OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2012. The manufacturing location of Robert Bosch GmbH in Homburg/Saar was presented with the German Ideas Award (DeutscheIdeenPreis) in Dresden. The award for ideas management is conferred each year by the German Institute for Business Administration along with representatives from science, politics and industry. The submitted contributions were evaluated based on their added socio-cultural, ecological and economic value as well as the degree of innovation, feasibility and transferability.

 The Bosch plant in Homburg took part with its structured communications model for energy management in the category “Environmental Idea – Best Green Innovation” and in addition received the overall award for the “Idea of the Year.” Dr. Uwe Gackstatter, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration, of the Diesel Systems Division and Thomas Gцnner, Technical Director of the Homburg plant, accepted the award for the Bosch workforce in Homburg.

Energy Efficiency Projects at Bosch in Homburg
The Bosch company is particularly committed to environmental protection and resolute energy management. In this context, for example, the Bosch plant in Homburg is a founding member of the Saarland energy efficiency network which was began in 2010. Already in recent years greater focus was placed on energy efficiency topics at the Homburg business location.

 This resulted in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions amounting to several thousand tons. Numerous projects were implemented in order to optimize workshops, machines and plants in terms of their energy consumption. The aim at Bosch is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by the year 2020 compared with the year 2007.

Raising Staff Consciousness for Energy Management
Within the scope of energy management, Bosch in Homburg recognized the importance of its workforce as important representatives and disseminators of knowledge and information about increasing energy efficiency. A structured communications model was introduced in order to raise staff consciousness with the aim of long-term modification of their behavior. Thus all staff are included in energy management through standardized staff training. A specially developed short film points out instances of energy waste in their own private surroundings and then applies them to the everyday working world. In doing so staff are provided with information on energy efficiency measures at the business location and are challenged to contribute their own ideas for saving energy through the employee suggestion scheme. At the same time, campaigns are carried out in order to illustrate the topic of energy efficiency; for example, relating to the indication of the energy consumption of production machinery.

 As a result of the active commitment on the part of its workforce, Bosch in Homburg was able to significantly reduce its energy consumption. Currently more than 2,000 tons in carbon dioxide emissions have been saved simply through modified, environmentally-conscious behavior of the company's workforce. This corresponds to the annual energy consumption of approximately 1,110 single family homes.

 Among other things, injectors and high-pressure pumps for diesel engines, in particular for the utility vehicle market, are manufactured at Bosch in Homburg. A workforce of more than 6,000 is employed at the location.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, more than 300,000 associates generated sales of 51.5 billion euros in fiscal 2011. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 350 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spent some 4.2 billion euros for research and development in 2011, and applied for over 4,100 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.

The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.