16.09.2013

Another Kempkes honoured

Heinz-Helmut Kempkes of crane and access manufacturer Helmut Kempkes Hebezeugfabrik has received the Federal Cross of Merit, an award that his late father also received back in 1990.

The award, presented by the mayor of the city of Remscheid Beate Wilding, recognises over 30 years years as managing partner of the company he joined in 1975.

Perhaps more importantly the award recognises many years of service to the industry, beginning with being an active participant in Chamber of Commerce Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid - becoming vice president in 2005.

Like his father he has also been an active member of the German engineering association VDMA, sitting on various committees and as president from 2003 to 2010. The 65 year-old has also been an active member of the Fédération Européenne de la Manutention (FEM) and a board member for almost 20 years - from 1992 to 2011 and from 2005 to 2011 as vice president of Germany’s Institute for Standardisation (DIN).
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Beate Wilding (L) presents Heinz -Helmut Kempkes with the Federal Cross of Merit

Sascha Schmel managing director of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Sector Association said: "Heinz-Helmut Kempkes has served far beyond his immediate business obligations to benefit the common good. Today's ceremony is a deserved recognition of this commitment."

The Kemkes /Kuli company has been producing electric hoists since 1922 and became a well-established name in the overhead crane business. In addition to its crane and hoist products Kempkes was an early entrant into the powered access market with a range of push around hydraulic aerial work platforms, which were originally clearly targeted at the servicing of overhead cranes. More recently the company added a small self-propelled model line designed for more general industrial maintenance duties and stock picking.