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First of all the
plant is so clean you would think it was a
hospital. Watching how they make the different
glues was fantastic. The second day I went into
the lab to learn all the different materials
that are made on shoes. They test everything in
this place. They have a classroom where repair
shops & orthopedic shops come in and take
classes.
It is like a
college classroom. They test the new materials
that come on new shoes so they can teach their
customers how to bond it. They put much into
education in the shoe market. I really wish we
had the same kind of set up over here.
After the work was
done at Renia, Heinz took me on a tour of
Cologne. The Cologne Cathedral is over 500 years
old and is a sight to see. It is truly a wonder.
While in Cologne,
I went to some shoe repair stores orthopedic
shops. The stores are very clean and modern. The
shoe repairers go to school for several years in
order to work in the shops.
The next day,
Heinz took me to the city of Prum -- at over 170
mph on the Audubon? There I met with Heike Kuhly
from the tannery of Joh. Rendenbach Jr. This
company is more than 130-years-old. They tan the
most incredible soling leather I have ever seen.
They treated me like I was part of their family.
I saw everything from the pits where the leather
is tanned for one year to the finished product.
The tannery of Joh.
Rendenbach Jr. is in Trier, Germany. It was the
first city in Germany and was built by the
Romans. Lots of walls and buildings are still
there, and the food there was also incredible. I
spent two days there.
Heike and
Rendenbach were fantastic hosts.
After two days in
wonderful Trier, two representatives from
Freudenburg rubber came to pick me up. Thomas
and Holgar took me to several shoe repair and
orthopedic shops. These stores are a must to
visit when in Germany. They are so advanced in
their orthopedic technology and their repair
centers are just as educational.
Thomas and Holgar
then took me to a 500-year-old castle which is
now a winery. We toured the winery and had
two-hour taste testing. The education in the
winery was as much fun as the glue factory.
Thomas and Holgar
then made me a lifetime member of the MBS. MBS
is an association that was formed in BK town
Germany. Thomas and Holgar are the president and
vice president of this respected association.
While I was in
Germany, my house and business suffered heavy
damage from Hurricane Jeanne. My store was
closed because of a sink hole in the shopping
center and my house that was badly damaged
including a tree through the roof. We didn't
know how we were going to make it. We had three
hurricanes come through in six weeks.
We lost a great
deal of money and spent the last bit paying to
get the tree out of our house. In a matter of
days, money started coming in to help us from
SSIA members and friends. We thought we were
going to lose everything. We were facing a
$10,000 hurricane deductible. With the help of
you wonderful friends and FEMA, we are going to
come out of this with only a bit of dirt on our
shoulders. I can’t thank all of you enough. My
three children and my wife thank you as well.
My life is this
industry and I promise to always give it 100
percent. I love teaching and learning in this
industry and I love all of my friends in it as
well. I will always be there for any of you who
want to learn and share ideas.
To all the SSIA
and its members, you will always be part of my
family. |
