Kategorie: Uncategorized

Military Experience Meets Business

People from a wide range of professional backgrounds repeatedly find their way to the FRICKE Group. For example, Alexander, who previously completed a bachelor’s degree as a police commissioner candidate, or Carina, who had lived in Austria before joining the company.
Today, I would like to introduce Christian, who has been part of the FRICKE Group since July 2025. Since January 2026, he has been working as an Operational Excellence Manager in Logistics. In this role, he focuses on systematically developing processes further and delivering measurable results by supporting operational managers in process analysis, evaluating process data, and identifying waste and bottlenecks. As a result, a large part of his work revolves around achieving continuous improvement.

Military Background as a Door Opener

His experience in program and stakeholder management, which he has gained throughout his career, helps him significantly in this role. Before joining FRICKE, Christian worked at Amazon as a Process Lead and Manager. There, partly due to the combination of his own military background and his extensive operational experience, he had the opportunity to join the Global Military Affairs program. This is a strategic program aimed at successfully transitioning military professionals into civilian career paths.

It is an Amazon-owned team that works closely with other major corporations that have had or currently run their own military programs. The team operates globally. During that time, Christian first lived in London for six months and then in Seattle for a year, managing the program from there with responsibility for the regions of North America, Central Europe, and Oceania.

This international reach required a high level of cross-functional collaboration and cultural understanding across multiple time zones and markets.

The program covered the entire employee journey: from targeted recruiting of military talent, through a structured onboarding process, to mentoring and coaching initiatives for long-term career development. It was complemented by active community building, with events ranging from traditional recruitment activities to high-level governmental meetings, which sustainably strengthened knowledge transfer and cohesion within the veteran community.

Personal Highlights During the Global Military Affairs Program

A particular highlight for Christian was participating in the Invictus Games 2023 in Düsseldorf and the Invictus Games 2025 in Vancouver. The Invictus Games are an international sporting event for service members who were injured in the line of duty or have sustained lasting physical or mental injuries due to illness. They were founded in 2014 by Prince Harry. Although Christian was unfortunately not able to compete himself as a representative of the main sponsor, his disciplines would have been wheelchair basketball and rowing.

As an injured veteran with a history of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), participating in these games was for me far more than a professional engagement—it was a moment that deeply touched and empowered me in my own journey as a veteran.

During his military service, which included three overseas deployments, Christian was stationed in Seedorf (about 8 km from Heeslingen) and completed a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a practical component at Lisega in Zeven. The theoretical part of his studies took place at Ruhr University Bochum, with a focus on Business Informatics/Application Systems, particularly the integration of communication tools into ERP systems.

We find Christian’s career path both exciting and impressive, and we wish him all the best for his future with the FRICKE Group!
If you’d like to read more about unconventional career paths, you can check out the post about Gian Luca, whose journey took him from Italy, through Germany, and finally to Switzerland.

17 März, 2026
GRANIT PARTS Iberia at FIMA 2026

Every two years, the Spanish city of Zaragoza hosts “FIMA” – a five-day agricultural trade fair in February with around 1,200 exhibitors. Agricultural innovations and technologies are presented to interested trade visitors across more than 100,000 square meters. Experts, manufacturers, and dealers come together here to engage in conversation and exchange ideas at the exhibition space as well as in conferences and presentations.

Acquiring new customers through a customer journey

GRANIT PARTS‘ Spanish subsidiary was represented at this agricultural sector event by a strong team of 14 people. GRANIT PARTS Iberia’s focus at the trade fair was on welcoming existing customers and acquiring new ones. The latter was achieved through a competition and an associated “customer journey.” As part of this, participants in the competition also signed up to receive a newsletter, which was then sent to them over several days, providing them with interesting information about GRANIT PARTS.

The GRANIT PARTS stand at FIMA had a lot to offer: in addition to various LEDs, there were diagnostic devices from Jaltest to discover. Visitors were also able to find out about some of our own brands: batteries from Endurance Energy, PROBOSS seats, workshop equipment from TRAXOR, and ROTARO drive shafts. The topic of smart farming also had its place at the booth, allowing visitors to learn more about the future of agriculture.
Of course, GRANIT PARTS also attracted some visitors to its booth with its enticing competition. The prizes on offer were toolboxes and hammer drills from the GRANIT BLACK EDITION!

