Update

In the section "Update" you will find current news and press releases about companies and employees of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH as well as eXtra4 Software + Service GmbH with its brand eXtra4 Labelling Systems.
 

 

Lockdown ends long professional life

Ferdinand Eisele GmbH has to say goodbye to a loyal employee

Birkenfeld, 02.06.2020. The start of the nationwide corona lockdown on 23 March 2020 means the abrupt end of Mrs Zdenka Miksa's long professional life. For more than three decades she has worked for Ferdinand Eisele GmbH, Birkenfeld, well beyond retirement age. Just before her 74th birthday, the loyal employee has to quit her job definitively for her own protection because of the virus, which is particularly risky for elderly people. After the easing of the corona restrictions, she will now be duly bid farewell by the management and her colleagues.

Up to date in technology
As early as 1972, Czech-born Zdenka Miksa managed to start a career in her new home country in addition to her family. The qualified business administrator continues her training - also in the field of EDP - and takes up a position with Ferdinand Eisele on 3.6.1987. The company, at that time still a print shop with affiliated label production in Pforzheim, needs support in order adminitration. Getting started is a challenge that she faces with commitment - as well as the many technical developments that keep revolutionizing her workplace. Formerly started with a typewriter and carbon-copy pad, Mrs. Miksa experienced the triumph of computing live at her desk. E-mail, Internet, WhatsApp, Google and Skype are now also part of Zdenka Miksa's day to day private life. Her employer benefits from this open-mindedness towards innovations until the very last moment.

Over 30 years of loyalty
As a reliable, experienced staff member, Ms. Miksa supports the company with a lot of loyalty through more than 30 years of development from the traditional print shop to the label manufacturer to the specialist for identification technology with its own software company. With growing export business their language skills are also an advantage: After all, Zdenka Miksa is a sought-after contact person for customers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. When she retired nine years ago, only part-time work for older employees was acceptable to her, with two instead of the usual five days a week. ...

... more
Press release 02.06.2020

  
Farewell in corona mode: after 33 years of work, Mrs Zdenka Miksa retires at the age of 74 at Ferdinand Eisele GmbH
 
 
Alex Schickel (r), Managing Director of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH says goodbye to Mrs. Zdenka Miksa in pandemic distance
 

#extra4labelling at Instagram

More online activity for labels and labelling systems

May 2020. eXtra4 boosts visual presence on the social web. Via the image platform Instagram we now post bilingual, in English and German, news and detailed information about our products and services.

Under #extra4labelling you stay up-to-date on identification technology for jewellery and watches, gems and glasses. Become a follower, like or share our posts via labels, software, hardware and accessories!
 
Follow us on Instagram!

 

 

True customer loyalty

eXtra4 customer keeps sample shipment for 33 years

25.März 2020. Recently we received an email with a photo of a sample shipment from 1987. the customer is currently in close contact with us regarding the adaptation of our software eXtra4<gemId> for gemstone management to his needs and had come across the "antique piece". He had kept it for a long time, complete with envelope, letter, samples and brochure.
 
With a wink he writes: "You sent us samples the other day... note the date..".
 
Read more on Software eXtra4<gemId> for gemstone management

 

  
Customer mail with photo of the "antique" sample shipment
 
 
Letter with date from 1987

Pro-Africa Commitment Report

eXtra4 donations used sensibly for "Kindernothilfe“

March 2020. eXtra4 managing director Alex Schickel has had a passion for Africa and its people for many years. His company has maintained business contacts with South Africa for such a long time. These relationships have led eXtra4 to commit itself to this continent.
 
More than 10 years ago, the company chose Kindernothilfe as its competent partner. Since then, an annual donation from Birkenfeld has supported an AIDS orphans project and five children cared for in it.
 
The project in the KwaZulu-Natal region, which is severely affected by AIDS, supports the children themselves, their caring relatives and the local communities in many ways. Particular emphasis is placed on helping them to help themselves in order to achieve long-term improvements for all.

A look at the project report 2019 provides insight into achievements and successes on site.
 
Learn more on our godchildren in the project of Kindernothilfe
 

 

 
Project report of Kindernothilfe

145 years of loyalty to eXtra4

Ferdinand Eisele is happy about six company anniversaries

Birkenfeld, 09.12.2019. The six long-standing employees of the Birkenfeld label specialist eXtra4 sum up to 145 years of service. Ferdinand Eisele GmbH would like to thank their company anniversaries at a festive dinner for the entire staff.

