- Imperial Claims Services

1/2016
N ews
INTERNATIONAL
DEKRA provides
emissions
information
Page 5
J O U R N A L F O R D E K R A E M P L OY E E S | Q U A R T E R LY P U B L I C AT I O N
Series “We put safety into practice”
First aid courses for all
We will only succeed in credibly communicating our Vision 2025 to the outside world if we
have exemplary behavior from every individual. DEKRA CEO Stefan Kölbl has displayed such
behavior by completing a first aid course in October last year. Now he invites all employees
worldwide to do the same!
Toys on the DEKRA product test bench.
DEKRA at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair
Children’s room 4.0
The trend toward digitalization and connectivity does not stop at
the door to the children’s room. DEKRA product testing experts
have been observing this trend with increasing frequency. They
provided advice on the new wireless technologies and standards
to both manufacturers and dealers at the world’s largest International Toy Fair in Nuremberg from January 27 until February 1.
T
oys are increasingly
becoming part of the
“Internet of Things”,
in which even everyday
items are Internet-capable
and networked. These new
technologies are having
an enormous impact on toy
safety and the legal certainty of manufacturers and
dealers.
“On the part of toy
manufacturers – especially
medium-sized businesses –
we are currently observing
a huge need for information,” said Werner Leistner,
product expert at DEKRA.
“There is not a specific standard to regulate the use of
digital technologies in toys.
This means that legal safety
requirements from unrelated
sectors are having to be
transferred to the networked,
Internet-capable toys.”
The number of standards
that will have to be considered for a product in the
future also requires sophisticated supplier management
to ensure that the supply
chain, too, incorporates
these regulations.
DEKRA is an accredited
testing center in accordance
with the EU toy directive. Its
toy experts provide chemical, mechanical and electrical toy testing services. alf
IN BRIEF
▲ More than 3,500 refugees and asylum seekers from Syria, Iran,
Iraq and Eritrea are currently learning the basics of the German
language at many DEKRA Academy centers. Experts believe this to
be key in enabling future integration. The German courses currently
running on a voluntary basis are the DEKRA Academy’s response
to a special program launched by the employment agency and
aimed at providing German courses for 100,000 asylum seekers.
The period between the end of October and end of December
2015 gave the DEKRA Academy time, firstly to acquire participants
and secondly to improve trainer competences. They learnt things
like handling new teaching media and attended English courses.
Intercultural training courses rounded off the program. The
reward for all this effort was that more than 3,500 grateful participants took up places in Augsburg, Saarbrücken, Siegen, Lübeck
and Kiel. The success is evidence that both DEKRA Academy and
the employment agency are on the right track. According to recent
employment agency press releases the originally planned figure of
100,000 has since doubled to 200,000.
Qualified courses
around the world
DEKRA has teamed up with
the International Red Cross
so that it can offer qualified
courses around the world.
Importantly, if partnerships with
DEKRA offers first aid courses
in cooperation with the International Red Cross.
Photo: DEKRA
Photo: DEKRA
W
hen he passed the
first aid course in
Stuttgart, Stefan Kölbl
fulfilled a promise he made as
part of the “Safety Challenge”.
He also promised that all employees world-wide would get
the opportunity to choose to
attend a first aid course.
This will be possible from
April 18. That is when the website www.dekra-first-aid.com
will go online, all employees
will be able to use it to register
for a first aid course.
First aid courses for all: DEKRA employees around the world can
register via the website www.dekra-first-aid.com from April 18.
other organizations already
exist – related to training for
workplace first aiders for
example – then the courses
can also be provided by these
organizations.
It could not be easier for
employees to register. All they
need to do is provide their
name and organizational unit,
after which they will receive
confirmation. A “first aid coordinator” then gathers together
all of the DEKRA applications
at a local level.
The list of interested
employees is passed on to
the local Red Cross or other
charitable organizations, who
arrange everything from there.
Foundation stone for
“DEKRA Safety Ambassadors”
The worldwide first aid course
is one of the foundation stones
required for the in-house “Safety Ambassador“ certification.
The managers from DEKRA
were nominated by Stefan Kölbl
during the Global Management
Meeting (GMM) in summer
2015 as part of Vision 2025.
They will earn the title of “Safety Ambassador” only when
they have facilitated or actively
fulfilled certain measures for
increasing safety. In the future,
employees will also be given
the chance to become certified
“Safety Ambassadors”.alf
Register for a first
aid course directly
and on the go
(starting April 18)!
Login: DEKRA
Passwort: FirstAid
DEKRA News Highlights of this issue
2
2
6
Award winner: DEKRA Industrial France has received the
“Prix de l’Egalité Professionnelle” for its initiative aimed at
promoting the equality of men and women in the workplace.
