03.02.2011

Chaotic situation in Egypt came to an end for 10 SIAG employees

Crisis Committee arranged return of German employeesDernbach, 3rd

February 2011 – SIAG Schaaf Industrie AG welcomed the returnees at the Frankfurt Airport yesterday evening at 6.00 p.m.

A crisis committee has already been created in the headquarters in Dernbach / Westerwald on Friday evening. The most important aim was to organize a secure return of the German employees currently working at the production site in Ain Sokhna. Rüdiger Schaaf, founder and CEO of SIAG, personally took over the leadership of the crisis committee – but it was a difficult task to undertake. 

Ain Sokhna is situated two hours away by car in the southeast of Cairo at the Suez Canal. Suez is the next accessible city, being in a chaotic situation and full of fear since the last weekend. Even things apparently seem easy like transportation to the airport developed into impossible hurdles because no driver has been operating and streets have partly been blocked by barriers. Because of departure times and delays a transportation beyond curfews would not have been possible.

Yesterday evening Adel Abu Ali, an employee of SIAG living in Cairo, opposed the curfew and drove with a colleague and two cars to the hotel in Ain Sokhna, where the other colleagues stayed.

“As superior, I officially advised against opposing the curfews – at the same time I told him that I would do the same in this situation“, says Uwe Raue, Managing Director of the German – Egyptian company SIAG El Sewedy Towers. “I have been happy and relieved as I received the message that he passed the roadside checks and barriers and therefore having good chances for the return of our employees.” However our employees had to oppose against the curfews again to get to Cairo Airport where they fortunately arrived around midnight.     

„It has been a high risk for Adel Abu Ali and his Egyptian colleague but without his engagement we would still be in Egypt and the situation hourly gets worse. The last 10 days have been very hard.” Dieter Rößler, Foreman, reports visibly relieved.

Around 6.00 p.m. Uwe Raue personally welcomes the four SIAG employees as well as five colleagues of another German company, also working at the Ain Sokhna plant, at the Frankfurt Airport. “Shortly after landing in Germany Mrs. Schaaf called me and asked about our personal condition. I personally would like to say thank you on behalf of my colleagues to all people involved at SIAG, Mr. Raue as well as Mr. and Mrs. Schaaf.

Our contact persons in Germany have been available around the clock and therewith gave us the quietness needed. We hope the current situation in Egypt will be resolved and normality will return as soon as possible – then we can come back to the production site and continue our work.“ Dieter Rößler finally says especially looking forward to seeing his family like the other 8 employees. 


SIAG Schaaf Industrie AG

SIAG Schaaf Industrie AG has developed from a classical steel construction company to a leading supplier for the power generating industry since the last 14 years. SIAG Group worldwide employs 2,000 staff at 13 locations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the USA.

Our core competence is divided into four business units:

•    Wind Energy Technology Onshore
•    Maritime Systems / Offshore
•    Environmental and Energy Technology
•    Mechanical Engineering

SIAG’s target markets are wind turbine manufacturers for onshore and offshore wind farms as well as the power generating industry in the nuclear, conventional and alternative sector. SIAG combines the benefits of being a medium-sized industrial company and the effectiveness of market leadership. Our flat hierarchies enable us to respond quickly to new market requirements