Managing director among the jubilarians
Mrs. Andrea Schwenker has been working with eXtra4 for 10 years. Started in sales, she is today assistant to the management and acts as the "right hand" of managing director Alex Schickel, who himself is one of the company's anniversary employees: After completing his studies, he began work in 1989 with his father Reinhard Nonnenmacher, the owner of the former Eisele printing company, and later took over the management of today's Ferdinand Eisele GmbH from him.

Development live - Working in production
Leyla Özoglu spent the longest time with Ferdinand Eisele as a company employee. She has witnessed the development of the company for 40 years while working in different areas of production: from a classic printing company with label production to a specialist for labelling systems with a subsidiary for software and IT services.

Thomas Mattner also accompanied the technical change in the company. The trained toolmaker took up a position as machine operator 25 years ago and is now responsible for the "letter press" production line in a managerial capacity.

The screen printing professional Wolfgang Wochele steered his skills in 1999 towards label production. Thanks to his profound experience, for 20 years he has been successfully controlling the machine with the highest punching performance in the production hall - and of course with a screen-printing unit.

Company's voice for 20 years
Versatile computer know-how paired with didactic skills make Hartmut Kasper the voice of eXtra4. Known and loved by customers all over the world, the former programmer and data processing merchant has been in charge of the support hotline for eXtra4 software since 20 years. It is not least thanks to his consulting competence and his inimitable sensitivity in dealing with people that Ferdinand Eisele has deployed the proprietary eXtra4 software thousands of times for manufacturers and dealers in the jewellery and watch industry around the globe.

Growing by change
Ferdinand Eisele GmbH has proven its ability to change by becoming a specialist for identification technology with the brand eXtra4 and the subsidiary eXtra4 Software und Service GmbH. The six company anniversaries have followed this path. They supported what is today more than ever the key to a successful future: the willingness to constantly reorient oneself.

 
additional pictures in the folder at

  
Four of the six eXtra4 anniversaries 2019 (from left): Hartmut Kasper, Andrea Schwenker, Thomas Mattner, Leyla Özoglu
 
 
eXtra4 managing director Alex Schickel (right) is himself one of the six anniversary employees in 2019 like his employee Wolfgang Wochele
 

Sales staff update

Carla Herrera-Stanitzki back - Maike Mehwald new apprentice

Birkenfeld, November 2019: A good year after the birth of her second child, Mrs. Herrera-Stanitzki returns to the sales department. During her baby break she has been represented since September 2018 by Mrs. Montserrat Casals Freixas, her predecessor at this position.

Step-by-step re-entry
Not on the fly, but little by little, the tasks with the focus on export will pass back into the hands of the Argentinian Herrera-Stanitzki. Mrs. Casals Freixas, born in Barcelona and officially retired, has been active for eXtra4 over 20 years and agreed to help bridge the baby break. She will continue to be associated with the company and will be available on an hourly basis as a contact person for customers from Germany and abroad.

With a lead at the start
New to eXtra4 but not new to sales is Mrs. Maike Mehwald. She is supporting the department since September 1st as an apprentice. Mrs. Mehwald can rely on 3 years of experience in the field of retail trade. She has already completed an apprenticeship as a trade specialist IHK via the high-school graduate programme of a well-known textile chain store operator. By the training as industrial manager with additional qualification as a foreign trade assistant, she will shift her focus of activity to the industrial sector and expand her spectrum of competence accordingly.

The management and staff of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH wish all the best to the beginners and are looking forward to a successful start or re-entry.

  
Carla Herrera-Stanitzki and Montserrat Casals Freixas together with the new apprentice Maike Mehwald (from left)

News from our godchildren

Update on our Africa project at NGO "Kindernothilfe"

Ferdinand Eisele and eXtra4 have been supporting an aid project for regions in South Africa particularly affected by AIDS for more than 10 years through the humanitarian organisation. In addition, the company has taken over the sponsorship of five children cared for there.

Four of the sponsored children, Asanda, Ziyanda, Minenhle and Anele, can no longer be supported by the project because they have relocated. Instead of the departed children, we now support the boys Celokuhle and Luyanda in addition to the two girls Sfundo and Awonke.
Many families whose children benefit from the project's sponsorship program have nothing to lose. They are constantly trying to improve their economic situation and often see their chance in better working conditions elsewhere. Therefore they often move and take their children with them.

The remaining boy, Busani, has developed positively. News from his life and a current picture show how our godchild is doing.

 
More about PRO-Afrika you will find on our website. Information on the organization "Kindernothilfe" is as well presented online.
 

