Firefighting has always been a part of Nils Maurer's family. His grandfather, father, and twin brother all became volunteer firefighters. "My grandpa even helped set up the fire department in his hometown," says the 21-year-old. He joined the children's fire brigade when he was just eight years old. Today, his passion benefits not only his community but also his employer, Michelin. As well as his job inspecting tyres at the Bad Kreuznach plant, Maurer is also an active member of the company's fire department.
Around 50 of Michelin's 1,400 employees in Rhineland-Palatinate have volunteered for this important role, supporting the 12 professional firefighters stationed there. At least five volunteers and one professional firefighter must be on site at all times. The site fire brigade focuses on fire prevention – checking and maintaining fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and hydrants. But when an emergency occurs, they are the first to respond. Their work is vital, protecting the company from financial loss and, most importantly, ensuring the safety of all employees.
Ready in an Instant
Such was the case one morning last December. Nils Maurer was driving a forklift through the production hall when he heard the siren outside. He immediately parked, ran the short distance to the fire station and got ready. The emergency? A control cabinet on the second floor of one of the factory buildings had caught fire, triggering the alarm.
Maurer quickly changed from his work clothes into his firefighting uniform and jumped into the fire truck. Within five minutes, the team arrived at the scene. Wearing breathing apparatus, Maurer entered the smoke-filled building. Employees were already trying to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher, and the firefighters soon had the situation under control.
"On our shift, we have an agreement that volunteer firefighters can leave work immediately when the alarm goes off," says Maurer. This happens a few times a year, and in the meantime colleagues take over.
Maurer has been with Michelin since the beginning of 2024. Before that, he worked as an automotive mechatronics technician at the company where he trained. But after four and a half years, he wanted a change. "I was always fascinated by tyre production," he says. He applied to Michelin and soon started as a classifier in the tyre inspection department.
Hundreds of Tyres per Shift
One of Maurer's main tasks is aspect control. Standing at the end of a conveyor belt, he inspects different types of tyres by rapidly rotating them in his hands. His trained eye catches even the smallest irregularities – even if the iconic Michelin Man logo is missing a hand.
If he finds a defect, he logs it into a computer system and the tyre is either repaired or discarded. While AI-assisted systems help identify defects, every tyre is still inspected manually to ensure 100% quality. Maurer checks several hundred tyres per shift.
A Strong Sense of Teamwork
With such a demanding job, why take on the extra responsibility of the site fire brigade? "I enjoy helping people," says Maurer. Identifying and reducing risks at an early stage is particularly important to him, which is why he completed a special breathing apparatus course. This training enables him to enter burning buildings and rescue people.
But what he values most is the team spirit. "Some people join a sports team, others join the fire brigade," he explains. Firefighters rely on each other in dangerous situations and form strong friendships.
For many, being on call all the time can be stressful. "For me, it's actually calming," says Maurer with a smile. No wonder his spare time is also well organised – he is not only a football referee but also an active volunteer fireman in his hometown. His pager keeps him on standby, even at night. He is simply always on duty.
About Michelin
The tyre manufacturer Michelin, headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, employs around 130,000 people in 170 countries. 1,400 of them work in Bad Kreuznach. The German site is regarded as a role model within the global group. Among other products, it manufactures self seal tyres, which can withstand nails, and low-noise Acoustic tyres. Every year, 15 apprentices start their training at the plant, for example, as industrial mechanics or electronics technicians for industrial engineering.
