Covid-19 Hits
COVID-19 hits South Africa with full force. Roemer’s, being an essential service to many industries, manages to gain permits to stay open during lockdown, but with drastic limits and restrictions. For the first time in 121 years of doing business, the company has to implement a system of short time and layoff – a sad day for many of our staff. Mr W Laudien tries to assist staff as best he can, by offering leave payouts and food parcels. With not knowing what the future will bring, it is a very scary time for Roemer’s as a company and for all South Africans.
With the greatest fortune, Roemer’s is allowed to open it’s doors again at full capacity, later in the year – allowing full re-employment of all staff. Though the uncertainty and worry about the future still hangs heavy on Mr W Laudien’s shoulders, Roemers donkeys on as its age-old self, with everyone teaming together to make things happen, to keep it going, securing new business and providing the top QUALITY standard they are so well known for.
Mr R Laudien retires
“As we announce Mr. Reiner Laudien’s official retirement I am reminded of the first day, about 48 years ago when Mr. Laudien arrived to join the company, from which was then known as South West Africa with his Kombi loaded with furniture and a fishing rod to temporally store in the factory.
Mr Laudien was being groomed by the then owner, his father-in-law Mr Münch to take over the business.
He was exemplary in his task and made vast changes and improvements to change the way the business was run, buying new machinery, and changing the old system to keep up with the times.
Amongst the many assets Mr Laudien has is that he also a qualified electrical engineer, and this was a valuable contribution to finding faults and repairing of our machinery ourselves, and so much of this knowledge he has passed on to me.
The tragic and unfortunate accident he had 20 years ago, where has was hospitalised for many months and despite being partly immobilised, he did his utmost to be at Roemers Grinding Works, the place he loves and still care about.
Through pain and discomfort and perhaps an overdose of stubbornness he continued.
Needless to say; it was the time for his son, Wolf to join and take the business to another level, which he so successfully has done, and is still doing.
I recall when I nervously tried to steer the business from his hospital bed as he guided me to make very important decisions, he would comfort me by saying that if I make a mistake, only make it once.
And in a vulnerable moment he would say, “what about my children” referring to his staff.
That for me, is the measure of the man, and I wish I could charge my glass, and you your silver chalice and say – PROST old friend.
So, in conclusion, I wish you a peaceful and comfortable and pain free retirement – CHEERS.”
– Errol Wiener
“I know him for 34 years which is more than a lifetime for most. He was always like a father figure to me, a family orientated man. I was fortunate to have worked with him and Mr Münch, two totally different characters. I was also the time of his accident, very uncertain times for the company. This is when his character shone through. His heart was always for the business. His recovery was a long process but still he was still concerned and involved in the business.
Things that I personally can take from knowing him is that he always said working smart is always better than working hard. He always said that the guys should always look after their monies.
He was approachable, always asking about family. He made an effort to know the families of the guys.
We also had our moments of disagreement, but always managed to resolve.
He had a keen business mind – never do something other do, was his words.
I wish him all the best and it was an honour to know him. If you ever need upliftment, you look at his fighting spirit and carry on.”
– Mr Herman
– Mr P du Preez is hired as General Manager, He begins implementing changes to the company’s policies and procedures to bring Roemer’s up to date with the modern trends and OHS requirements.
– Ms C Laudien (Mr W Laudien’s eldest daughter) takes over the role of bookkeeper.
– Mr Neil Green, the production foreman, resigns after 22 years with Roemer’s, to be with his family during these trying times with COVID.