Andreas Mätschke is the new head of Continental’s Lower Saxony centre, where he will be working in an overarching capacity for the four main business areas.
Northeim’s Visibility and Network to be Further Strengthened
Northeim is a multipurpose location within the Continental Group. Four business areas have production facilities here, with the product groups being as numerous as they are diverse. The portfolio ranges from conveyor belts for mining and industry, to technical materials, membranes and printing blankets, to hose lines and brake seals for the automotive industry. Northeim is also the control hub for conveyor belt activities. 4,000 employees worldwide receive instructions from the southern Lower Saxony.
Mätschke has noted that Northeim’s variety of products and technologies, in particular, represents a great opportunity: “With the Northeim plant, Continental is one of the largest employers in the region, and its potential is far from exhausted. Around 1,600 people work here, and the highly diverse range of products naturally makes the location very attractive to future employees.”
Mätschke is a familiar figure with Continental, having worked for the organisation since 1987. His goals in the job are to develop the entire location and make even greater use of the synergies within the plant while increasing its visibility – thus further enhancing public perception of the plant in the southern Lower Saxony region and beyond.
Citing both the location’s potential, as well as its attractiveness and technological strength to the outside world, Mätschke believes digital transformation services will be the Centre’s unique selling point, adding that this “will appeal to young professionals – and that’s exactly what we want.”
One example is the partnership with Gera-Eisenach Cooperative State University, which will start this spring. Continental Northeim will support and accept students from the Digital Industry degree program.
Northeim to be Promoted Across the Region
“Communication and networking are extremely important – both externally and internally. So far, I feel that the Northeim location has been somewhat underestimated in these respects. I would like to change this with my colleagues here,” says Mätschke. The goal is to sharpen the profile and show what the Northeim location stands for, what makes it special and what it means to the region and Continental. “That’s why I’d also like to develop further our good contacts and joint dialogue with institutions, schools, universities, the city and district, as well as the companies in the region, to make us even more visible.”
Communication will also be an important part of how Mätschke will operate within the role. He concluded by saying that he will start by “talking to as many colleagues and partners as possible, listen carefully and learn – and then work together to shape things.”