DEKRA purchased the company Grøns in Saeby
(Denmark) in January. It offers training courses
and safety training for professional drivers.
From Stuttgart to Oxnard: Valentin Löwenstein went
to California to take up a one year posting at the
subsidiary company DEKRA Insight.
Contact: You can reach the editorial team of DEKRA News on telephone number +49.711.78 61-27 39, fax number +49.711.78 61-27 00, by email: [email protected] or via the company’s website: www.dekra.de
PAGE 2
DEKRA News International 1/2016
DEKRA Industrial France
Championing equality
in the workplace
S
ophie Dominjon, Managing Director of DEKRA
Industrial France, accepted the “Prix de l’Egalité
Professionnelle” from Martin
Malvy, former budget minister
and president of the regional
council of Midi-Pyrénées. The
award itself has been designed as a block of masonry
stone to symbolize the erection of a building.
Back in 2006, DEKRA
Industrial signed up to the Diversity Charter (Charte de la
diversité), which was created
in 2004 to put a stop to discrimination in the workplace.
In 2012, DEKRA Industrial
signed an additional agreement on equality between
women and men with the
local works committee which
brought with it comprehensive
improvements, for example,
with regard to working hours
and child care provision.
Since then DEKRA Industrial has also set about significantly improving the number
of women in managerial
positions.
Photo: DEKRA Industrial
On Thursday, November 19 the endeavors of the French subsidiary DEKRA to promote equality at work in large companies
was honored by the conferring of an award sponsored by the
French Midi-Pyrenees region.
Sophie Dominjon (6th from left) at the award ceremony for the Prix de l’Egalité Professionelle.
“This award represents
recognition of our endeavors
to promote diversity and
equality,” stated Sophie
Dominjon. “We have signed
the Diversity Charter and
we are also committed to
ensuring the equal treatment
of men and women in the
workplace.
This has encouraged us to
constantly question what we
do and thus gradually break
down stereotypes commonly
existing in areas that are perceived as dominated by men.
And at the end of the day that
helps all of us.”alf
Anniversary: Dr. Gerd Neumann
A quarter of a century in the
service of DEKRA
DEKRA boss Stefan Kölbl and DEKRA SE Member of the Board, Clemens Klinke have conferred
on Dr. Gerd Neumann the Golden DEKRA Badge of Honor in recognition of his 25 years of
commitment and service to DEKRA.
Nico Hülkenberg: Flying visit in Stuttgart
Motor Sports Personality of the Year
Formula 1 driver Nico Hülkenberg paid a flying visit to
Stuttgart on December 3, but was still able to find some time
to review the recently concluded 2015 season. He was also
fêted as “ADAC Motor Sports Personality of the Year”.
N
ico Hülkenberg’s main
job is and remains that
of being a Force India
driver. He was quite clear
about this in a relaxed discussion with DEKRA SE Board
Member Clemens Klinke at
the traditional DEKRA Group
end-of-the-year review attended by journalists. Nevertheless, his 2015 season in the
premier class was crowned
at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
race, which he won driving
the Porsche 919 Hybrid,
making him the first active
Formula 1 driver to do so in
living memory.
At the wheel of his current
Formula 1 car Force India
VJM08, Hülkenberg managed three times to secure
sixth place (Canada, Italy
and Brazil) and ranked tenth
in the drivers’ world championship. Overall, he has managed to finish high enough
to rack up points in 19 races.
However, the high point of
Formula 1 according to the
28-year-old was the historic
fifth place achieved by Force
India in the constructors’
championship – after all, this
was the team’s highest ever
ranking since it came into
being.
In November, the ADAC
named him “Motor Sport
Personality of the Year”. He
received the prize, a large
Saint Christopher made of
Nymphenburg porcelain, at
DEKRA from Lars Soutschka,
ADAC head of motorsport
and classic motoring. alf
honor became Member of the
Executive Board of DEKRA
Automobil GmbH responsible
for inspections in 2006.alf
Photo: Augustin
ADAC Motor Sports Personality of the Year: Nico Hülkenberg (right)
accepts the award from Lars Soutschka of ADAC at DEKRA’s end-ofthe-year review event.
Dr. Gerd Neumann (left) receives the Golden Badge of Honor and a
diploma celebrating his 25 years of DEKRA service from Stefan Kölbl.
DEKRA ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL
DEKRA buys training company Grøns
On January 4, the Danish subsidiary DEKRA Akademie AS purchased a 100 % share in the
company Grøns, based in Saeby in the north of the country. Grøns runs driver training and
driving safety courses, chiefly for professional drivers, at four locations.