The GRANIT PARTS Iberia booth at FIMA 2026

To participate in the competition, visitors received a digital registration form that asked for some information. In addition to their name and address, this included details of the number of tractors they owned or the number of hectares they farmed, in order to get an idea of the size of their operation. By submitting this digital registration form, participants in the competition were entered into the prize draw. They also signed up for the newsletter mentioned above, ensuring that GRANIT PARTS would remain in their minds even after their visit to the trade fair.

Preparations for the lottery & customer journey

Lucía and I were responsible for the registration form and the subsequent newsletter. Lucía is in charge of marketing in Spain and therefore had a lot of contact with FIMA. I, on the other hand, don’t have any trade fair experience yet, but as part of my training I am currently in the department e-commerce/marketing and therefore work a lot in the field of “digital presentation.” Lucía and I already know each other from my stay abroad in Spain in October – a perfect match and a great advantage for communication!

We started working together on the aforementioned registration form for the competition. Lucía gave me a few guidelines and suggestions, and I implemented them in the form. In a short time, we created a quick-to-fill-out digital document that was designed to encourage participation with a logo, images, and a short text.

The customer journey begins

Further down the form, participants were asked to provide their contact details. The “email address” field was important for notifying participants if they won, but it was also essential for the newsletter so that they could be added to the mailing list. The participants were then divided into two groups in the mailing list: retailers and commercial end customers. Fortunately, the information that visitors provided in the form enabled our tool to do the work of distinguishing between the two groups for us.

Here, the journey split into two paths: commercial end customers and dealers.

After dividing the participants into dealers and commercial end customers, both groups received emails over several days informing them about GRANIT PARTS and the benefits we offer. The emails sent to commercial end customers contained comprehensive insights into our product range and practical instructions on how to find a dealer near them via the GRANIT web shop.

The email history for retailers – more detailed and with more branches

The part of the journey aimed at retailers was somewhat more complex. The first introductory email from GRANIT contained a brief overview of the scope of services and a comprehensive presentation of our product ranges. With the trade audience at the trade fair in mind, the focus here was on the agricultural product segment. After a certain waiting period, further emails followed. In addition to interesting insights into our product range, dealers also received information about our partner shop program, Rep.Guide, and our useful special searches.

The difference between this and the email history of commercial end customers was not only in the content of the emails. What also distinguished the course of the customer journey for dealers from that of commercial end customers were the “splits” that the marketing automation tool regularly performed. As part of a split, the tool checks whether the recipient is already registered as a customer with GRANIT. If this is the case, they would embark on a new “path” in the journey. They would now receive emails explaining how to use the web shop and introducing them to other benefits, such as the GRANIT app or the shop system. Participants in the journey who have not registered as customers continue to receive the “regular” newsletter emails.

Here, the journey split again if the participant had registered with GRANIT PARTS.

The conclusion on FIMA 2026

During the trade fair, several people signed up for our competition. GRANIT PARTS is now sending interesting information about our company to a large number of trade fair visitors with the aim of convincing them to become customers or find a dealer in their area.
Of course, visitors were particularly interested in the prizes: every day, two lucky winners were drawn from the new contacts made that day using a tool! One won a toolbox and the second a hammer drill from the GRANIT BLACK EDITION.

In conclusion, FIMA was a real success for GRANIT PARTS Iberia: Lucía reported consistently positive results. Many customers were welcomed in the VIP area, and commercial end customers also showed great interest in GRANIT PARTS products. We are already looking forward to GRANIT PARTS Iberia’s next trade fair visit and to more exciting insights!

10 März, 2026
Gian Luca in Switzerland – New team, new opportunities

Gian Luca started as a customer advisor at GRANIT PARTS in Italy in 2018 and moved to the export team in Heeslingen in 2020. Since the beginning of 2025, Gian Luca has been working for GRANIT PARTS in Switzerland as an internal sales manager. Today, February 3, 2026, marks his one-year anniversary there. This is a good opportunity to look back on the past year and take a look at upcoming projects.

Gian Lucas’s place on his first day at work a year ago

Well settled in the Swiss team?

