Herbert takes his first real “step up” in his professional career right at the start. On beginning his apprenticeship as a machine fitter at Uhlmann, the 15-year-old is still a few centimeters short of reaching the vice. “That’s when I and a couple of my fellow apprentices, who had the same problem, were given a wooden pallet without further ado,” he recalls with a laugh 50 years later. He still thinks fondly of his apprenticeship days: “Asking questions was never a problem. My master craftsman was very approachable.”
My work has never failed to interest and fascinate me all these years.
Herbert Hirschmann
And while the pallet’s long gone – Hirschmann is staying: “Uhlmann already had a good reputation back then, and you just knew you’d get excellent training,” explains the 65-year-old. After completing his apprenticeship in 1975 and taking a break for military service, he gets a job in the toolmaking shop where he spends ten years assembling and milling tools. “It was something I really enjoyed. But then an internal job opening came up, so I applied for it and got it.”
From tool specialist to tool designer
Thus, in 1988, Hirschmann becomes a format specialist and thus an expert for the diverse feeding systems used on Uhlmann machines. And that, basically, is what he’s still doing to this day – even though his position is now called “Tool Designer”. But he’s not scared of change, anyway; on the contrary: “My job was never boring, because new product developments always gave rise to new formats. That’s why my work has never failed to interest and fascinate me all these years.” In addition, the native of Achstetten feels he’s in good hands at Uhlmann: “I was treated fairly and paid well, and never had to worry about my job. And that kind of security is so important.”
Herbert Hirschmann (left) started at Uhlmann as an apprentice machinist.
Celebrating together was important at Uhlmann even back then.
In 50 years, many pictures are created that remain in the mind - and on the occasion of the anniversary, also pictures of the head.
Herbert Hirschmann met his wife (right) during his apprenticeship. At the anniversary celebration, the couple reminisced together with Hedwig and Tobias Uhlmann and members of the management.
One of the things he especially likes about Uhlmann is, in his own words, “that community spirit is always held high”. Accordingly, his fondest memories from the past 50 years are the joint company celebrations, such as the “Winterzauber” event to celebrate the magic of Advent which is now taking place again.
Keeping busy in retirement
Hirschmann will remain in contact with Uhlmann even after he retires in March 2023. “I will definitely stay in touch,” he says. Although he certainly won’t be bored: There’s his side business, for one, called “Textildruck Hirschmann” Printing” [https://hirschmann-textildruck.com/], a textile printing business which he founded 15 years ago. And then there’s the tennis court, which he swapped for the soccer turf 30 years ago and still loves to this day. And, last but not least, his family with his five-year-old granddaughter. His wife, who works at Uhlmann Fencing, will also be retiring two months after him. And while we don’t know whether they met when he was still standing on the wooden pallet, the pactuell editorial team is still going to “knock on wood” and wish them luck for the coming years.
