The Scheßlitz Fire Department can look back on a long history—in 2024, the department will celebrate the 160th anniversary of its founding. Over the years, much has evolved and changed at the fire station. Among the changes in recent years is the addition of a high-speed ATOLL washing machine and the TS 1300 drying cabinet from STAHL to the station’s in-house laundry facility. Firefighter Achim Bärenstrauch, as the uniform officer, is responsible for the complete cleaning of all equipment—not only for the Scheßlitz Fire Department, but for a total of 19 fire departments in the city area. This keeps him very busy, and he is glad that the professional equipment makes his job easier.
The connection with STAHL was established at a trade show that a colleague had attended. A small committee ultimately decided to partner with STAHL because the machines offered the best cost-benefit ratio. Since then, the machines have made Achim Bärenstrauch’s work easier; for example, he can now impregnate protective clothing directly in the washing machine in a single cycle—something that wasn’t possible with the old machines. The ability to customize programs on the washing machine, as well as the flexibility offered by the drying cabinet, are also major advantages for Achim Bärenstrauch. The independent cleaning and disinfection of chemical protection suits has also only been possible since the STAHL machines were installed in Scheßlitz. Colleagues from all 19 fire departments bring their collected uniforms to Scheßlitz—including boots and ropes—so that the equipment can be professionally cleaned and dried before being returned to the stations. As the uniform manager, Achim Bärenstrauch is also responsible for the pool of uniforms, which is used, for example, to outfit new recruits and into which garments that have become too small or too large are placed.
What the Scheßlitz Fire Department values most about STAHL’s service is the good rapport, quick assistance, and the fact that the equipment is manufactured in Germany. In an emergency, a service technician arrives on site quickly, and because the machine components are manufactured in Germany, there are no long wait times—this was an important factor for the Scheßlitz Fire Department when choosing STAHL.