Gian Luca describes himself as more of an extrovert. Having grown up bilingual near Venice and in the Lüneburg Heide, he has never had any great difficulty settling into and adapting to new environments. This is why he found it easy to settle into his new working environment. Gian Luca has settled in very well within the small Swiss team of 9 people. Even though he has not yet fully mastered Swiss German, he deliberately encourages his colleagues to speak to him in the local language. This allows him to continuously improve his language skills and feel even more integrated into the team.

Even though Gian Luca has already proven his leadership skills as team leader in export in Heeslingen, his colleague Loris is a welcome support for him in Switzerland. Loris will be taking his well-deserved retirement in March and will be supporting Gian Luca until then, particularly with his operational expertise. In addition, Gian Luca is continuing his education with the internal leadership program f.leadership in order to further develop his professional and personal leadership skills and prepare himself specifically for future management tasks.

It’s great to take on responsibility in a small team while learning from experienced colleagues.

The sales representative Swiss team with manager Martin (in the middle in the back, Gian Luca is on the right in the back)

The figures at a glance

In his role, Gian Luca is responsible for the strategic side of the Swiss branch and devotes much of his time to process optimization and change management. Certain areas such as warranties, accounting, and returns will be expanded in the future and assigned to individual employees so that each person is responsible for their own area of expertise. Appropriate deputy arrangements will be put in place to ensure that a contact person is always available in the event of vacation or illness. The aim is to develop experts in each area and create clear responsibilities to ensure quality and efficiency.
Another focus is on monitoring key figures that are relevant to the Swiss office. These include, for example, backorder figures. These are items that have not yet been delivered to customers in Switzerland because the goods are not yet available and are therefore delayed. Gian Luca works closely with Lea, the responsible customer advisor based in Heeslingen, on these evaluations. These key figures are regularly evaluated together and appropriate measures are derived to reduce backlogs and continuously improve the delivery situation for customers in Switzerland.

Optimizing processes and clearly dividing responsibilities makes work exciting and efficient.

We would like to thank Gian Luca for sharing his personal impressions with us and wish him continued success in his work and projects in Switzerland!
In this blog post, you can find more information about the history of GRANIT PARTS‘ Swiss subsidiary.

3 Februar, 2026
Three Countries, Diverse Experiences: Till’s International Assignment

As part of his dual study program at the FRICKE Group, our student Till had a unique opportunity: instead of visiting just one international subsidiary, as is usually the case, he was able to experience three different international sites. His assignments took him to Spain, Italy, and France, providing him with valuable professional and personal experiences.

Building Bridges in EDI: Collaboration, Strategy, and Implementation
Before and after his international assignments, Till worked in the EDI department. EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) refers to the automated connection between IT systems (e.g., ERP systems) of different companies, enabling the electronic exchange of standardized business documents, such as purchase orders, invoices, or delivery notes, without manual intervention.

The goal of his assignments was to make EDI more tangible and understandable within the respective local subsidiaries. His work focused on collaborating with colleagues on-site, jointly developing strategies, and conducting training sessions on EDI processes. In addition, Till ,just as he did in Germany, was involved in traditional EDI tasks, ranging from communication with customers and suppliers to the development and maintenance of system interfaces.

Spain – Work, Culture, and Sunshine
The first stop was a five-week assignment in Spain. After arriving in Madrid, Till traveled to our site in Valladolid, where he was warmly welcomed by the Spanish Managing Director Álvaro and the Head of Internal Sales Emilia, who invited him to a shared lunch, a perfect start to building connections.

His centrally located apartment made commuting easier, as colleagues gave him a lift each day. The sunny Spanish weather, with temperatures reaching up to 35°C, added a true summer vibe to his workdays. Outside of work, Till spent a lot of time with the team, exploring parts of the city such as Parque Campo Grande with its free-roaming peacocks, as well as attending cultural events like concerts. Personal highlights included a short Bachata course, morning churros at the office, group bowling and padel evenings, and a weekend excursion.

On weekends, Till aimed to explore a new region each time. His travels took him from snow-capped mountains to hot valleys with temperatures up to 37°C. He was particularly impressed by the historic city of Ávila, with its fully preserved and largely walkable city walls.

