Author: Nathalia Abreu

It’s 12 o’clock. The photographers get into their position while our colleagues simulate the upcoming guest’s stance in order to adjust camera angles. The CEO and COO of the KIRCHHOFF Holding Arndt and Wolfgang Kirchhoff do a few last minute preparations for their presentation of the recently developed battery case.

And finally the time has come. Journalists gather in front of the booth and set up their equipment as Angela Merkel  enters the hall. She greets the Kirchhoff family before entering the booth. Arndt G. Kirchhoff opens the presentation by welcoming the German chancellor in the name of all employees.

In the ongoing presentation Arndt explains the battery case to Angela Merkel while Wolfgang highlights the special features of the battery case, which are the crash stability, the impermeability as well as its cooling capabilities.

Even though the battery case only makes up less than one percent of KIRCHHOFF’s annual turnover, Arndt G. Kirchhoff highlights its importance to KIRCHHOFF Automotive in order to enhance futuristic innovations; to which Angela Merkel comments that as a company we are “ready to go” recognizing the importance of this technology innovation.

Cut. The journalists leave the booth, Angela Merkel shakes hands, the presentation is over and the normal insanity of the IAA continues.

It all starts with a question: “What  kind of technology will KIRCHHOFF Automotive present at IAA this year?” With a constant  focus on innovation  in technology, Chancellor Angela Merkel has confirmed  her presence at our booth tomorrow.

But hosting such an important guest is no easy task, much preparation is involved before and during her visit. After presenting the Chancellor and her team with a briefing on our new, cutting-edge technology for electric vehicles, she will visit us to see, and hear more about our innovations.

Once a detailed visitation schedule was established, it was our turn to make the appropriate accommodations. Necessary adaptations will be made to our booth in order to ensure a smooth visit. From lighting adjustments, to blocking certain areas of the booth and allocating specific measured areas for press representatives, these accommodations were carefully planned over many weeks.

The highlight of the visit will be the new battery housing for electric vehicles, a benchmark product for KIRCHHOFF Automotive. With much anticipation and excitement, we look forward to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit!

Photo: Chancellor Merkel’s visit to KIRCHHOFF Automotive’s Booth at the IAA in 2013.

For early mornings and long days at the IAA, our booth is appropriately equipped with a bar, serving specialty beverages. Barista, Patrick Fuhrs, took the time to tell us what makes the perfect espresso. The coffee beans are freshly ground at the booth; the right balance between fine and coarse. Eight grams of coffee grounds are then tightly pressed and added to the espresso machine allowing the water to evenly seep through, leaving him with the right consistency – crema and all! Patrick offers a variety of warm beverages such as cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos and Americanos leaving the aroma of coffee hanging in the air — keeping us all alert and awake when we need it most.