When Andreas Ingwert joined ORAFOL in 1982, the company was still known as VEB Spezialfarben. “Back then, we had maybe 60 or 80 employees,” recalls the 60-year-old. A lot has changed since then, but Andreas remains what he has been for more than four decades: a machine and plant operator. It is a job he enjoys, at a company that, then as now, stands for one thing above all else in his eyes – stability and a working environment where he feels at home.
Four Paths. One Family Business.
Two generations, multiple departments: Andreas Ingwert started his career at ORAFOL in the 1980s. Today, members of the Ingwert family can be found in maintenance, chemical research and development and – until recently – corporate communications.
MARIO INGWERT WORKS AS A MAINTENANCE MECHANIC IN ORAFOL‘S MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.
A Job with Long-Term Prospects
Planning ahead and having a reliable employer are also important to his brother, Mario Ingwert. For the past two years, he has been working as a maintenance mechanic at ORAFOL’s headquarters in Oranienburg. Together with the electricians, he and his colleagues ensure that production equipment runs smoothly around the clock. His path to ORAFOL began with a career change. “The company I had worked for was sold, so I had to look for a new opportunity,” he explains. Thanks to his brother, he had already heard a lot about ORAFOL, so he decided to apply. A suitable position was available – and another member of the Ingwert family joined the company. In addition to the role itself, what convinced him was the long-term perspective. And, on a practical level, the shorter commute. “With today’s fuel prices, that’s definitely an advantage,” he says with a smile.
DENNIS INGWERT IS COMPLETING AN APPRENTICESHIP AS A CHEMICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN AT ORAFOL.
Variety Makes the Difference
Mario’s son Dennis first got a taste of ORAFOL during a school internship in 2022. He enjoyed the experience so much that he returned for a second internship shortly afterwards. By the time he completed the 10th grade, he already knew where he wanted to start his career. “I got to know the work of laboratory technicians during my internships, and now I’m training to become one myself,” he says enthusiastically.
As part of his apprenticeship, Dennis rotates through different areas of the Research and Development department. He gains insight into a wide range of tasks – from formulating color pastes using pigments to conducting mechanical tests that assess the durability of protective films. This variety is what he enjoys most about both the training program and the profession itself. It is also what makes him hopeful that, after successfully completing his apprenticeship, he will be able to continue his career at ORAFOL.
LENI INGWERT SUPPORTED ORAFOL‘S CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AS PART OF AN INTERNSHIP.
Opportunities in Many Directions
Then there is Leni Ingwert, Dennis’ sister. At 20 years old, she is studying Marketing Management and recently completed a four-month internship in ORAFOL’s Corporate Communications department. For her, the internship was the first real insight into working life within a company. “It was exciting, enjoyable, and I learned a lot,” she says, looking back on the experience. What impressed her most was the wide range of career opportunities available at ORAFOL. Before starting her internship, she mainly knew the company as a major regional employer – and as the place where her father, brother, and uncle worked.
She joined the Corporate Communications team through a speculative application. “I would definitely recommend that approach to anyone,” she says. During her internship, Leni contributed to social media content, video projects, and events. “What fascinated me most was how many different responsibilities this department has – from communication and organization to international projects,” she explains. Could she imagine returning to ORAFOL after completing her studies? “Absolutely,” she says without hesitation.
DESPITE ITS SIZE, ORAFOL HAS REMAINED A DOWN-TO-EARTH AND APPROACHABLE FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY.
A Large Company with a Personal Touch
With so many family members working at the same company, one obvious question comes to mind: do they constantly run into each other? The answer is unanimous: not really. And yet, there is still a sense of familiarity. It is something that extends beyond the family itself and can be felt throughout the company. People know each other and take an interest in one another.
Leni noticed this almost immediately. “People often asked me about my last name and whether I was ‘someone’s daughter’ or ‘someone’s sister,’” she says with a laugh. For her, that is not a problem at all. Quite the opposite. “It’s simply part of having several generations of one family working at the same company.” What ultimately connects all members of the Ingwert family is not their day-to-day work, but what ORAFOL represents to them: reliability, opportunities for growth, and strong roots in the region. Or, as Leni sums up after four months at the company: “It’s a workplace where things feel a little more personal than elsewhere.”