Want to get a closer look at our Valladolid office? Check out Off to the south – three weeks in Valladolid, by our trainee Annabell.

Italy – EDI and Field Work Up Close
Next, Till spent a week in Italy, where he was again warmly welcomed, including a shared meal. In addition to professional discussions on EDI topics, he had the unique opportunity to accompany the field service team on a tour, gaining insight into another core business area. While he enjoyed the stunning landscapes, his personal highlight was undoubtedly the Italian cuisine.

France – Strategy, Collaboration, and Unique Experiences
Before returning to Germany, Till completed a two-week assignment in France. In Reims, he worked closely with the local EDI expert to raise awareness of EDI topics and develop strategic approaches.

Outside of work, he gathered many memorable experiences. Highlights included an impressive light show at Reims Cathedral, sports activities such as a group run through the city and a squash match with colleague Fred, as well as a guided tour of the Vranken-Pommery Champagne cellars.

Back in Germany, Till continues to be involved in projects with the sites in Spain, Italy, and France, contributing to their ongoing development.

An International Experience to Remember
Till’s international assignment clearly demonstrates the opportunities offered by a dual study program at the FRICKE Group: international collaboration, professional development, cultural exchange, and numerous personal experiences. Three countries, different teams, and countless new impressions—an experience that will stay with Till for a long time.

20 Januar, 2026
Trainee Trip to Le Mans – An Experience that connects

There are moments on the job that you don’t forget very quickly. For me, November 19th is definitely one of them – the start of our two-day trainee trip to Le Mans with 57 apprentices: future agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technicians, automotive mechatronics technicians, and one mechatronics technician for plant engineering. At 4:45 a.m., most of us were still a bit sleepy when we met in Heeslingen. But during the bus ride towards Hanover, and at the airport, the atmosphere quickly lifted – suddenly the whole group was full of energy, curiosity, and excitement for the two days ahead. Some of the trainees had never flown before – which made the trip even more thrilling.

Visiting the CLAAS Plant in Le Mans

Since I had never been to the CLAAS tractor factory in Le Mans myself, I was just as curious as our apprentices. Seeing how highly modern, customized tractors are built from individual parts across more than 70,000 m² was truly a highlight for me. Robots in action, state-of-the-art assembly technology, and the precision of the entire production process – the combination of engineering, passion, and teamwork really impressed me.

And our trainees felt the same: For many, it became clear only there how much detail and expertise goes into every single CLAAS tractor and what it means to produce around 10,000 machines per year at this level of quality.

Discovering Le Mans – From Old Town to Racetrack

The second day was all about the city of Le Mans itself. We explored the historic old town, visited the impressive Saint Julien Cathedral, and of course made a stop at the legendary race track known worldwide for the 24-hour race. For many, it was their first time in Le Mans – and you could feel the excitement.

Why events like this matter

For us in vocational training at the FRICKE Group, it’s about more than technical knowledge and practical skills – it’s about inspiring enthusiasm. We want to show that behind our brands and products stand true innovation, passion, and people with high standards.

The two-day trip achieved exactly that: a strong sense of identification with the CLAAS brand, a visible “we” feeling, new motivation for everyday work, and a great deal of pride in what we accomplish together.

An experience that stays with you

On November 20th, we flew back to Hanover full of impressions – and I’m sure this trip will stay in our memories for a long time. For our trainees, it was more than just a journey. It was an experience that connects and motivates.

For me personally, spending time with our trainees, seeing the exchange among them, and experiencing their enthusiasm and team spirit is always a highlight.

This is exactly why we organize these trips – and why I’m already looking forward to the next adventure together.

9 Dezember, 2025
Three months in Shanghai – International experiences in Productmanagement

As part of his role as Product Manager in the areas of crop protection, animal husbandry, and tires, Patrick spent three months in Shanghai and one week in Taipei.
This international assignment provided valuable insights into global supply chains, intercultural collaboration, and modern procurement processes.

Work and Projects

During his stay, Patrick worked at GRANIT’s office in Shanghai, which consists of nine employees. One of his key responsibilities was the implementation of a new on-time delivery monitoring system designed to ensure punctual deliveries from Chinese suppliers.

