Hard at work

Saxony-Anhalt once launched an image campaign with the motto: "Saxony-Anhalt. We wake up early." It came about after a nationwide study determined that, in fact, the people of Saxony-Anhalt are the nation's early risers.

For Karlheinz Kiesling, the saying is a fact. "Today, it's true. My alarm went off at 4:00. The early shift starts at 6:00 on the dot."

Karlheinz Kiesling works in chemicals. In the Leuna-Harze factory near Halle an der Salle, he oversees the production of 120 tons of epoxy resins daily. Epoxy resin? "It's the stuff you use to seal cement," explains Kiesling. "It's important in the building industry. But our resins are also used to glue rotor blades for wind turbines, and for the plastic parts in cars. It is a kind of industrial glue."

Automated industry

In blue work overalls and a yellow safety helmet, Kiesling conducts production line inspection. Criss-crossing a four-storey building the size of a gymnasium is a confusing array of shiny silver pipes, enormous kettles, and colorful cables. The only sounds are whistling valves and hissing pipes. There is no one to be seen, except for Kiesling.

"It used to be that 40 people would work in a factory like this," Kiesling said, adjusting his safety helmet. "But these days everything is automated, and you don't need as many employees."

Kiesling began his career in East Germany, in the state run chemical industry. Kiesling points to the empty space around the outside of the factory. "Every single square meter was built up. Steam was pouring out of every duct, but then the wrecking balls came. Ten thousand people lost their jobs overnight."

After East Germany collapsed in 1990, most of the companies could not hold up in the free market economy. "It was hard to watch one company fold after the other," Kiesling said. He, too, lost his job. "Many people left for the West. But I didn't want to. I had built a house here; I have a garden… I belong here."

Training for the future

A year later, Kiesling found a new job. But a lot of his colleagues weren't as lucky. "It's getting better though," said Kiesling. "A lot of the land has been leased again. And in Saxony-Anhalt a lot of solar and biotech firms are setting up shop."

After a 12-hour shift, it is time to call it a day. But going back home and getting ready for bed isn't part of the plan. Kiesling has something else to do - he heads for the local community training center to an English class he takes once a week.

"I sat in a classroom here as a child - this was my grade school," Kiesling explains. "I'll have time to sleep when I'm retired."