T
he Grøns Group consists
of the two companies
Grøns Transport Uddannelser A/S (GTU) and Grøns
Grøns test track
for driving safety
training in Saeby.
Photo: Grøns
Photo: Sage
C
ompanions of many
years standing and
colleagues from various
fields gathered at an intimate
reception held at the head office in Stuttgart during which
Dr. Neumann received from
DEKRA boss Stefan Kölbl the
Golden Badge of Honor and
the recognition certificate
celebrating his 25 years in
the company.
The Chief Executive Officer
of DEKRA Automobil GmbH
joined DEKRA as an inspection engineer in November
1990. After periods spent as
branch manager in Stralsund
and Rostock, the guest of
Køreteknisk Anlæg A/S (GKA),
which have been performing
their services for public and
private companies for around
40 years. With
22 employees at
four locations,
the company
generated income
equivalent to
approximately
EUR 3.4 million in
2014. The company operates its
own test track in
Saeby for driving
safety training.
Grøns (www.grons.dk) is the
only private-sector provider of
training for professional drivers
in northern Denmark and it is
also the market leader with a
market share of around 50 %.
For DEKRA in Denmark, the
acquisition represents its market
entry in this region, as previously there were no licenses there.
alf
Direct and mobile link to the
Grøns company
video!
DEKRA News International 1/2016
PAGE 3
Vision 2025: Master plan
for continued growth
On Thursday, December 3 DEKRA boss Stefan Kölbl presented
a review of the year to an audience of top media representatives and at the same time ventured a look ahead at the
further development of the group.
T
in more than 50 countries
worldwide.
AUTOMOTIVE:
Dynamic development
DEKRA Automotive improved
turnover in 2015 by more
than six percent to roughly
1.4 billion euros, an increase
driven by product innovations,
efficient processes and the
program of further internationalization.
Photo: Küppers
he global growth in the
demand for safety has
translated into another
successful business year for
DEKRA. The group turnover is
set to increase by more than
seven percent to around 2.7
billion euros: This is now the
twelfth year in succession that
DEKRA has posted continued
growth. The workforce also
increased in 2015 by approximately 2,400 to its current
figure of 37,400 operating
A topic that occupied DEKRA Automobil GmbH in 2015 was the national deployment of the main inspection adapters, here demonstrated
by Dr. Gerd Neumann, Chief Executive Officer at DEKRA Automobil
GmbH (center), Sascha Dohmke (right) and Georg Vitha (both AP4).
The German DEKRA Automobil GmbH alone increased
turnover by almost six percent
to 1.1 billion euros, further
cementing its position as the
market leader in the inspections sector. It boasts around
34 percent market share,
recording over nine million
main inspections yearly. Added to this are more than 130
million euros from periodic
industrial inspection services
in Germany rendered by
DEKRA Automobil GmbH.
INDUSTRIAL:
International growth
DEKRA Industrial likewise
remained on course for
growth in 2015. Turnover is
set to increase by over 15
percent to 811 million euros.
Product inspection highlights of the past year were
the acquisitions of QuieTek
(Taiwan) and AT4Wireless
(Spain) as well as the joint
venture with DEKRA iST Reliability Services (China). The
expansion of the high-tech
markets of mobility, health
and electronics as well as
the activities in Asia have led
to the workforce doubling to
1,600. With 85 percent of
the workforce outside Germa-
ny, DEKRA Industrial is also
the most international of the
group’s business units.
Thanks to innovative offers
and projects, for example in
the field of robot-supported
inspection in power stations and industrial plant in
Germany, Finland and South
Africa, the Material Testing
and Inspection service unit
was able to enjoy its best
business year to date.
With its Insight service unit
DEKRA was able to further
strengthen its international
advisory business in organizational and process safety.
Along with the acquisition
of BST, Chilworth and RCI
Safety in the previous years,
the purchase of the Scottish
Optimus Seventh Generation Ltd. will further improve
access to the oil and gas industry, especially in offshore
extraction in the North Sea.
PERSONNEL:
Leading market position
DEKRA Personnel turnover
in 2015 is forecast to hit the
same high level achieved
last year at almost 458
million euros. Results here
are being powered by the
DEKRA Akademie as one of
the largest private training
providers in Germany as
well as DEKRA Arbeit as
the seventh largest temporary employment agency in
Germany.
Specialist course on “Dazzle-related Accidents”
Photo: AT4 Wireless
Review of the year 2015
The purchase of AT4 Wireless in
Málaga in mid-year saw DEKRA
investing in the key technology
of the future “Industry 4.0”.
Kölbl: Positive outlook
for 2016
The good international positioning that has now been
achieved and the ability to
offer a comprehensive range
of safety services mean that
DEKRA expects for 2016 a
positive business development to match the high level
recorded in previous years.