Over the course of three months, he completed 17 supplier visits, gaining in-depth insights into production processes and reviewing quality standards. These visits highlighted how essential communication and trust are when working with international partners.

In addition to his regular product management tasks, a major focus was placed on building and maintaining long-term supplier relationships. The International Purchase Office (IPO) in Shanghai serves as a central interface between product management in Heeslingen and Chinese suppliers.

The team, located on the Pudong side of Shanghai—a modern district whose development began only in 1980 – consists of nine employees: one office manager, one in quality management, two in logistics, and five in purchasing. Particularly noteworthy is the company’s own small laboratory, where products are tested for quality on site before further processing or export.

International Networking

During his stay, Patrick also traveled to Taipei, where he visited the GRANIT office with three employees working in purchasing and logistics. Here as well, the focus was on quality assurance and close coordination with suppliers.

The exchange between the locations in Shanghai, Taipei, and Germany clearly demonstrated how international teams work together toward a common goal and learn from one another.

Life and impressions in China

Outside of work, Patrick gathered many personal impressions of life in Shanghai – a city that uniquely combines tradition and modernity. He lived in a maisonette apartment and spent his free time on sports activities and weekend trips to other cities such as Suzhou and Zhangjiajie.

He was particularly impressed by the skyline with the Shanghai Tower, the waterways of the old town, and the excellent public infrastructure.

Culinary and Cultural Experiences

Another highlight was Chinese cuisine – diverse, fresh, and extremely varied. From dumplings and seafood to street food, Patrick had the opportunity to try many new specialties. Orders were usually placed digitally via apps, and both office and home supply systems worked seamlessly.

In business life, it became clear how central trust is within Chinese corporate culture. Only through long-term and personal relationships can the foundation for successful cooperation be established.

Trade Fair Visit and Return Journey

During his stay, Patrick also attended the Shanghai Tire Expo, a trade fair focused on agricultural tires. The assignment concluded with a week in Taipei, including cultural explorations such as a visit to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

After around four months, the journey ended with a return flight via Istanbul to Hamburg – approximately 15 hours of total travel time.

A Valuable and Unforgettable Experience

Patrick’s time in China and Taiwan was both professionally and personally enriching. He expanded his expertise in international product management and global sourcing, gained new perspectives on quality and supply chain management, and strengthened his intercultural competence.

This experience demonstrated how essential global collaboration, trust, and cultural understanding are in an increasingly interconnected world.

If you would like to learn more about working in China and the experiences of our colleagues, be sure to check out Nina’s article.

17 Dezember, 2025
Team Good Vibes

A look back at Agritechnica 2025

Every two years at the beginning of November, the who’s who of the agricultural technology industry traditionally meets in Hanover. This year it was that time again: 476,000 visitors flocked to the capital of Lower Saxony for the world’s leading trade fair for agricultural technology, AGRITECHNICA. Of course, the FRICKE Group couldn’t miss this event! FRICKE Landmaschinen, SAPHIR Maschinenbau, and GRANIT PARTS presented themselves to the entire industry in Hanover from November 9 to 15.

Svea and Larissa were there for GRANIT PARTS and report firsthand on an intense but successful week at the trade fair in this blog post.

A different kind of school trip

A week at a trade fair means months of preparation, weeks of setting up, and a week of constant stress. But it also means tremendous teamwork and a great opportunity to grow closer to your colleagues. The GRANIT team at AGRITECHNICA 2025 comprised around 130 colleagues. With such a large group together for a week, it felt a bit like a big school trip.

At AGRITECHNICA, GRANIT PARTS invites customers and suppliers from all over the world to come and talk. Once again this year, it was not possible to visit the stand without prior registration. However, this exclusivity did not detract from the attractiveness of the stand. On the contrary, large crowds gathered in front of the reception area on all days of the fair, and the booth was constantly bustling with conversations and product presentations. Over the course of the week, the GRANIT team welcomed more than 10,000 visitors to the booth.

Good vibes everywhere

It took a lot of manpower to handle such a large crowd. A team of 15 trainees spearheaded the effort. From reception and admission to logistics and supporting promotional modules, the team worked tirelessly to make things as easy as possible for their colleagues in sales and product management. Always in good spirits and ready for a bit of fun. The morning at the trade fair started with a group dance at neighboring booths.

