40 Years Jokey. At home in the Bergisch Land - And all over the world

Today, Jokey produces packaging buckets at 14 production locations for customers from all over the world. The foundation stone for Jokey‘s success story was laid in 1968 by the fi rm‘s founder, Josef Kemmerich, in a small workshop in Fähnrichstüttem near Wipperfürth. These premises quickly became too small and further production plants were opened in Wipperfürth und Gummersbach. In 1971, his sons Herbert, Werner, Karl-Heinz and Egon Kemmerich were inducted by their father as partners into the company. The fi rst expansion venture abroad was soon undertaken. The new plant in Lille, France, was soon to be followed by others. Today, the Jokey Group operates production plants in Germany, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Algeria, Turkey, Belarus, Canada, Egypt and Serbia. Since 1986, the headquarters have been at Niedergaul near Wipperfürth, where Jokey has elaborately restored the protected former factory building of the fi rm Vorwerk & Co. Here, evoking the local »Bergisch« style, a successful synthesis of old and new has been achieved. The integration of old and new has also been very successful in the family fi rm itself: The children of Josef Kemmerich today work together in the company management. For some time now, the third generation has also moved into a management role at Jokey.

The way to the top

Its fl exible orientation both to the market situation and the needs of its customers has ensured Jokey‘s stable growth over four decades. The fi rm continued to invest in new locations even when the plastics processing industry was doing badly. In the 1980s, well-known competitors made their workers redundant or gave up the production of buckets. Jokey, on the other hand, took over its competitors and their employees and, in this way, created the basis for its leading position in the sector today. Through its acquisitions, Jokey also added bathroom furnishings and technical parts for vehicles and computers to its spectrum of products.

Jokey understood how to take advantage of globalisation. The fi rm fi rst expanded into the neighbouring countries and fi nally all over the world. Today, Jokey is the undisputed European market leader in the manufacture of plastic packaging. By following a strategy of segmentation and specialisation, combined with excellent knowledge of customer sectors and international sales markets, the Wipperfürth fi rm was soon able to outstrip the competition.

Jokey as trainer and employer

None of this would have been possible without Jokey‘s workers who, with their total commitment and ability, contribute day in day out to the fi rm‘s success. At Jokey, we know the importance of well trained and motivated workers. The fi rm therefore relies on high quality in its support for new talent. There is training in the fi elds of production, logistics, administration, IT, design and development. New recruits are overseen by experienced workers, who pass on their knowledge and skills to the youngsters.

This concept has proven itself: New posts created by the firm‘s continuous expansion are mostly fi lled by junior staff from our own ranks. As a globally operating group, Jokey offers motivated employees many opportunities for advancing their careers at home and abroad. The satisfaction of the people at Jokey is borne out not least by the high level of staff loyalty among the 1,300 strong international Jokey family.