Head of DEKRA Kölbl: “Organic growth and recent acquisitions offer enormous opportunities for growth in three
key spheres of life: transport,
work and the home.
Vision 2025 gives us the
necessary master plan to
enable us to systematically
realize these opportunities:
“We will become the global
partner for a safer world.” alf
The luminance measuring camera
is fitted in the back of the car at
the eyelevel of the driver.
See and be seen
Photos: Thomas Küppers / DEKRA
In early February, DEKRA Accident Analysis and Accident Research held an advanced training
course on the topic of “Dazzle-related Accidents” in Wart. It was attended by 24 accident analysts.
Due to the highly specialized nature of the course, it is only held once every two to three years.
The photo from the luminance measuring camera shows the different
measuring points on the body of the shop window dummy (figure on
the right in the picture).
A
ll cats are gray in the
dark”, is a well-known
saying in Germany
meaning that it is difficult to
distinguish between colors
at night.
However, night time conditions also impair normal
vision. The dazzling lights
of oncoming vehicles or
reflections caused by rain or
snow further impair vision
on the road, for example,
when looking out for pedestrians.
In the event of such an accident, courts call on DEKRA
accident analysts to reconstruct the situation as faithfully
as possible so as to be able
to make judgments about
witness statements concerning
visibility, possible reaction
time and therefore whether
the accident could have been
prevented. Clothing, vehicle
type right through to the
weather conditions – everything is being reconstructed
as accurately as possible.
DEKRA has more than 80
experts for these night-time
accident reconstructions
throughout Germany and
from February 1 to 4 some
24 colleagues met at the
training center in AltensteigWart to learn about the legal
issues involved and the use of
luminance measuring cameras in such situations.
The organizers, Michael
Krieg, Daniel Cakeljic (AG21
Analytical Reporting) and
Stefanie Ritter (AG22 Accident Research), were able to
welcome 14 new colleagues
onto the training course.
Theoretical training during
the day was followed by
practical tests at night, such
as, for example, placing a
female shop window dummy
against a dark background
about 50 meters away from
three vehicles to represent the
accident victim.
An additional problem was
the fact that the headlights
of oncoming vehicles were
dazzling the driver, making it even more difficult to
detect the dummy. Would the
driver have seen the accident
victim? Would he have been
able to react and avoid the
collision under these circumstances? These are the types
of questions that need to be
clarified. The accident analysts set up their luminance
measuring cameras with their
laptops in the three vehicles.
The camera is adapted to the
spectral sensitivity of the eye
and measures and evaluates
the contrasts in relation to
the background at different
measuring points of the test
dummy (head, chest, stomach, thighs).
“A detailed investigation
of the light conditions frequently enables us to prove
that it had been particularly
difficult to detect the obstacle,” explains Michael Krieg.
“This can indeed lead to a
different judgment for the
accused.”
The fact that it was snowing heavily did little to deter
the analysts. On the contrary,
it meant that they could factor
in the additional dazzle
caused by heavy snowfall
into the measurements taken
with their cameras. alf
The dummy’s view of the reconstruction. Opposite, two of the
three measuring vehicles have
switched on their lights. The
vehicle on the right is causing
the dazzle.
PAGE 4
DEKRA News International 1/2016
Series “We put safety into practice”
IN BRIEF
… keeping a safe distance
“We will become the global partner for a safer world” – this is the DEKRA Vision 2025. The only
way we can make this vision credible for the outside world is by the exemplary behavior of every
individual. This includes maintaining the right distance to the vehicle on the road in front.
W
Photo: DEKRA
hat once had to be
learnt by heart for
the theoretical part
of the driving license exam
is usually quickly forgotten.
The factual knowledge
about the safe distance on
the road is replaced by a
“gut feeling”, which unfortu-
nately, all too often has serious consequences: between
January and August 2015
Germany recorded no less
than 1.6 million accidents,
an increase of 2.5 per cent
in comparison to last year.
An alarming fact is that
according to the German
Automobile Club, the ADAC,
failure to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in
front was the second most
frequent cause of an accident in 2014.
The stopping distance increases disproportionately
The requisite safety distance is an
important measure
that can be easily
implemented and
helps to avoid
unnecessary
accidents. Did you
know that even
at speeds as low
as 30 km/h the
average stopping
distance (reaction
path 8.3 meters +
braking path 4.5
meters) is 12.8
meters? And this
only applies with
optimum equipment, weather and
road conditions.
The overview shows that the stopping distance becomes disproportionately
Every single devialonger as the speed increases.
tion can add to
the stopping distance and
thus significantly increase
the likelihood of a rear-end
collision.
