Research and development
Personnel
The activities in the field of research and development
again increased during the year under reveiw
The quality and taste of Heineken products comply with
very high standards. Further improvement depends on
scientific progress, which is why we attach great value to
fundamental research.
Owing to the wide extent of the field of investigation which is
important to Heineken and its partly specialized nature,
there was further co-operation in various countries during
the year under review with scientific institutions to which
research assignments were given.
In the field of process automation an integrated automation
system for brewhouses was developed for use in small
breweries and was applied successfully in a number of
establishments.
The brewhouse installation of the experimental brewery
(capacity 1 hectolitre) at Zoeterwoude was replaced by a
modern installation of our own design. A large number of
different process operations are possible with this.
With regard to base materials and design Heineken has
played an active role in the development of new bottles and
crates for the Netherlands beer market.
In order to reduce the damage to returnable bottles and to
abate the noise level, a new concept for bottling lines is
being studied. Together with suppliers, work is also being
done on a detection device which determines very accu
rately the damage to returnable bottles in a packaging
installation.
In several African countries the economic situation is such
that it is impossible to import enough raw materials for the
local breweries, whilst the climate often does not lend itself
to barley-growing. In order nevertheless to arrive at a
satisfactory solution for the breweries, Heineken is closely
involved in extensive agricultural projects for the large-
scale cultivation of maize and sorghum, an indigenous type
of grain. Work is in progress on the production of types of
beer based on these raw materials.
During the year under review 28,410 people were employ
ed on average within the enterprise, compared with 25.112
in 1984. The increase is to a considerable extent due to the
acquisition of an interest in the Spanish brewery group El
Aguila at the end of 1984.
The progressive internationalization of the enterprise gives
rise to specific requirements with regard to education and
training. In our management development activities we
meet these requirements, inter alia, by internal interdisci
plinary courses for managers working throughout the
world.
The object of these training courses, set up on international
lines, is to strengthen the ability to give an adequate
response to internal and external developments, and to
increase the knowledge of Group culture and procedures
as well as of the facets of doing business, especially in an
international group.
It is gratifying that labour relations were good during the
year under review. A contributory factor to this is that
Heineken s social policy - in a form adapted to each
individual country - has in the meantime been reasonably
integrated in the various operating companies.
We wish to express our appreciation of the dedication of
our employees. This dedication will continue to be of great
importance in the years ahead, too.
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