Optische Werke G.
Rodenstock
Optische Werke G. Rodenstock manufactures
spectacle lenses, spectacle frames, precision optical systems
and equipment for the optical laboratory. Rodenstock's roots
go back over 100 years and a member of the Rodenstock family
has always run the company.
Head offices are in
a five-story building several miles from Munich city center in
one of the company's factory sites which is surrounded by a residential
area. A security guard, who doesn't speak a word of English,
greets visitors in the plain, no-frills tiny lobby. I get the
bum's rush here as I'm told they're in the midst of a restructuring
and that they never received my advance letter sent to Randolf
Rodenstock, President and great-grandson of the founder. Someone's
assistant comes to the lobby and hands me a company brochure
as if that will satisfy me. Yep, I come all the way from California
on a bicycle just to pick up a brochure.
The brochure is a
little out of date as it says Rodenstock has a workforce of approximately
6,700 and revenues of 780 million German Marks in 1992. I especially
like the following line in the brochure: "Both customers
and staff are seen as individuals and not mere anonymous elements
of a large crowd". Since I'm not a customer or staff then
that makes me an anonymous element of a large crowd. Hmm, that
explains the "couldn't care less" attitude. |