Motorists frequently underestimate the fact that the
stopping distance rises disproportionately at increasing
speed. Every doubling of the
speed leads to the stopping
distance increasing by a factor of four. At 100 km/h the
figure has already reached
almost 80 meters.
Distance = half the
­speedometer in meters
By keeping these figures
firmly in mind, you can subject your own behavior to a
critical self-test.
The rule of thumb is:
Distance = half the
­speedometer in meters.
In order to train the right
feeling for distances, it
is worth walking the 100
meters the next time you visit
the sports ground or trying
to become more aware of
measured distances in dayto-day life.
A sound estimation of the
right distance is an effective
way of countering the risk of
rear-ends collisions.
alf
▲ An increasing number of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are being
detected in children’s accessories and clothing. Some
of them are categorized as
carcinogenic. These are the
results of a random sampling
exercise undertaken by
DEKRA on children’s products
such as Wellington boots,
ear protectors, gloves and
house slippers. However, the
concentrations detected were
still below the new maximum
limit that came into force on
December 27, 2015. For
market research purposes
DEKRA subjected randomly
selected and anonymized
children products to a PAH
analysis in its own chemical
laboratories. They were
products which, due to their
manufacture and the materials
used, could typically contain PAH. The findings: PAH
substances were detected in
all the articles tested. Two
samples contained carcinogenic PAH substances that are
subject to the new maximum
limits in the REACH Directive
(EC) 1907/2006 Appendix
XVII. The concentrations were
below the maximum limit of
1 mg/kg, however. Even so,
the PAH results would have
meant that five products
would have failed to fulfill the
strict requirements needed for
a GS symbol.
Product Testing & Certification
Networking in China
D
EKRA has signed
a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU)
with the China Certification
and Accreditation Association (CCAA). The aim is
to make available a joint
training and advanced training program to auditors and
technical staff in the testing,
certification and inspection
branch (TIC). The CCAA is
the Chinese association of
accreditation and certification centers and laboratories
entrusted with the standardization of the certification
sector in China.
Moreover, DEKRA has
entered into an agreement
with the recognized certification center China Quality
Certification (CQC) for an
extensive collaboration.
The Chinese standards
and regulations are to be
further developed so that the
time between product innovation and standard compliance can be shortened. red
Experience the fascination of the DTM:
The 2016 schedule
is out now!
Archive photo: Wittmann
The Product Testing & Certification service unit has concluded
two partnerships with important market players in Beijing.
German Touring Car Championship – DTM
2016 schedule is out now!
The 2015 season may only just have come to a breathtaking finale in Hockenheim – with around
1,800 DEKRA members in the stands – but the dates are already out for the coming season.
Signing ceremony with the CCAA. Front: Fei Sheng, General Secretary of the CCAA (rights), and DEKRA SE Board Member Ivo Rauh.
THE DTM DATES FOR 2016 – AN OVERVIEW *
May 6th – 8th: May 20 th – 22nd: June 3rd – 5th: June 24th – 26th: July 1st – 17th: August 19th – 21st: September 9th – 11th: September 23rd – 25th: October 14th – 16th: Hockenheim I
Spielberg
Lausitzring
Norisring
Zandvoort
Moscow
Nürburgring
Budapest
Hockenheim II
* Subject to approval by the
FIA and the DMSB.
Photo: DEKRA
T
he coming year will
likewise see the
vehicles entered by
BMW, Mercedes-Benz
and Audi battling it out in
a total of 18 races staged
on nine weekends. The
positive feedback from
drivers and fans means
that the tried-and-tested
format of two full races
staged on one weekend
has been retained in the
coming season.alf
PAGE 5
Photos: Küppers
DEKRA News International 1/2016
DEKRA SE Member of the Board Clemens Klinke explained the procedures in light of the recent debate on exhaust recording manipulations.
Piggyback mobile measuring device: This is how emissions can be realistically measured in operation.
Emissions workshop at the DEKRA Technology Center
“Neutral inspection for more environmental and consumer protection”
Towards the end of November DEKRA took the opportunity to explain the ins and outs of
car exhaust analyses to media representatives at the DEKRA Technology Center in Klettwitz.
DEKRA Member of the Executive Board Clemens Klinke called for the use of real-life measurement data in type approval procedures as well as a further development of exhaust analysis.
I
n response to the recent
debate concerning the
manipulation of exhaust
emission analyses of diesel
engines, DEKRA had decided
to invite around 30 media
representatives to Upper
Lusatia. Here the team put
together by DTC manager
Volker Noeske demonstrated
current procedures as well
as possible – and according
to DEKRA essential – further
developments. Clemens
Klinke, Member of the Board
of DEKRA SE and responsible
for the Business Unit Automotive, explained the tests
and put them in context as
regards the current debate.