New technology for the perfect roll

Label converting at eXtra4 now digital

Birkenfeld, July 2019. Ferdinand Eisele GmbH is now relying on the precision of a digitally controlled machine for the converting of eXtra4 labels. Individually built, it features the latest sensor technology and will set new standards for the quality of eXtra4 label rolls.

The label roll as a quality factor
With eXtra4, quality does not only mean fulfilling precision-relevant factors of the label itself, such as form, function, dimensional accuracy, adhesion, durability, printability and many more. The delivery of labels as required also includes the manageability of the label roll before printing and its performance in the label printer: Web trimming, winding, core and last but not least packaging - everything plays an important role if you want to offer customers perfect roll labels.

Sensor technology ensures precision
In the new machine, a movable, sensor-based cutting unit takes over the web trimming and is oriented to the label edge instead of the web edge. This ensures a much higher accuracy of the label position crosswise to the web than previously possible with analogue technology.
Digitally controlled elements guarantee controlled winding tension and thus pre-defined wound label rolls that neither telescope nor stick together. Regardless of the diameter of their core, the rolls behave with consistent precision and can therefore - one like the other - be processed in the label printer with consistent quality.
During converting, a splice table allows label webs to be joined together inline with maximum precision. A web interruption now has no consequences for the position of the labels lengthwise to the web and does not affect the label quality. This is because a label roll with an interrupted web does not provoke any misprints in the label printer, but can be processed loss-free.

Long shelf life due to individual packaging
Transport protection and storage safety are provided by the elaborate individual packaging of eXtra4 label rolls. A cardboard cover protects the web edges from damage and makes the rolls stackable. Shrink foil, carefully sealed all around, keeps each single roll in shape and protects it from harmful environmental influences such as dust and moisture. Packaged in this way, eXtra4 labels can also withstand long transport distances around the globe and longer storage times on site.

Converting 2.0 as part of digital transformation
With this investment in digital technology - the second in 2019, after the acquisition of a digital punching machine - Ferdinand Eisele GmbH is clearly positioning itself as a quality-oriented company. The clear statement for more and reliably reproducible precision strengthens the future viability of the brand eXtra4 Labelling Systems and creates the basis for further successful development.

  
Perfect roll labels from eXtra4: precisely trimmed, neatly rolled and shrink-wrapped with protective cardboard for the web edges
 
 
The new digital packaging machine from eXtra4 is controlled via screen 
 

Die-cutting machine 2.0

Tailor-made technology for eXtra4 label production

Birkenfeld, June 2019. The new addition to the machine hall of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH comes from the special-purpose machinery manufacture: Translative die-cutting technology lifts the production possibilities for eXtra4 labels to a new level.

New technology improves label range
The new machine is tailored to the needs of the company and individually built for label production by eXtra4 Labelling Systems. It fits seamlessly into existing production capacities, will replace existing technology and achieve noticeable improvements in the label range.

Digital control instead of analog
Instead of a central basic concept, the die-cutting machine has decentralized drives. They control each individual unit digitally with modern sensor technology. This allows the connection to already existing digital printing processes. Preprinted webs can now be processed into complex label shapes in new material combinations. For the design of colored labels, this brings significantly more functional and design possibilities.

Technological transformation as step into future
With this new acquisition, Ferdinand Eisele GmbH is completing the transition from analogue to digital control technology in its production. The step towards machine-made and automated tools means the parting from manual tool production. Thus, the investment is a clear commitment to more and reliably reproducible precision. In this way, the company actively forges ahead with its continuous improvement process and creates important preconditions for a successful future.

 
see more pictures in the folder at

  
The new die-cutting machine
consists of three units
  
Assembled and equipped with material,
the translative die-cutting machine is
ready for production
 

Packaging technologist Kevin Sener tests
functions and settings of the machine
on the control panel

For Christmas 2018 Pro-Africa instead of gifts

eXtra4 donates for 10 years to Kindernothilfe“

December 2018. What began many years ago with business relations and travels through South Africa is now honoured by Kindernothilfe with a certificate. For a decade of loyalty and solidarity to its work, the award-winning humanitarian organisation honours Ferdinand Eisele GmbH.
 
With the increasing internationalization of its customer base, eXtra4 deci-des in 2008 to break with a long-standing tradition and to dispense with Christmas greetings. Since this time no calendars, cards and gifts are sent into the world from Carl-Benz-Straße 17 in Birkenfeld. Instead of posting the saved costs to its own accounts, the company now supports the humanitarian organisation with an annual donation in December.
 
