Engine manufacturer Deutz Ag is expanding its relationship with Nostra GmbH, a large organization dedicated to the integration of disabled and disadvantaged people with the completion of a 2,000-square-meter building in Cologne-Kalk, Germany, in which employees of both companies will work on incoming goods and packaging processes, creating 10 new jobs for disabled people.

The two companies have worked together for more than 20 years in the final assembly and packaging of a range of engine spare parts.

Nostra works with people with a broad range of disabilities including learning difficulties, deaf and physically handicapped people and mental health issues. Nostra GmbH employs people in integrative work groups in which disabled and non-disabled people work together doing jobs appropriate to their individual capabilities.

The alliance between Deutz and Nostra started as a small, integrated subcontract for packing simple counting aids. Over time, the number of tasks has increased, and the tasks have become more sophisticated to include packing and assembling gasket sets and spare parts kits. Both companies took part in the planning and design of the new building, which will improve the materials flow. Its advantages include cutting the throughput time from receipt of goods to warehousing, which will improve the customer lead-time for parts.