP 100, Ranga Yogeshwar will honor the company based in Gelsenkirchen together with Franke and compamedia on June 29, 2018 at the award ceremony in Ludwigsburg within the framework of the 5th German SME Summit. In the independent selection process, our company with 215 employees at our corporate facility in Gelsenkirchen impressed all with our innovation processes.
In the 25th round of the TOP 100 innovation competition, the scientific management commissioned compamedia to look at 471 applications from medium-sized companies. Franke and his team applied around 100 parameters as initial test criteria, subdivided into the evaluation categories "Innovative Processes and Organization", "Innovation Climate", "Innovation-Promoting Top Management", "External Focus / Open Innovation" and "Innovation Success". 288 companies were successful in this selection process and this year they will receive the TOP 100 seal in three size classes.
The NORRES Group develops and produces technical hoses and hose systems for a wide range of applications, including the food and pharmaceutical industries, agriculture, woodworking and the plastics industry. The TOP 100 company has been based in Gelsenkirchen for almost 130 years. At that time, the former miner Wilhelm Norres developed a mechanical safety fuse for blasting. Today, the NORRES Group is one of the market leaders in the segment of technical hoses. For example, the company has developed hoses that are antistatic, food grade and microbe resistant – this combination of hose properties is in high demand in many industries. Even flame-retardant hoses for passenger transport vehicles are new to NORRES’ portfolio.
In recent years, NORRES has also initiated various innovations internally. For example, EDI (an electronic data exchange) was introduced. Many orders are now completely automated: they go straight from the customer to the warehouse, where they can be processed immediately. A monitoring system constantly checks the stock levels. Innovative ideas of this type do not just come from the management or the senior executives. Each employee can contribute ideas and suggestions for improvement as part of the newly created innovation management. An innovation committee comprising representatives from all departments awards the best proposals. It is constantly being reoccupied, so that everyone can co-decide.
"We are very happy about this award!" reports CEO Burkhard Mollen. "Officially belonging to the innovation leaders in 2018 is for us the confirmation that we have taken the right path with the combination of experience and focus in quality and performance as well as our intention to create innovations again and again!"
TOP 100: The competition
Since 1993, compamedia has awarded the TOP 100 seal of approval for outstanding innovative strength and above-average innovation success given to medium-sized companies. Since 2002, the scientific direction has been in the hands of Prof. Dr. med. Nikolaus Franke. Franke is founder and director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Mentor of TOP 100 is science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar. Project partners are The Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research and the BVMW. As media partners, ‘manager magazine’, ‘impulse’ and ‘W&V’ assist in the company comparison. More information can be located at www.top100.de.