The financial support is intended to benefit the country and its people, which Managing Director Alex Schickel got to know and appreciate during his stay in Africa: South Africa. With her donation Ferdinand Eisele GmbH supports a project for AIDS orphans in the severely affected region of KwaZulu-Natal and sponsors five children who are cared for there.

A look at the project report 2018 gives an insight into the goals and successes of Kindernothilfe there.
 
Learn more on our godchildren in the project of Kindernothilfe
 

 

  
Certificate of 10 years of donation loyalty
 

Project report of Kindernothilfe

Creative thanks for donation

eXtra4 sponsors holiday
"DiBo“ for children

In October a surprise has been delivered to us by the Protestant congregation: We received an creative thank-you for our financial support in the production of participant ribbons for the children's holiday care in Birkenfeld.
 
Beside a sweet chocolate greeting and a thank-you note we are pleased about a made-up picture with group photos of the children and a participant ribbon.
 
For decades, the Protestant parish has traditionally organized a childrens holiday in the Dietrich Bonhoeffer community hall "DiBo" on the outskirts of the village. There, in two groups for two two-week periods, around 200 children from the community are looked after.
To make sure that a child is not overlooked during fun, games and excursions, all participants received a bracelet with the DiBo logo as "ID". In 2018 Ferdinand Eisele GmbH covered the costs for the production of these ribbons.
 
... read thank-you note for donation

 

Baby break for Carla Herrera-Stanitzki

Montserrat Casals Freixas takes over again her area of responsibility

On 24.09.2018 management and sales of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH said goodbye to Carla Herrera-Stanitzki leaving for maternity. She is waiting for her second child at the end of the year. Her predecessor at this workplace, Montserrat Casals Freixas, will bridge the gap.
Two years ago, Mrs. Herrera-Stanitzki, who was born in Argentina, took over the workplace in sales and export department. Mrs. Casals Freixas retired at that time, but has remained with the company on an hourly basis ever since. It is due to this lucky circumstance that there is no shortage in the sa-les/export sector. Mrs. Casals Freixas has kindly agreed to increase her contingent of hours temporarily. She can seamlessly take care of upcoming tasks, as both have been working hand in hand for a long time anyway. So customers at home and abroad will simply hear a well-known competent voice more often again.
 
The management and staff of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH wish Mrs. Herrera-Stanitzki all the best for the birth and are happy when she returns to work after her baby break. ...
 
More pictures in the album on 

  
Montserrat Casals Freixas (left) bids farewell
to Carla Herrera-Stanitzki on maternity leave
 

Andrea Schwenker (left) as representative of
the management together with the sales team
of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH wish her colleague
all the best for the baby break.
 

Pforzheim region loses 
committed entrepreneur and citizen

The staff of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH mourns the death of its senior partner Reinhard Nonnenmacher

Birkenfeld, July 17th 2018. Reinhard Nonnenmacher died on 15.07.2018 at the age of 80 after a long and serious illness. As owner and managing director of the label manufacturer Ferdinand Eisele GmbH, Birkenfeld, as well as the predecessor companies Ferdinand Eisele e.K., Birkenfeld, and the printing company Ferdinand Eisele, Pforzheim, he was well known in the city and region - not least also through his civic commitment.
Born in Kieselbronn, Reinhard Nonnenmacher began his career with Ferdinand Eisele in 1953 with a apprenticeship. After graduation, he remains with the company as a businessman and quickly develops to the right hand of the management. In 1967 he became a partner, in 1979 the owner of the company with two business areas, the classic printing works and the label production. In 1994 Reinhard Nonnenmacher sold the printing company to four employees, today alpha medienwerk GmbH, Birkenfeld, and concentrated exclusively on the production of labels, mainly for labelling jewellery and watches.
Two of his sons were involved early on in the expansion and innovation of the company: Since the mid-1980s Jörg Nonnenmacher has supported the technical management and Alex Schickel (née Nonnenmacher) the management. When he reached the age of retirement in 2003, he was far from thinking about doing so. At over 70, Reinhard Nonnenmacher can still be found in the office every day, where he is personally available for his customers. ...
 
... more  
 press release 17.07.2018
 

  
Reinhard Nonnenmacher, deceased
senior partner of label specialist
Ferdinand Eisele GmbH, Birkenfeld

The late entrepreneur Reinhard
Nonnenmacher (middle) with his
sons Jörg Nonnenmacher (left) and
Alex Schickel

Exchange of know-how with the island

Representative from Great Britain visits eXtra4 Labelling Systems

Birkenfeld, July 29th 2018. What's new at eXtra4? - Marcus Harley, technic-specialist at our representative Potters Ltd. from King's Lynn in Norfolk, gets a personal impression of the current developments in hardware and software.
 