Roland Gerdon, Member
of the Boards of DEKRA e. V.
and DEKRA SE, as well as Dr.
Gerd Neumann, Chief Executive Officer at DEKRA Automobil GmbH, also attended.
Three pillars of monitoring
“We should treat emissions
behavior like the safety of
motor vehicles and rely on a
system made up of a combination of type approval,
periodic vehicle monitoring
and controls on the road,”
said Clemens Klinke.
“In our view this system
mix must be lent new weight
in the interests of environmental and consumer protection.”
To do this it would be essential to drive forward further
development work in the
three pillars of type approval and exhaust emissions
analysis.
There are also new technical options for conducting
controls on the road.
Closer to reality with exhaust
analyses on the road
In order to better simulate
reality during investigations
carried out as part of type
approval, DEKRA favors a
combined approach.
This involves new and
more extensive measuring
procedures on the test stands
performed by independent institutes as well as the exhaust
emission analysis on the road
tested in Senftenberg and its
environs.
DEKRA calls for a combination of OBD and tail pipe
measurements
As regards the exhaust
emission analysis as part of
periodic vehicle monitoring,
DEKRA has been insisting
for years now that further
development needs to match
modern requirements. “In
order to make sure that the
vehicles remain as clean as
their design can make them,
it is first of all essential to
revise the maximum levels
to reflect the current state
of engine technology,” said
Klinke. “Secondly, we urgently recommend not restricting
the exhaust emission analysis
of more recent vehicles to the
on-board diagnosis, or OBD
for short, but instead to adopt
the combination of OBD and
tail pipe measurements as
standard procedure.”
Infrared technology employed during drive-bys provides information on exhaust
emissions
The experts in Klettwitz also
presented an innovative yet
legally uncertain solution
for the mobile monitoring of
“emission sinners”. So-called
remote sensing procedures
that measure the exhaust
emissions of vehicles passing
by using infrared technology
have already found some
application in the USA.
“The accuracy of this
testing method can definitely
not be compared with the exhaust emission analysis, but
could at least be employed
to track down the most blatant emission polluters,” said
Klinke.alf
Volker Noeske, Head of the DEKRA Technology Center, explained
the measuring processes and answered journalists’ questions.
Closer to reality: DEKRA also tested mobile measuring procedures
that can record emissions in operation.
The DTC experts demonstrated emission measurements on the test stand to around 30 media representatives.
PAGE 6
DEKRA News International 1/2016
GLOBAL MOBILITY AT DEKRA
A year in the USA
A year in the USA: For Valentin Löwenstein it was a dream
come true. In his post at DEKRA Insight in Oxnard, California, the project manager experienced North American
friendliness and was able to work on some exciting
­projects. We interviewed him to find out what it was like.
VL: Well, naturally it’s quite
a contrast, and I must admit,
especially now in winter, that I
sometimes wish I were back in
milder Californian climes. On
the other hand, I’m a snowboarder, so the cold and snow
back in Germany certainly
has something to offer as well.
That said, in California you
would quite easily be able to
both surf and snowboard on
the same day. Unfortunately it
wasn’t possible last year due
to the lack of snow.
DN: How did you manage to
get posted to DERKA Insight in
the first place?
VL: I had already had contact
with the managing director
and his team as a project
manager for the integration
of acquired companies back
in Stuttgart. It was he who
offered me the opportunity to
spend a year working with him
in California.
DN: And what did you do? Just
pack your bags and jet off?
VL: No, things obviously don’t
go as fast as that. First of all, I
had to notify my superior, but
he was very open to the idea.
The fact that I had already
spent some time in the USA
as a student also made the
decision that much easier. And
the Global Mobility helped me
enormously in dealing with the
formalities.
in the acquisition of Optimus
Seventh Generation and acted
as a link between the Service Unit and head office in
Stuttgart.
DN: What precisely were your
duties at DEKRA Insight?
DN: How were you received
by your American colleagues?
VL: I was in the Operational
Excellence department supporting the DEKRA Insight management team in its strategic work,
working on internal process
optimization and different key
Service Unit projects. I also
worked with RCI colleagues in
Kansas, was actively involved
VL: The vibes were good from
the outset and I was accepted
straight away. My colleagues
were very keen to find out
more about DEKRA and Germany. Naturally, there was the
occasional cultural difference,
but everybody needs to be
aware of that in the beginning.
Photo: Private
DN: Mr. Löwenstein, what’s it
like to be back in a comparatively cold Stuttgart after having spent a year in California?
Unwinding at a baseball game (Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins) during the US posting.
Having said that, openness,
curiosity and flexibility can
take you a very long way.
