“Once Zimmer, Always Zimmer”
Zimmer Group Bids Farewell to Long-Time Employees
Last Wednesday, May 20, the Zimmer Group held a ceremony to bid farewell to several employees as they retired. Owner Martin Zimmer paid tribute to the retiring employees for their many years of service, their reliability, and their loyalty to the company.
“We are saying goodbye to people who have shaped the Zimmer Group over many years. People who have contributed not only their labor but also their personalities, their ideas, and their experience,” emphasized Martin Zimmer in his speech. Behind the milestones in the company’s history—new products, technologies, and markets, as well as internationalization and digitalization—there have always been people. Without their dedication, hard work, and loyalty, this journey would not have been possible.
Employees with impressive lengths of service
The following employees were honored during the event:
- Taissir Badr
Start date: 02/15/1988, Retirement: 12/31/2025
37 years of service, Quality Assurance, QA Assistant, Zimmer GmbH - Klaus Baron
Start date: May 1, 2022, Retirement: April 30, 2026
4 years of service, Assembly, Mechatronics Technician, Zimmer GmbH - Reinhard Berger
Start date: January 1, 2005, Retirement: May 31, 2026
21 years of service, Sales, Technical Sales Manager, Zimmer GmbH - Jean-Georges Denni
Start date: 02/04/1991, Retirement: 03/31/2026
35 years of service, Assembly, Assembly Worker, Zimmer GmbH - Dieter Kleis
Start date: 09/15/2000, Retirement: 05/31/2026
25 years of service, Logistics, Warehouse Clerk, Zimmer GmbH
He will continue to support the company for two more months due to an employee’s illness. - Martin Koch
Start date: 01/11/1999, Retirement: 12/31/2025
27 years of service, Manufacturing, Skilled Worker, Zimmer GmbH - Jürgen Otteni
Start date: June 1, 1989, Retirement: November 30, 2025
36 years of service, Development, Technician, Zimmer GmbH - Jürgen Petke
Start date: April 12, 2010, Retirement: November 30, 2025
16 years of service, Warehouse, Warehouse Clerk, Zimmer GmbH
Helped shape change and passed on knowledge
“Many projects we are proud of today bear your mark, even if it isn’t always visible,” emphasized Martin Zimmer. The retiring employees had actively helped shape the company’s transformation from paper drawings to modern, digital solutions and passed on their knowledge to subsequent generations.
In addition to the future retirees, numerous executives and colleagues attended the farewell ceremony:
Günther and Martin Zimmer (founders and owners), Silvana Retsch (Head of Strategic HR), Jörg Baumann (Head of National Sales), Kurt Ross (Head of R&D Handling Technology), Timo Mauderer (Head of Engineering), Michael Maxheimer (Plant Manager SAL), Mario Wölfle (Head of Production), Dieter Langenecker (Head of Assembly and Logistics), Alex Hauß (Head of Manufacturing), Michael Hoch (Head of Quality Management), Michael Staiger (Plant Manager Glockenloch), and Ralph Reister (Team Leader Mechatronics Assembly).
Retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter in the employees’ lives, with more time for family, hobbies, volunteer work, or personal projects. At the same time, Martin Zimmer emphasized that the end of their active professional lives does not have to mean the end of their connection to the Zimmer Group: “‘Once Zimmer – always Zimmer’ is more than just a slogan.” The hope is that former employees will continue to feel part of the Zimmer family—for example, at alumni gatherings, the summer festival, or during visits to the company.
In closing, Martin Zimmer expressed his gratitude on behalf of the entire Zimmer Group: “Thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for everything you have done for the Zimmer Group.”