Marcus Harley is the cornerstone and linchpin for Potters Ltd. customers in the UK and Ireland on label printing issues. As a software expert he programs himself and is very familiar with the control of printers and scanners. That is why a visit from him is always an exchange of theory and practice at eye level.
 
During the discussion with our technical team Marcus Harley learns about current development trends. He can try out technology on site and form his own opinion on which we attach great importance. Because like hardly anyone else, he is in a position to evaluate innovations from the perspective of UK customers an help to implement his own ideas.

more pictures in the folder at

  
MMarcus Harley of Potters Ltd.
(right) in exchange with Thomas
Peters, programmer at eXtra4
 
 
Experts among themselves: Marcus Harley
discusses with Kay Sonntag and Thomas
Peters from the eXtra4 technology team
(from right)

Trade fair trends from LogiMAT

Technology update for eXtra4 at the logistics trade fair

Birkenfeld, March 20, 2018. What is the trend in logistics and identification technology? Answers will be available during the LogiMAT trade mecca at Messe Stuttgart. We at Ferdinand Eisele provided us with new tips and ideas there
 
Managing Director Alex Schickel and Kay Sonntag, IT administrator and hardware specialist at eXtra4, are looking for a personal meeting with suppliers. eXtra4 will be able to find out a lot of new things in exchange with those responsible on site at the trade fair. In return, however, we also take the opportunity to use our own practical experience to provide impetus.
 
The focus is on contact with proven partners for the eXtra4 range of label printers. At GoDEX, TSC and Toshiba, the two experts can explain the latest devices in the desktop and industrial segment. Extra inputs provide visits to competitors. Talks with exhibitors of transponder and RFID technology also set important accents. Especially suppliers from Germany can provide valuable information and so we will certainly remain loyal to LogiMAT in the coming year.
 
more pictures in the folder at

  
Roy Theisen (center) talks to
the eXtra4 team about the latest
thermal transfer printers at Godex
 
 
Andreas Hertrampf at scemtec
answers important questions about
transponders from Managing
Director Alex Schickel (from left)

We are sponsoring new children

Christmas campaign for sponsoring the AIDS project in Africa is being continued

Since 2008, Ferdinand Eisele has not given away calendars, season's greetings and gifts at the end of a year any more. Instead of that, the company has constantly been fostering an aid project in South Africa and has taken over sponsorships for five children.

Two sponsored children, Amohelang and Sfundo, have left the project now as the economic and social situation of their communities has improved in such a way that they do not need to be sponsored any longer, or relatives were found elsewhere who wish to accommodate the child. From 2018 we are going to sponsor Anele und Minenhle now. The other children have developed positively, as the new pictures show.

 
More information about PRO-Afrika you will find hier on our website. Information about the organization Kindernothilfe is presented on their website.
 
 
 

Company jubilees at Ferdinand Eisele GmbH

Long-standing employees honoured at Christmas party

Being loyal to a company for many years is no longer self-evident today. It is all the more gratifying for Ferdinand Eisele in Birkenfeld to be able to honour six employees for their many years of service in 2017:

Ms Claudia Bäcker has been responsible for logistics and shipping in the outgoing goods department for 10 years. Ms Olga Bader has also been looking after sales clients with a focus on Eastern Europe for just as long. Also in sales, but already for 20 years, Ms Montserrat Casals Freixas has been active for export to all over the world, especially in Spanish-speaking countries. Mr Sinan Körbulak has been strengthening the production team on the machines for 25 years. Also for a quarter of a century Mr Matthias Jaschke has been active for Ferdinand Eisele. Today he holds a central position between production and sales. Ms Zdenka Miksa has been work-ing in the field of order processing with Ferdinand Eisele for 30 years.

 

 
The 2017 company jubilees at Ferdinand
Eisele GmbH: Claudia Bäcker, Matthias
Jaschke, Olga Bader, Zdenka Miksa
(from left to right). Not pictured:
Sinan Körbulak and Montserrat
Casals Freixas.

Windows update disturbs label printing

Microsoft prevents data transfer from Excel spreadsheets

Birkenfeld, 23.10. 2017. Printing labels is a problem for all users of Excel spreadsheets due to one of the latest security updates for the current Windows 10 Creators version (Version 1703). The latest version of the eXtra4 label printing software solves this problem.