Despite the exhausting days at the trade fair with little fresh air and daylight, lots of conversations, and an extremely high noise level, the GRANIT team didn’t let up in the evenings either. On Sunday evening, a joint networking event organized by GRANIT PARTS and CNH crowned a successful first day at the trade fair. Over good food and a cold drink or two, everyone looked forward to the coming AGRITECHNICA week with anticipation.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the evenings kicked off true to the motto “those who can work can certainly party,” and Hall 2 was rocked by two trade fair parties. Within minutes, the GRANIT team, with the help of many helping hands, transformed the exhibition stand into an atmospheric event location. This meant that the start of 30 years of GRANIT PARTS could be celebrated in style at AGRITECHNICA. And this year, it quickly became clear once again that GRANIT trade fair parties are legendary for good reason!

A team like no other

As the week progressed, each day of the trade fair took its toll on our colleagues in Hanover. However, the strain of long days and short nights quickly faded into the background in light of the successful trade fair appearance and, in particular, the positive atmosphere within the team. On Friday evening, a team evening with colleagues from FRICKE Landmaschinen and SAPHIR once again highlighted the family-like atmosphere within the FRICKE Group. Hans-Peter and Kirsten Fricke took the opportunity to thank the entire team for their hard work. In a relaxed atmosphere, everyone toasted to a successful week. And even those who didn’t want to miss the 9:00 p.m. shuttle bus to the hotel quickly realized that this evening didn’t deserve to end so early!

On Saturday, it was time to get back to work! As on previous days, the GRANIT stand was filled with customers from early in the morning. Sales and product management presented the GRANIT product and service world, while the team of trainees worked behind the scenes to ensure that everything ran as smoothly as possible. Because even though the trade fair ended at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, the GRANIT team’s work was far from over. The dismantling team worked until Monday morning to transport the exhibited products away.

Our conclusion on AGRITECHNICA 2025? We had one of the most exhausting weeks of the whole year, but we would do it again! We would like to thank all our colleagues who contributed to the great success of our trade fair appearance, whether on site, in Heeslingen, or around the world! Without this fantastic team, such an achievement would not have been possible!

Now we are looking forward to our next trade fair highlight: PARTS & SERVICE WORLD 2026! Want to find out more about PSW now? Then read our behind-the-scenes look at PSW 2024.

2 Dezember, 2025
Off to the south – three weeks in Valladolid

This October, it was finally my turn – my time abroad was approaching. So on October 5th, I said „Off to Spain!“ My destination was Valladolid, a large city near Madrid. I lived there for three weeks and worked in the office of the Spanish foreign society of GRANIT.

„Welcome to Spain!“ – Arrival & my first day at the office

On Sunday morning at 9:00, I was dropped off at the Hamburg airport. After I nervously made my way from check-in to security and finally arrived at my gate, all I could do was wait. A short time later, I was on the plane, leaving the typical North German autumn weather behind me.

I arrived at the Madrid airport, where my coworker Nuria was waiting for me. We took the train to Valladolid together. On the way to my accommodation, she recommended some sights that immediately went on my checklist for the next few weeks.

The view during my flight

The next morning, I started my first workday in Spain. At 9 a.m. – the usual time to start working there – I was first greeted very warmly by the 15-person team. After a brief introduction, I was told what the plan for the coming weeks would be and which areas I would get to see. I was allowed to get a feel for almost every department of the foreign society for a few days – even riding along with a colleague in the field was planned for me. So now it could start!

Time to tackle – my activities during work

I was allowed to support Lucía for the first three days. She is in charge of marketing in Spain and had already prepared some tasks for me. So I created instructions for the Spanish field staff to make it easier for them to use our intranet and WhatsApp Business. Next, it was my job to find interesting trade shows in Spain and Portugal on the internet and to choose from a catalog the promotional materials to be distributed to customers at the next trade show.
The next area was the „Transportation Management“ department. Together with Luis-Enrique, I looked at evaluations of various freight forwarders. In addition, I put together an overview that shows which freight forwarders use which routes to deliver to a certain postal code.

