Chemnitz is simply life

Axel König

The Industrial Museum has been closed to visitors for almost a year. But that will soon change! On 13 June, a new permanent exhibition will open, offering many new and, above all, unique things in Saxony. The Friends of the Chemnitz Industrial Museum have made a decisive contribution to the planning and realisation. Its managing director Axel König is our Maker of the Week today.

The museum was closed for almost a whole year. Now it is being reopened. Why does it need a new permanent exhibition?
Axel König: Many people were irritated that a completely new permanent exhibition was created. There have always been innovations in the past. There were certain things that were a given. Like this locomotive over there (points to the large black locomotive in the exhibition room), you can't drive it back and forth. But in the little things, in the processes and presentations, there were always changes for the better. Now we are looking forward to the new things to come.

It was partly the task of the Friends' Association, headed by Axel König as Managing Director and the Board of Directors, to ensure that the exhibition kept changing. The association currently has 230 members, a good half of whom are actively involved. Many older people are involved, providing moral support. Thanks to the many volunteers, things have developed into what they are now: New, big and unique. König has been involved in the Industrial Museum for almost eight years.

What exactly does the association do here?
For the first exhibition that took place here, the association was also involved in designing the museum. The new permanent exhibition was designed by a museum planning office. Our tasks were mainly the procurement and preparation of exhibits and the presentation of certain processes. Everything you see here has largely grown out of the commitment of the Friends' Association. And we are proud of that. If the sponsors' association had not existed in its present form, many things, possibly even the museum, would not exist. Because the people here had a dream back then: to preserve the history of technology and mechanical engineering for posterity.

What are your tasks as Managing Director of the Friends' Association?
I have taken over the overall administration of the association. And of course, since every sponsoring association is legally a fundraising organisation, it's my job to help secure funding for certain exhibits. This is usually successful.

Axel König is happy about every new member of the Friends' Association. Membership costs just 40 euros a year. However, anyone can also contribute more to ensure that the museum remains attractive once it has opened. Anyone who is interested in Saxony's industrial history should become a member of the association.

Where does your interest in industrial history come from?
I am a foundry engineer by profession. I've been doing this for 43 years now, 40 of them actively, and three years as a pensioner. After I came to Chemnitz and got to know the city, I was fascinated by the fact that this beautiful industrial architecture, which is repeated in various places in Chemnitz, is still in use. This hall here was used as a foundry hall for decades. Industrial history was lived out here. The museum has now been here for 13 years. For me as a foundryman, it was regrettable that the foundry area, which was the origin of this hall, was somewhat neglected. That's why I endeavoured to show the concept of foundry here again. And we have succeeded. We now have a wonderful foundry area. My task was to find a sponsor - and I succeeded.

Why is Chemnitz the right place to showcase Saxon industrial history?
Because Saxon industry is associated with the name Chemnitz. Chemnitz has always been the centre of mechanical engineering. Even now, the city is of great importance for mechanical engineering. And not only throughout Saxony, but also throughout Germany. In some areas, even throughout Europe The long tradition of mechanical engineering in Chemnitz is also reflected in the training centres and institutions such as Chemnitz University of Technology. This means that what the mechanical engineers of the future need, namely skilled labour, is available here. And we have to make the whole city of Chemnitz so attractive that the skilled workers do not migrate one day, but find their home and professional future here. Then Chemnitz can live up to its reputation of being the centre of Saxon industry.

In order to train skilled workers in Chemnitz and keep them here, you have to get children and young people interested in industrial history. What do you have on offer here for children and young people?
We have a museum education programme here. In this area, casting has always been neglected, as it was in the old exhibition. Now we have managed to acquire a small melting furnace. This will be the new highlight for children and young people.

Is there already a demand for it?
We have written to all the schools here in Chemnitz and the surrounding area. When the museum reopens and the first school class has been here, I think it will spread like wildfire. That is my firm conviction. Especially as I can say that this project, which we have initiated here, will be unique in Saxony. There is no school, no museum, no institution in the state that offers something like this. We will be the first in Saxony. And that's a good thing. Why should children go to the Deutsches Museum in Munich? You can have it all here soon. We can then show the children where the roots of industrial development actually lie. Everything you see here are the roots. We are bringing new technologies forward today, but these are all the fruits. You have to think of it like a tree: if you let the roots wither, you won't get any fruit at the top. And that is our task. Not to let the roots wither so that the future can be fruitful.

The passionate foundryman is of course particularly looking forward to the new foundry area. And there, too, it is clearly recognisable what Axel König means by the roots and the fruits. Visitors can follow the exact development from the foundry decades ago to today's foundry. Another highlight of the exhibition will be the silver strip, where the exhibits of the past are not so much on display. Instead, the industrial museum offers innovative companies the opportunity to show what the future of the industry could look like.

You have already mentioned that you moved to Chemnitz. What was the reason for coming to Chemnitz?
I've been in the region since 2003. I managed a foundry on the northern edge of Saxony. At some point I retired and when you come from the Ruhr area, as I did, life in a town with only around 780 inhabitants is not necessarily exciting. You need a city at some point. And Chemnitz was an obvious choice. I knew the work in the industrial museum and the city from many visits, and my wife is from the region. And so it made sense to move to Chemnitz.

Is there anything that particularly appeals to you about the city?
There is a lot in this city that reminds me of the period of upheaval in the Ruhr region. But also the predicament that the budget doesn't offer enough opportunities for all the things you want to do. And it's the same throughout the Ruhr region (laughs). There are a few other similarities between Chemnitz and Bochum. They are both similar in size and have a woman with a keen sense of what is necessary and feasible as Lord Mayor. So there are many similarities. (laughs)

Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
I think the people of Chemnitz have shown a lot of courage so far. Because what has been created here, or what has happened in the past seven years alone, in which I have been coming to Chemnitz more or less regularly, is quite a lot for me. I think that's impressive. And if Chemnitz continues to grow with the same spirit and intensity, then this will be a really great city. And it no longer needs to hide behind the other two major Saxon cities. Chemnitz is authentic. Chemnitz is simply life for the local people.