The problem
Support requests for eXtra4 Labelling Systems have been increasing for a few days now. Users of the label printing software extra4/2 are suddenly facing the end when they want to print jewellery labels with data from Excel spreadsheets, as they have been accustomed to for years.

The cause
Microsoft's update, which is inevitably and unstoppably installed by the Windows user unnoticed via the Internet, no longer supports the driver technology of data access to Excel. This change to Windows is definitive and irreversible.

The solution
Desperate callers can calm the eXtra4 support hotline: Switching to the new eXtra4 version fixes the problem. The software, which has been completely revised over the last year, directly reads data from Excel spreadsheets. Driver technology, as now cancelled by Microsoft from one day to the next without warning, is not necessary.

Support from eXtra4
„We were as surprised by the Windows update and its consequences as our customers,"says Hartmut Kasper, support specialist at eXtra4 Labelling System, explaining the situation. „Fortunately, we are able to offer our customers a solution straight away.“ eXtra4/2 to eXtra4, Edition "Advanced Connect", can be upgraded without any problems. 15 support units ensure a smooth transition to the new version of the program, which is automatically included in the purchase of the new version.

Click here to go to the download area for the new software version eXtra4<winiii>
 
Get in contact with our software support

  
 

Error message when trying to print a
label from an Excel spreadsheet
 
 
Error message when trying to recreate
the Excel spreadsheet as a data source
 

Generational change in the graphics / set and digital platemaking section

Nadja Klett takes on field of work from Eva Vogt

Birkenfeld, 11.09.2017. After more than 15 years of service for Ferdinand Eisele GmbH with eXtra4 Labelling Systems, Eva Vogt retired in the spring of 2017. Although she still supports the company on a per-hour basis, she has been handing over her tasks in digital platemaking and graphics / set since mid-June to Ms Nadja Klett.

As a qualified goldsmith and graduate designer, Ms Vogt began her career with Ferdinand Eisele in June 2000. With many years of experience in set and design in a printing company, she tackled her new tasks: designing company catalogues and brochures, set and graphics for labels as well as the production of digital plates for different printing processes. In addition, the procurement and renewal of punching tools for the production of labels was one of her areas of responsibility

Ms Klett is now taking over this extensive field of activity by and by. She is a trained type setter / media designer. She brings abundant professional experience from print companies of different type into her new workplace. Design skills and creativity are basic ropes for her. In addition, Ms Klett also demonstrates technical understanding and precision in the use of punching tools. The design of tool moulds of all kinds and the monitoring of their production will also be in good hands with her in the future.

The staff of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH is looking forward to "new blood" in their team and wishes both colleagues a good transition to the new leg of their working life.
 

 
Ms Eva Vogt (right) with her successor
Ms Nadja Klett.

Engaged in labels for 25 years

Ferdinand Eisele GmbH expresses their gratitude to a deserving employee

Birkenfeld, June 27, 2017. Matthias Jaschke starts on 22 June 1992 as an employee in the production of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH in Birkenfeld. With a lot of technical understanding and skill, but with no experience in this business, he proves himself first as a label printer. Later, his wide interests allow him to change the job inside the company several times. Today, after 25 years of being with the company, Mr Jaschke holds a central position at the interface of technology and sales.

Off the train, into printing
As a trained conductor Matthias Jaschke joins Ferdinand Eisele GmbH a quarter of a century ago. Thanks to a well-founded technical training as a mechanic at Deutsche Bundesbahn the change to the printing industry takes him directly to the machine. However, he stays only three years in the "letter press" production sector. His interest in computers and desktop publishing qualifies him for a change to the printing plate production. There he is responsible for drawing and procuring punching tools, setting and creating of layouts. In doing so, he also develops talent in dealing with customers and suppliers. ...

 
...more
Press release from 27.06.2017

 
Alex Schickel (left), Managing
Director of Ferdinand Eisele GmbH,
congratulates Matthias Jaschke on
his 25th anniversary.

Investment in employees’ health

Roll handler saves efforts in eXtra4 production

Birkenfeld, 09.05.2017. A mobile roll handler has been facilitating the harmful handling of heavy raw material in label production for some time. The weighty rolls no longer have to be placed into the production machines by hand using massive physical force.