My workspace working with the catalog of promotional materials

Raúl explained pricing next. I was shown processes and calculations with certain margins. I was then allowed to perform some calculations.
Next, I was allowed to accompany Fernando, one of the Spanish field workers. For me, those were particularly exciting days, as I was able to gain insight into how our customers in Spain work, what their priorities are, and what expectations they have of us as suppliers.
Then I supported Héctor in the back office. I handled warranty cases and returns and investigated the current status of backlogs – that is, of items whose delivery customers have been waiting for for some time for various reasons.
Most of the time, my colleagues spoke to me in Spanish. I had relatively good Spanish skills from my oral high school graduation exam, which I was finally able to refresh in Valladolid. However, if it came to special words and you didn’t know what to do, you would of course also help each other out in English.

The Spanish mentality – also at the workplace

The atmosphere in the Spanish office was very familial. Every day at 2 PM, everyone would sit down in the break room, eat lunch, chat a bit, or take a „siesta“. There was a friendly, casual atmosphere among collegues, which sometimes invited jokes. As a „newcomer“ in the office, I didn’t feel out of place or unwelcome. On the contrary, it was very warm! Some sweets were also considered every day: Whether churros, turrón or Spanish salami – some sort of treat was always on the table in the break room in the morning. So one could only feel comfortable!

Even at the end of work, there is no time for breaks

I also had a lot of programs outside of work. I used the first evenings after work to explore Valladolid. My accommodation was in the city center, so I could walk to most of the sights. I’d visit churches, go to the sculpture museum or the park, and walk along the river. Thanks to Héctor, my fitness didn’t have to take a backseat either. Because his parents own a gym and he recently became a certified personal trainer, he suggested that I come along. Of course, I couldn’t refuse!
Nevertheless, I was usually exhausted by the end of the day. All the new impressions and constant switching between languages – English, German, and of course Spanish – left their mark.

The „Plaza Mayor“ right next to my apartment

Sunset on the „Pisuerga“ River

Exhibit at the „Museo de Escultura“

Exploring foreign cities

On weekends, I visited the cities of Avila and Burgos. Avila is known for its large city wall that surrounds the center of the small town. Once on the wall, I enjoyed the wide view of the surrounding area of Castilla y León, the autonomous community in which Avila is located. I also explored the Cathedral of Avila, which I didn’t want to see in the first place because of the many visitors. Luckily, I did! Below you will find a picture that shows that the church is mostly built from „bloodstone“ (hematite). It was very impressive. Burgos is a slightly smaller city. However, the Cathedral of Santa María, which can be admired there, is all the more impressive. It is huge and incredibly detailed. In Burgos, I was also allowed to participate in a family dinner with Nuria’s family, which she took me to. Culinary, I also learned something about northern Spain, and to be honest, I probably would have never tried some of the things if I hadn’t been invited to this dinner. For example, the crab that suddenly ended up on my plate was a big hit, and although it was a bit tricky to eat, it was really delicious.

„Las murallas de Ávila„

„La Catedral de Ávila„

„La Catedral de Santa María„

Time for „Fiesta“!

Additionally, I was introduced to the nightlife in Spain! Nuria took me to a friend’s birthday party. We ate pizza together and then went to a club to celebrate. There are actually worlds of difference between German celebrations and Spanish „fiesta“. While in Germany people head out to celebrate around half past nine, in Spain people start thinking about going out around midnight, with only Latin songs playing in the clubs.

The „OHM“ club from the inside

As can be easily seen, Nuria fully embodied her role as a tour guide for me. I would like to thank her especially for that! Without her efforts, I would have probably experienced a lot less in Valladolid.
On October 24, after about three weeks that felt like they flew by, I had to start my journey back. But one thing is certain: I’ll be back in Valladolid!

But I also want to say a huge thank you to the rest of my Spanish colleagues. I was so warmly and openly welcomed from the start that there was no other option for me than to feel comfortable. That’s exactly what made my stay abroad a great experience, with which I was able to learn a lot about myself and also polish up my somewhat rusty Spanish skills. Thank you!

Some of our other trainees have also been sent abroad this year. Read about Jordis stay in Romania!

