Herbert Weindich likes contracts with large quantities. “Then the cost of the conversion is simply less” smiles the trained car mechanic and he speaks from experience. After all, the 59-year-old has been working for KGM for 27 years now. In the department for balls made of plastic materials, converting machines for different production sizes is as much part of his tasks as organising, checking and delegating. He is open-minded when it comes to challenges despite his preference for large amounts and recurring dimensions: “What is particularly exciting is processing new, as yet unused materials.”

After all, plastic is not just plastic. Because balls made from it are usually easy to produce compared to other materials, they are often used. “The important thing for us with these balls is to observe the particular degree of shrinkage,” says Weindich and continues: “So leave to cool down and dry off and check again that the dimensions, values and surfaces are correct.” These products are used then in automatic gearboxes, speedometers, refrigeration equipment, in medical devices or as the water level indicator in coffee machines.

His fascination with the round object in itself has grown steadily over the past quarter of a century working for KGM. While it was initially a surprise to him, “that plastic balls can be found in cooling systems”, he later repeatedly distinguished himself with his innovative ideas for the processing of specific materials.

The KGM suggestion scheme “Round thinking” offers him the perfect framework for this.

For example, the manufacturing process for balls in the high-end vehicle segment was improved on his advice. Balls that are later used in Bentley or BMW models of the 7 Series can be ground more efficiently as a result today.