DN: Are there any commonalities between DEKRA Insight
and DEKRA in Europe?
VL: More than you might
imagine: For instance, the long
average period of service and
the passion for safety in the
USA, which goes far beyond
occupational safety. However,
we all share the same company values and are always
willing to lend each other a
helping hand, irrespective of
which continent the colleagues
happen to be on.
DN: And what’s next? What
are your future career plans?
VL: I am very happy that I
have been able to continue
working as a project manager on DEKRA Insight Service
Unit projects after my return. I
would definitely say that my period there and the experience it
gave me will stand me in good
stead, both on a personal and
a professional level. Looking
back, I would repack my bags
and be off in a shot.
alf
Legal, compliance and corporate data protection department
International
meeting in Berlin
T
he 22 participants spent
two and half days in
Berlin discussing matters
such as the DEKRA Vision
2025 and Strategy 2020
as well as their significance
and possible impact on their
department.
In various workshops
they dealt with additional
future topics, in particular, as regards “Industry
4.0” services, international cooperation within the
DEKRA Group and measures
to ensure group-wide data
protection.
Apart from strictly technical topics some time was
also set aside for colleagues
to exchange experiences
and to discover Berlin and its
sights. Particularly impressive
was the visit to the “Checkpoint Charlie” Wall Museum
accompanied by the personal input of a contemporary
witness.alf
Photo: DEKRA
The Legal and Compliance department convened at the
DEKRA representative office in Berlin in November 2015 to
consult and discuss about Strategy 2020. Also present were
colleagues from Germany, the Netherlands, France, Sweden,
China, the USA and Brazil.
“Top of the Month” in January: the contribution by Jens Petersdorff, Frankfurt branch.
DEKRA Safety Challenge “Top of the Month”
Excellent contributions
As part of the “DEKRA Safety Challenge” campaign the
contributions with the most “Likes” in one month are to be
awarded the “Top of the Month” title. Why not join in!
Photo: Christian Kruppa
S
Law and compliance at its meeting in Berlin.
ince the summer of
2015, when the Safety
Challenge was launched
by DEKRA boss Stefan Kölbl,
the campaign question has
been: What is your contribution to more safety?
All the staff members can
take part and nominate up
to three colleagues to do the
same. There are six simple
stages:
1. Take a picture or record
a video,
2. Give your name and
DEKRA Company,
3. Present your own safety
contribution,
4. Nominate up to three
colleagues,
5. Buckle up a
safety belt,
6. Upload a picture of video
to the website!
From December 2015 those
contributions that have
been played the most will
be awarded the “Top of
the Month” title. And who
knows? Perhaps your contribution will win in the coming
month? Remember, the only
way to win is to join in! alf
Mobile to the Safety Challenge
Login: DEKRA, password:
SafetyChallenge
DEKRA News International 1/2016
PAGE 7
DEKRA branch Chemnitz
Electrifying
One of the now rare models was recently converted
to electric drive as part of
a test project. The project
was supported from not just
one but two sides: Firstly, by
the Saxon company owner
André Laukner, and secondly by the expert Thomas
Markert from the Annaberg
office of the DEKRA Chemnitz branch.
Erzgebirge region in Saxony have been converting
conventional cars to electric
drive and thus integrating
them into his building energy systems. Apart from the
several Volkswagen T5s that
have been converted, his
name is also synonymous
with the lithium-iron-phosphate powered E-Mobiles
“Think”. André Laukner’s
know-how was also of fundamental importance for the
successful implementation of
the T1 project.
Experience with “Think”-EMobiles helped development
André Laukner is well
known in the field. For
years now the engineer and
his company Energietechnik
in Schwarzenberg in the
DEKRA ensures observance
of the regulations during the
conversion
The job of engineer T­ homas
Markert and his DEKRA
team was to ensure that
the T1 conversion to an
The team headed up by Thomas Markert from the branch in
Annaberg has supported the conversion of a Volkswagen T1
to electric drive and then carried out the main inspection.
V
olkswagen T1: There
are not many cars that
are so closely associated with the German economic wonder of the fifties
and sixties as this versatile
Beetle cousin.
Whether in commerce, for
manual trades, the gastronomic sector or agriculture
– this tough old van was
deemed one of the most
important symbols of the
economic upturn.
A total of 1.8 million T1s,
either in a box van, station
wagon or platform truck
version, rolled off the production line between 1950
and 1967.
Electric instead of boxer power plant: The rear is also an eye-catcher.
Photos: Branch Chemnitz
E-Mobile complied with all
the road traffic regulations
required for the registration,
as well as for the successful
passing of the main inspection. “This included, for
example, evidencing the
electromagnetic compatibility of the power packs and
high voltage technology,
the correct adjustment of
revolutions and torque, the
classification of the energy
store and lines in accordance with the regulation
of battery-driven electric
vehicles under ECE R100 or
the contact and insulation
protection,” says the test
engineer.
