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PRESS RELEASE Emmerich, 29 September 2005, No. 2005/10

Ferdinand GOTHOT Maschinenfabrik celebrates125 years

This year, a member of the PROBAT Group is celebrating a special

anniversary: Ferdinand GOTHOT Maschinenfabrik GmbH is 125 years oldand can look back on an eventful history. Once a competitor of PROBAT,

the companies are today partners in the development of roasters and

facilities and are now writing their success story together.

GOTHOT: the story continues

Rumour has it that Ferdinand GOTHOT, the grocer and coffee roaster from

Mlheim an der Ruhr, wasnt good enough for the Emmerich-based coffee

roaster. Thats a matter of opinion. However, theres no disputing the fact

that the aforesaid merchant founded a factory in 1880 for the manufacture of

coffee-roasting machines. 1899 saw the first patented roasting system that,

together with the Ideal-Rapid, formed the basis for all subsequent GOTHOT

drum roasters.

Thanks to Mr. Gothots industriousness, the factory grew as did his family,

who later divided the company amongst its various members. Although the

members held equal shares, they didnt have an equal say in the running of

the factory. It is said that the anger this caused resulted in various family

members selling their shares to Emmerich-based PROBAT - the

competition.

As GOTHOT wished to continue its business activities despite PROBAT, theemployees built increasingly bigger, better and more sophisticated coffee-

roasting machines. The ongoing improvements to the Ideal-Rapid model

range with a maximum output of approx. 1,200 kg green coffee per hour

gave rise to the GOTHOT Rapido roaster (max. output approx. 3,000 kg/h).

The introduction of the patented Rapido-Nova roasting system in 1969 saw

the market launch of a roasting machine without rotating drum; it roasted

approx. 4,000 kg green coffee per hour. In addition, GOTHOT built all the

necessary components for a coffee roaster.

GOTHOT thus experienced both good and bad times. In the 1970s, the bad

times increasing outweighed the good and PROBAT-Werke consequently

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PRESS RELEASEacquired further shares in the company. By 1976, it finally held the majority

of shares in GOTHOT and was in a position to call the shots. When the

decision was taken to relocate the company to Emmerich in 1980, exactly

100 years after its foundation, the anniversary celebrations fell quietly by the

wayside. For GOTHOT employees, there was nothing to celebrate anyway.

Most of them looked for new jobs in Mlheim and the surrounding area. Part

of the company was simply thrown out with the waste whilst the remainderwas gathered up during the course of the relocation in June 1980 and ended

up in the corridors of PROBATs administrative building.

The work was redistributed; GOTHOT remained responsible for distribution,

design and assembly. PROBATs departments made their own contribution

and devised switch systems, drew up project plans, controlled plant

components and also managed the whole show. Kirsch & Mausser took over

the manufacture of the roasting machines and the despatch department

(today Ex-Pack) ensured punctual transportation to the customer.

Under these new conditions, GOTHOT roasting machines became even

better and more sophisticated. The Rapido-Nova UII (roasting times of 3 -

8 minutes) was developed and, with the help of R&D, also the RT-roaster

(roasting times of 1.5 - 9 minutes). As the machines had now reached

speeds that were difficult to improve, future developments focussed on size.

The Rapido-Nova 5000 UII was developed in 2000 and is today the largest

standard roasting machine world-wide.

What makes GOTHOT so special today?

More than 120 years of innovative development and the manufacture of

roasting machines for coffee and other grained products. At present, thereare more than 125 industrial roasters from the Rapido Nova and RT model

ranges in operation world-wide with a total hourly output of more than

327,550 kg. The tremendous success of the RT/RN range is also

demonstrated by the fact that orders for six large roasters (total capacity

17 t/h) have already been placed for delivery in 2006.

Inga Jerkovic, Communication Manager

PROBAT-WERKE of Gimborn Maschinenfabrik GmbH

Reeser Str. 94, 46446 Emmerich, Germany

Tel. (02822) 912-313, Fax (02822) 912-7313e-mail: i.jerkovic@probat.com, www.probat.com, www.gothot.com