Even the smallest labels weigh 50 kilograms when they have to be transported in the raw material stage. Depending on the width and thickness of the roll, such a "cheese wheel" may strain muscles, ligaments and bones to tearing as soon as it is removed from the storage and lifted into the machine. For this purpose, it is not only necessary to simply lift and move the material. Since the raw material rolls are stored horizontally, but are to be processed vertically, it is also essential to rotate the bulky roll by 90 ° without telescoping.

Anyone who carries out this burdensome process in their working life countless times risk to get a hernia. With the new roll handler the danger for the eXtra4 staff is now banned: Completely without effort and with few hand movements, the device transports raw material rolls of any width and thickness with a maximum weight of 175 kgs from the horizontal to the vertical. And since the roll handler is mobile as well, the material can be transported directly to the production machine and used there with sensitiveness.

more pictures in the folder at

 
 
Kevin Sener demonstrates
using the roll handler in the
stocks of eXtra4

Technology-Transfer at LogiMAT

eXtra4 tracks the latest trends at logistics fair

Birkenfeld, March 15, 2017. During three days Messe Stuttgart cumulates everything that is ground-breaking in logistics and identification technology. An opportunity for new ideas and know-how that must not be missed at Ferdinand Eisele, especially since it takes place right at their doorstep.

Managing Director Alex Schickel and Kay Sonntag, the company’s computer administrator and hardware specialist, take the opportunity to experience the latest developments live. The company is specifically looking for new solutions and providers in the areas of RFID, colour digital printing and data transfer..

However, the focus is also on personal exchange with established partners. At TSC, the latest devices in the desktop and industrial segment are explained in detail to the two experts by Thomas Rosenhammer. Competitor GoDEX is interested in the experiences and wishes of eXtra4 and also presents numerous new thermal transfer products. A visit to Andreas Krisch and Rainer Kinder from Toshiba rounds off the information exchange on the topic of thermal transfer printers.
 

  
Thomas Rosenhammer (r.) explains
the latest thermal transfer printer at
TSC to the eXtra4 team
 
 
At GoDEX, Roy Theisen and
Patrick Chang are interested
in CEO Alex Schickel’s
statements (in front on the left)
 

eXtra4 goes America

For the first time, eXtra4 Labelling Systems presents products and services in the USA

Birkenfeld, 21. October 2016. From 14th to 17th October, eXtra4 Labelling Systems is celebrating its US debut during the JIS, "Jewelers International Showcase". The identification specialist from Birkenfeld near Pforzheim will be present at the trade fair in Miami at the booth of its representative IJS, "International Jewelers Supply". For the first time, the company is presenting its labels and labelling systems to the American public from the jewellery and watchmaking industry.

First contact in 2015
Rafael Suarez, Managing Director and owner of IJS from Miami, meets eXtra4 at the Freiburg fair in 2015 already. He is looking for a supplier for high quality labels. The range of services offered by the company is immediately appreciated. The American market has not yet been able to offer labelling software such as ...

 
... more 
press release from 21.10.2016

  
IJS-Managing Director Rafael Suarez
 
 
Interested customers follow the
explanations of Managing Director
Alex Schickel (left) at the IJS booth
 

An export pillar retires

Ferdinand Eisele GmbH says goodbye to a multilingual specialist in sales after almost two decades

Birkenfeld, September 1, 2016. Ms Montserrat Casals Freixas has signifi-cantly facilitated Ferdinand Eisele GmbH’s overseas success with her tal-ent for languages and her sales skills for about 20 years. Since early September the labelling and identification technology specialist from Birkenfeld near Pforzheim has to allocate export sales to other shoulders now: Ms Casals Freixas retires and Ms Carla Herrera-Stanitzki will be her successor.

Born in Barcelona and based in Pforzheim since 1974, Ms Casals Freixas of course masters German perfectly besides Catalan, the language of her home region of Catalonia, and Castellano, the classic Spanish. In addition, however, she also speaks four more languages fluently, namely English, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Equipped with these language skills, she joined the Ferdinand Eisele GmbH sales team as a part-time employee in 1997. Since the early 90s ...

 
... more
press release from 01.09.2016

more pictures in the folder at

  
Montserrat Casals Freixas (left)
with her successor in the sales
team at Ferdinand Eisele GmbH,
Carla Herrera-Stanitzki
 
 
The sales team at Ferdinand Eisele
GmbH with CEO Alex Schickel (left)
says farewell to Montserrat Casals
Freixas (at his right)
 

20 years business relations with South Africa

eXtra4 Labelling Systems visit longtime representatives in Johannesburg and customers on Réunion

Already in July 1996, Manager Alex Schickel established first business contacts with South Africa for Ferdinand Eisele GmbH during Jewellex in Johannesburg. Even then Thomas Ndlovu was one of his interlocutors who today takes care of production at the local representatives Crayve Ltd.

