Making work easier for disabled people
When Stephan Sachse is in the workshop, every tenth of a millimetre counts - that's the only way the individual parts made of solid metal will fit together exactly afterwards. The 46-year-old works in fixture construction, which is part of Bethel's workshops for people with disabilities. This is where aids and tools are manufactured to make people's everyday work easier. Modern technology is used here - from 3D printers to computer-controlled milling machines.
The aids that are produced in the fixture construction department are tailored precisely to people's needs. A knee lever might help someone with spasticity in their arm. Those who can't count are given a counting board. Solutions are found for many problems. Simple and technically complex ones. "I like the variety here - and there's always something to do," says Stephan Sachse, who has a serious chronic illness himself, about his day-to-day work. "Some time ago, we built a special holder for a wheelchair user. This means he can now transport plastic crates around the workshop on his own and is no longer dependent on help from others." Entire machines that help with the assembly of components are also specially constructed.