Open Day at Lassmann – instead of participating at the Ceramitec 2009

»1 “Staudtswiese” clay pit

»2 “Schmidtchen” clay pit

The company Lassmann Kommandite with its headquarters in Wirges has been involved in clay mining since 1936, employs 50 people and is currently actively operating nine clay pits in Rhineland-Palatinate and North-Rhine Westphalia – four in the Westerwald region alone.

This year the management decided against a stand at the Ceramitec, despite their long-standing and traditional participation at past exhibitions. Instead Lassmann offered an “Open Day” for the company’s German and international customers.

After the customers arriving on Friday were given a warm welcome by the Lassmann family, the 60 participants spent the Saturday visiting the Westerwald mining operations under the guidance of Holger Stahlhofen and Ralf Blickhäuser. Accompanied by sunny weather, the Lassmann company proudly presented the heart of the company, the “Staudtswiese” mine in Leuterod with processing and storage halls, to the audience of ceramic specialists:

› Opening of the mine: 1975

› Output: 80 000 tonnes p.a.

› Expected life span: 40 years

› Size of the mine: 40 hectars

› Clay: bright-firing, coarse-grained pouring clay/whiteware clay, kaolin

› Storage capacity: 20 000 tonnes

Lassmann was also able to illustrate the security of resources in their own open-cast mining operations – an important aspect in terms of long-term customer loyalty.

Also presented was the “Schmidtchen” mine in Ransbach-Baumbach, newly opened as recently as 2003:

› Output: 80 000 tonnes p.a.

› Expected life span: 15 years

› Size of the mine: 10 hectares

› Clay: bright-firing, fine-grained and highly plastic stoneware clay, illite

Managing Director Bernhard Lassmann used the Open Day to demonstrate that – particularly in times of economic crisis – customer loyalty and personal contact are enormously important.

In addition to the main programme of visits, the guests were also treated to a cultural and culinary experience.

The very good feedback on the event organized by Barbara Lassmann permits a positive outlook for the future. Lassmann Kommandite intends to organize similar, customer-oriented events in the coming years, in particular in the mines of the northern and southern Eifel region.