The company Crayve Ltd itself is led by Mr and Mrs Ray. During his current business trip in July 2016 Alex Schickel made them familiar with the innovations of eXtra4 Labelling Systems and shared his experiences.

For market information reasons, eXtra4 took advantage of the proximity to South Africa and paid a visit to customers on Réunion. As a French département, the island is part of the EU with the Euro as local currency. That is why it was particularly interesting to hear about the economic situation and the possibilities from local customers there personally.

 

more pictures in the folder at

  
Manager Alex Schickel with
Thomas Ndlovu (center), today
Head of Production at Crayve Ltd.
Johannesburg, in May 1996
 
 
Alex Schickel discussing with
Jennifer and Clayton Ray of
Crayve Ltd., representatives
in Johannesburg (from right to left)
 

eXtra4 - Now an Independent Company

Ferdinand Eisele GmbH benefits of their own brand for founding a new enterprise

Birkenfeld, July 2016. With the trademark "eXtra4” Ferdinand Eisele GmbH in Birkenfeld near Pforzheim specializing in identification technology, used to address their offerings to specific target groups up to now: The jewellery and watchmaking industry is being supplied with special labelling solutions worldwide by "eXtra4 Labelling Systems". For industry and trade in other sectors mainly in the northern Black Forest region, the company operates under the label "eXtra4 Identification Systems".

Now the company has spun off its expertise in software development together with the corresponding services in the newly founded GmbH "eXtra4 Software + Service".

"A trend which has been observable for years has led us to this step," said managing partner Alex Schickel: ”Our company's focus is shifting from specialized labels printing operation to a system house for identification technology." ...

.. more about the founding of
extra4 Software + Service GmbH
Pressemitteilung vom 25.07.2016

...more about the product range
of the brand eXtra4 Identification Systems

  
 
Logo of the newly founded
eXtra 4 Software + Service GmbH
 
 
 
Registered trademark of Ferdinand
Eisele GmbH for label solutions
and labelling systems in the jewellery
and watchmaking industry
 

 
Registered trademark of Ferdinand
Eisele GmbH for label solutions
and labelling systems for industry
and trade in other sectors
 

Information exchange in Latvia and Finland

eXtra4 Labelling Systems visits customers and local representatives

Birkenfeld, May 2016. Personal contact in export business is essential for Ferdinand Eisele GmbH. Therefore General Manager Alex Schickel has met important business partners in Riga and Turku to exchange experiences.

At KUMA CR, eXtra4 representative for the Baltic states, he presented the main innovations in the Riga office. The 4-member team around Igors Shiryak was very interested in jewellery labels, hardware and software. ...

TARRAMESTARIT, the Finnish "label champion" represents jewellery labels of eXtra4 Labelling Systems in Finland and Estonia. ...

 
...read more ... press release from 10.05.2016

 

see more pictures in the folder at

  
(from left) General Manager Alex
Schickel and Olga Bader of eXtra4
sales with KUMA team around
Igors Shiryak (center)
 
 
Alex Schickel in conversation
with Tapio Virtanen and Karl
Erickson of TARRAMESTARIT
(from right to left)
 

At 70 still full at work! 

Managing director Alex Schickel congratulates our employee Zdenka Miksa on her 70th birthday

Birkenfeld, March 2016. Ms. Miksa has been working for our company since 1987 and has no intention of giving it up so quickly. Although she could have retired 5 years ago into a peaceful retirement life, she prefers to stay on the ball professionally. And this, despite the rapid changes that her job in order preparation has undergone in the last 30 years, simply because of the triumph of EDP. - Hats off, we all wish we had that much fitness and commitment for ourselves, don't we?

  
Managing director Alex Schickel congratulates employee Zdenka Miksa on her 70th birthday

We celebrate 10 years in Vicenza!

Since 2006 we have been cooperating with our partner Systech in Italy as exhibitors at the VicenzaOro

Birkenfeld, January 2016. There is every reason for happy faces among the managing directors Alex Schickel (middle) and Francesco Prato (right). As a competent expert, Roberto Turchi from Systech is often on board. In the beginning, Karla Nonnenmacher, Alex Schickel's sister living in Italy, was on board in 2006 to support us.
 

  
The exhibition team at the Vicenzaoro stand 2016
 

The exhibition team in Italy 2006