Herbold Meckesheim “up and running again” after massive fire in September

Plastics recycling machinery maker Herbold Meckesheim GmbH is returning to a normal production level following a major fire on Sept. 10 at its plant and headquarters in Meckesheim, Germany.

The fire destroyed the company’s central warehouse and dispatch department; the office space, test centre, and the production halls were not affected.

There were no casualties in the fire, and cause of the blaze was eventually traced to a technical defect in electrical equipment.

“As of the second half of October, [we] are producing again at almost the same level as before the blaze,” Werner Herbold, one of the family-owned company’s managing directors, said in a statement. “The insurer approved our measures to restore an interim operation and granted a sufficient advance so we can realize the necessary investments without delay. The restocking of the parts destroyed in our central warehouse is also in full swing…and all parts of the buildings, undamaged by the fire, will continue to be used as usual.”

Herbold Meckesheim is also planning to expand as it rebuilds facilities. “In our direct neighbourhood an incoming goods department and a warehouse have been established and not too far away, a one-time 2,500-square-meter machine hall will be transformed for production,” Werner Herbold said.

The new storage facility is expected to open in November.