The company had developed steadily. The company as a whole – the wire weaving mill having now been in existence for 88 years, the Machinery Division for 50 years – employed 900 people. The then third-generation Managing Directors, Rudolf Haver and Eitel-Fritz Haver, recognized that communication with employees was a decisive factor for employee satisfaction and for the further development of the company. They consequently founded the employee magazine “HB-Kurier”. This is now published four times a year and is intended to provide information on economic and business policy issues as well as interesting events, developments and personal news from the company. Hoping for a lively exchange of ideas, Management sought to enhance the bond between Management and all employees in all plants.
In their foreword to the first HB-Kurier, the Managing Directors wrote: “... The HB-Kurier aims to reach and address all current and former employees and their family members, as well as all sales offices and subsidiaries, and finally all representatives at home and abroad – thus spanning a wide range from the Head Office in Oelde to the entire Haver & Boecker company, which is combined in the Wire Weaving and Machinery Division.”
Five decades later, communication options have expanded enormously. Besides the printed word, use of the Internet, HB4me, a dedicated app for internal communication, and many social media channels have been added. What’s remained though is the HB-Kurier. This is still going strong even after 50 years – enjoying active readership among both current and former employees alike.