12 November, 2025
O’zapft is! – FRICKE goes Oktoberfest

After the FRICKE workforce had already demonstrated how to celebrate properly at performances by Scooter and Fantastischen Vier, they surpassed themselves this year at the staff party themed around Oktoberfest!

On 12 September, it was time to say ‘O’zapft is!’ in the huge tent specially erected for the occasion on the grounds of FRICKE Landmaschinen. Many colleagues took this as an opportunity to wear their dirndls or lederhosen for the first time this year. And so, on this Friday evening, Heeslingen was transformed into a little Munich.

Guests from all over Europe

Dieses Jahr waren nicht nur die Kolleginnen und Kollegen aus Deutschland eingeladen, sondern auch rund 220 Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter aus dem Ausland. Sie waren aufgrund der International Sales Conference vor Ort, die vom 10. bis 12. September stattgefunden hat. Die Kolleginnen und Kollegen aus unter anderem Frankreich, den Niederlanden, Rumänien oder dem Baltikum haben sich in den drei Tagen Präsentationen und Vorträge aus den unterschiedlichen Unternehmensbereichen, wie dem Produktmanagement, Controlling oder Rep.Guide, angehört.

The FRICKE Oktoberfest also had plenty to offer in terms of culinary delights: from Burgundy roast to Leberkäse, Schupfnudelpfanne and ice cream – there was something for every taste!

DJs Jannik and Xandl and the live band Hüttengaudi provided musical entertainment and created a great atmosphere. The festival tent was filled with swaying and celebrating to hits such as ‘Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit’ and music by David Guetta.

A bis success

A warm thank you to everyone who made this Oktoberfest an unforgettable experience! Celebrating and laughing together has once again shown what makes FRICKE so special. We are already looking forward to the next opportunity to raise a glass together! Perhaps Agritechnica in mid-November 2025?

14 Oktober, 2025
International Sales Conference 2025

The annual International Sales Conference (ISC) of GRANIT PARTS is always one of the highlights of the year but in 2025, it proved to be a truly memorable event. For the first time in several years, after previously being split across different weeks, all international teams came together in Heeslingen from September 9 to 12, 2025. In total, 220 colleagues from 25 countries traveled to the FRICKE Group headquarters in Lower Saxony.

Barbecue Evening at Foras

The conference started on Tuesday evening with a relaxed barbecue at FORAS. CEO Hans-Peter Fricke officially opened both the evening and the following conference. In a welcoming atmosphere, colleagues had the opportunity to settle in, exchange ideas and reconnect or meet for the very first time.

Professional Insights

Alongside product innovations from the GRANIT PARTS portfolio, the agenda focused on topics of major importance across all international markets. These sessions offered plenty of opportunities for lively exchange and discussion. A particular highlight was the presentation on the new logistics center in Tholey, an important milestone for the future development of many countries.

Evening Event on Campus

In a festive setting, CEO Hans-Peter Fricke opened the evening with a speech that reflected on the past year and celebrated the outstanding contributions of the international field sales teams.

ver the past months, colleagues and teams had shown remarkable commitment. To honor this, special awards were presented, including “Best Country,” “Best New Field Sales Employee,” “Field Sales Employee of the Year,” and “Best Long-Term Field Sales Employee.” Together with their colleagues, the award winners celebrated their achievements well into the night.

Conclusion at HeatWave – Oktoberfest Edition

The official conference program ended on Friday. While some colleagues returned home immediately, others joined the FRICKE Group’s traditional employee festival HeatWave. This year’s Oktoberfest edition offered the perfect closing highlight to a successful week. Many international colleagues also embraced the spirit by attending in traditional Bavarian attire.

Thank you and see you at ISC 2026!

The International Sales Conference 2025 was a complete success. It not only promoted the exchange of knowledge across countries but also strengthened the unity within the FRICKE Group. Beyond the professional input, countless valuable personal encounters and unforgettable moments were created. We are already looking forward to the International Sales Conference 2026.

Do you want to learn more about our international locations?
Check out the article about our success story in Switzerland or the opening ceremony of our new office in Denmark. Do you want to learn more about our international colleagues?
Then read the stories of Nico, who supports our team in the USA or of Maja, our Managing Director in Poland. Both were also part of ISC 2025 and thus briefly returned to Heeslingen.

30 September, 2025