150 km range thanks to 190
lithium-iron-phosphate cells
The T1 in question was
built in 1958 and had,
Outside old, inside new: The VW T1 “Bulli” in the DEKRA inspection hall.
6 th ICMA Corporate Media Award
Customer magazine
scoops award
before the conversion,
been powered by a 30 hp
1.2 liter engine. Now no
fewer than 192 gastight
lithium-iron-phosphate cells
each with 3.2 volts/42
ampere hours ensure that
the veteran vehicle can be
driven completely emissions free with a range
of almost 150 kilometers.
“By the way, the energy
cells used have been
employed with great
success for many years in
the shipbuilding sector,”
reports André Laukner. For
example, on the large 42
meter yacht “Sir Robert”
or as part of an electric
boat project launched by
the Swiss Heinrich-Werft
in Kreuzlingen at Lake
Constance.
Matthias Gaul
Award winner:
the cover of the
customer magazine
DEKRA Solutions.
A
total of 411 publications from 17 countries took part in the
6 th ICMA. Outstanding individual contributions receive
Awards of Excellence. It is
frequently activities such as
photo reports, illustrations
or book-binding which are
honored in this way.
Stephan Heigl, Director
of DEKRA Corporate Mar-
keting and Communication:
“This award constitutes
a very special honor for
the work invested in the
relaunch of the customer
magazine. DEKRA Solutions
could not have made a
better start.”
The customer magazine
was given a complete overhaul in its 2015 anniversary
year. The first “new” issue
appeared on September 17
in time for the IAA.
The “Solutions” concept
is the brainchild of a team
led by Editor-in-chief B
­ ernd
Ostmann (Motor Press Stuttgart). The journal is produced in collaboration with
Editor Andreas Techel from
ETM Publishers and the
renowned agency Relevance
based in Hamburg.alf
Ph ot o: D EK
RA
The revamped customer magazine DEKRA Solutions has scooped the “Award of Excellence”
for the layout of its print cover in the coveted International Corporate Media Award (ICMA)
competition.
Photos: Karl-Heinz Augustin
PAGE 8
DEKRA News International 1/2016
Finishing line for the giant slalom on Mount Penken.
37 th DEKRA Ski Cup in Mayrhofen
Successfully continuing
the tradition
Pure sunshine, good snow conditions (still) and an appealing
program of activities summed up the 37th DEKRA Ski Cup in
Mayrhofen from January 28 to 30.
O
n the day of departure after the DEKRA
Ski Cup, Mayrhofen
was rainy and it was snowing up in the mountains. The
organization team from the
Planegg branch could not
have wished for better timing.
In the previous days, the
sun had been shining almost
all day long, both in the
valley and on the Penken
and the Ahorn, Mayrhofen’s
two local mountains in the
Zillertal.
According to Werner
Kühnl, the branch manager
and head organizer, this was
half the battle already. The
other half was handled by
his organization team: A tour
around the Erlebnis-Sennerei
alpine dairy on Thursday, the
Bavarian-Austrian evening
in the Europahaus on Friday,
the sports competitions on
Saturday and the crowning
finale at the Berghof Hall
on Saturday evening. Everything went smoothly, and the
roughly 930 participants enjoyed a wonderful couple of
days on this company outing
in the snow.
There were a few details
that made this year’s event
Top weather conditions and great atmosphere
during the DEKRA Ski Cup in Mayrhofen.
DEKRA boss Stefan Kölbl
welcomed the ski fans on
the Saturday evening.
an unforgettable experience,
such as the sponsorship for
a goat that patron Clemens
Klinke started off live on
stage by attaching the animal’s collar. And then there
was the impressive impromptu singing performance by
our colleagues who had
traveled there specially from
South Africa. All in all, it was
a successful continuation of
the traditional event, which
will be organized by the
­Rosenheim branch next year.
In the picture gallery, you
can see photos of the highlights of the event.
alf
Unexpectedly Godfather: Clemens Klinke was allowed to put the collar engraved with the company
name DEKRA around the neck of kid goat “Leni”.
The giant slalom on the “Penken25” slope was blessed with
almost ideal conditions.
Mayrhofen’s emblem, the chamois
buck, in front of Europe House.
The “Zillertal Alps Sound” was followed by DJ Albin with a selection
of dance music.
Pure rustic charm: an
impressive Schuhplattler
performance by lads and
lasses from the Zillertal.
The vocal number by the widely traveled South African colleagues
touched everybody’s heartstrings.