My name is Michael Prosch, and “old” companions from the industry may still know me. I am the senior managing director of APS Prosch GmbH, but I have been in semi-retirement for almost 10 years.

As an “old hand”… some jokingly call me a “rubber rabbit”… I would like to introduce our company to you in a more personal way.

APS Prosch GmbH is now a medium-sized, family-owned business, and since 2011, it has been led by my daughter Melanie Prosch… as a shareholder, CEO, and boss, solely responsible for the company. I myself am just occasionally a consultant.

Her grandfather… Alwin Prosch… founded the company under his name in 1963 as a trading company for mainly technical supplies, personal protective equipment, and shipyard needs, with the customer base initially limited to northern Germany. That same year, I began my apprenticeship in the family business, as was customary at the time, and obtained the so-called “merchant’s assistant certificate” on March 31, 1966. No one probably remembers that today.

During this time, there were many so-called technical traders in the Hamburg area, who were also regionally active. We didn’t compete with the south, and the south didn’t compete with the north. It was a different culture back then.

Over time, however, the “borders” blurred, and the radius and product range expanded, so that we could also offer O-rings, molded parts, and plastic items for the valve and mechanical engineering sectors as well as industrial plants.

On January 1, 1972, I became a partner, and we operated under the name Alwin Prosch & Son. Soon after, APS became a registered trademark and a permanent term in the industry.

After the early death of my father in 1974, I was essentially thrown into “cold water,” became the sole owner in 1975, and took on the responsibility. Even more than today, personal customer communication was valued. There were no emails or video conferences using computers, notebooks, or cell phones… communication was done via landline phones, and there were still teletypes with punch tapes. A slightly slower time, where you were not available around the clock.

In the field (which was somewhat disrespectfully called “door knocking” at the time), I spent many miles on the highways and nights in hotels. However, these activities led to the acquisition of more and more industries and customers. Many of them are still our clients today.

Up until then, APS had suppliers and production partners only in Germany. However, by the late 1970s, partners from Italy quickly joined, specializing in the production of O-rings and molded parts. This collaboration continues to this day, and the product range has expanded. Continuity really pays off.

APS then developed into a specialist for all areas of the valve sector, with a focus on seals for sanitary applications, including… and here we were pioneers… the first drinking water approvals, called KTW.

A key factor in further development was the problem of Legionella (Legionnaires’ disease)… and we developed more and more proprietary, resistant materials. As a result, we received global certifications for NSF, WRC, etc. (the current list of all certifications can be found on our homepage), including external monitoring by MPA in Dortmund. As an active member of WdK, APS participates in all key developments in this sector.

At the end of 2011, after nearly 49 years in the industry, I retired from day-to-day operations, and Melanie, who had joined the company on August 1, 2000, and had been significantly involved in APS’s development ever since, took the helm. Then, on July 1, 2015, the company was transformed into the current APS Prosch GmbH… Melanie and I became 50/50 partners, but… she’s the one in charge!

APS is a consistent name in the market… where APS is written, APS is inside… that’s how our company policy is directed. It remains our company culture… both internally and externally. Our partners worldwide appreciate this.

APS has state-of-the-art technical facilities for: offices, goods inspections, sample reservations and tracking, including test reports, as well as logistics with a self-developed IT program.

The long-standing employees contribute to this concept under the competent leadership of Melanie Prosch and are aware of their responsibility. Especially in these difficult times, a common foundation is particularly important.

At the top of the list is our unwavering company policy, the unconditional service, and the high level of dedication for our partners worldwide.

Internally, everything is currently focused on COVID-19. The entire environment has remained COVID-free! No access for external visitors, mandatory masks, separation of workstations and break areas, remote work where possible, flexible working hours, especially for employees with children. (At our company, no overtime or understudy hours have ever been recorded.) Everything operates on a trust-based level. Thanks to this, we were able to completely avoid short-time work. We still don’t need external financial resources due to our solid company policy.

Of course, after the first lockdown, there was a “dip”… many manufacturers and customers were closed worldwide… sales decreased, and there was a lot of uncertainty. Melanie steered the APS ship excellently and managed to navigate through all the obstacles with great commitment. Of course, 2020 could have gone better, but a strong recovery came in the third and fourth quarters, and 2021 started off well.

So… continue following all the rules… hope for the vaccine… stay negative and think positive.