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    • HALFAR AND PROSIGNO: DIVERSITY THAT UNITES

    HALFAR AND PROSIGNO: DIVERSITY THAT UNITES

    An interview with Rene Dubbert, operations manager at prosigno

    Halfar and prosigno have been proving since 2013 that cooperation between people with and without disabilities is a success. Together, the companies work hand in hand under one roof. As a non-profit integration company, prosigno specialises in promoting the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities and is committed to integrating them into working life and society. As a specialist in screen printing on textiles, prosigno also offers the perfect solution for every material thanks to digital pre-press and state-of-the-art machinery. To find out even more about prosigno, we interviewed Rene Dubbert, Operations Manager at prosigno GmbH.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    Hello Rene. Thank you for taking the time today to tell us something about prosigno. You are the operations manager at prosigno GmbH, which works together with Halfar under one roof. Can you tell us what is behind prosigno and what exactly you do?

    Rene (prosigno)
    Hello Jacqueline, with pleasure. prosigno is a subsidiary of Werkhaus GmbH and is part of Lebenshilfe. Lebenshilfe is divided into the Lebenshilfe Foundation and Werkhaus GmbH. The Lebenshilfe Foundation supports families in the early support of children with disabilities and helps people with disabilities to enter the world of work or professional life. Werkhaus GmbH is primarily concerned with creating jobs in the form of workshops or integration companies, of which prosigno is one.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    How many employees do you currently have at prosigno?

    Rene (prosigno)
    We currently employ 20 people, 7 of whom have a disability in the form of deafness and learning disabilities or a mental illness. So you could say that we are a colourful mix of different people.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    What makes working at prosigno exceptional?

    Rene (prosigno)
    I think it is the sum of the people who come together. There are skilled workers, people with disabilities and even jobs that are outsourced from the workshop. This diversity is also reflected in the different motives for coming to work. For example, a skilled worker comes to work mainly to earn a living. People with disabilities often come to work for the companionship, the acceptance and the regulated daily work and life. This is not to say that the reverse is not also true. However, what is so exciting and special about work is that so many different personalities come together. It is this mix that makes prosigno so special.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    That sounds very exciting. We have been working together door to door for many years. How do you perceive the cooperation with Halfar as a company? 

    Rene (prosigno)
    It has taken time to develop, but now we are seeing the benefits. Being part of Halfar blurs the lines and makes us feel less isolated. We're not just seen as an independent integration company; we're integrated into Halfar, which makes things smoother for us. This connection helps us to attract new talent and overcome challenges, such as investing in new technology, with ease.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    And how do you see the interaction between the employees of Halfar and prosigno?

    Rene (prosigno)
    I consider the interaction to be very positive. But that is also a development. I think you can compare it with the rest of society. At the beginning, there are always fears of contact - no one can absolve themselves of that. Because when people meet and get to know each other, it is quite natural that it is unfamiliar at first. Not bad, but different. With the long-standing employees of Halfar and prosigno, you notice that working together and communicating works very well. That makes me happy to see.

    Collaboration with integrative screen printing company prosigno

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    Yes, that's right. How did you become involved with prosigno?

    Rene (prosigno)
    I've been with the company since it was founded, i.e. since 2012. We started production at prosigno when the new section of the building was completed in 2013.
    Before that, I started my apprenticeship in the traditional way at the age of 15 to learn the profession of media technologist in screen printing. Afterwards, I was employed as a screen printer for seven years at another company and simultaneously completed my master's degree in digital & print industry. Through a fortunate constellation, I came into contact with a Halfar employee and thus had the opportunity to start working for prosigno.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    Great, sometimes you just have to be lucky. I would be interested to know: How exactly does screen printing work? Can you explain how the print is put on the bag and what steps are necessary?

    Rene (prosigno)
    When we receive an order, the first thing we do is look at the customer's logo and check that it is technically feasible in terms of line width, size and colour. We then prepare the actual screen printing process, which involves making screens using the CTS process, mixing the colours and preparing the bags for the machines. Finally, the screen print is transferred to the bag using semi-automatic textile printing carousels.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    And how do you do it with the inks? Do you mix them yourselves?

    Rene (prosigno)
    Exactly. We have a small colour room where we keep a variety of colour pigments to achieve the desired Pantone shades. As a tool for mixing colours, we use a scale and a colour shaker for blending.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    And what inks do you use?

    Rene (prosigno)
    We use special screen printing inks that are particularly suitable for bags. Since 2019, we've been gradually transitioning to solvent-free, water-based inks, and as of this year we're finally there.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    I would not have thought that at all. So the changeover was not possible overnight?

    Rene (prosigno)
    The development of the water-based ink system, was not really mature in 2019. But together with an innovative ink manufacturer, we have been able to convert our inks to water-based bit by bit and thus print ever more sustainably.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    So sustainability is also an important topic for prosigno?

    Rene (prosigno)
    Absolutely. For example, we are trying to replace other chemicals. But it's also a gradual process.

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    So you are also trying to innovate as an integration company? 

    Rene (prosigno)
    Exactly, within our possibilities we implement this. 

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    And what do you particularly like about your work at prosigno? 

    Rene (prosigno)
    The point that I am not limited in my function. I'm not just responsible for screen printing, I'm an all-rounder. I take care of the staff, occupational safety and am also a bit of a social worker, as I am in close contact with our inclusion staff. All this makes working at prosigno very exciting for me. 

    Jacqueline (Halfar)
    The mixture makes the difference. How exciting! Thank you Rene for giving this interesting insight.  

    Rene (prosigno)
    With pleasure!

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