European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 9, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday Aptil 9. 19b7 the stars and stripes Page 9 cold limbs in Central Asia warm blossoms in Paris a Phario a storm in the soviet Republic of a Irgaz were starting to Bloom. And seemingly a is the warm seem celled splendor of and forsythia bursting Forth against he puts limb breaking ice on fruit Trees thai season away from the Bleak asian scene april in Paris with the Cherry blossoms background of the Eiffel Tower. Augsburg censer fixing to win big honors by Charlie Bowden Munich Bureau. Augsburg Germany Peter Kraus and Horn Duerling Are a Safe cracking Cam. On a Good Day they May break into two sometimes three safes from Small 200-Pound unit safes to room size monsters. But these men arc not robbers. They be Learned i hair Trade from the companies thai make the safes using the latest tools and techniques. And once they be Bro Ken into a Safe they turn around and Fin in. It s their Job. They arc two of some 200 men and women of 10 nationalities who make up the consolidated maintenance Center in Augsburg one of tour in a maintenance concept unique to Vii corps. We re centralized in our maintenance concept said capt. Ron Kerns can scr chief we be consolidated our expertise into one location and one facility which saves Money in the Long  the Augsburg Center handles about 2,500 work or Ders each month from 350 customers in an area that covers 21,000 Square Miles in Southern Bavaria. While the Safe cracking Mission is unusual it s Only part of the daily workload at the can scr. On any Given Lay workers arc straightening frames on wrecked cars making pillows re upholstering sofas trouble shooting televisions or laying Carpel. While the Center s in House staff does most of the work a repair team with seven roving repair and inspection vehicles averages More than 100,000 Miles annually. If the work can i come to us then Well go to it facility manager Hans troller said. And if they can t fix it at the Center they find some one who can. We contract out for about $1 million of maintenance and repair work each year troller said. The Center s forerunner was established in july 1946 on the grounds of the former concentration Camp at Dachau just North of Munich. Made up primarily of former prisoners of War the equipment maintenance Center had nearly twice the work Force of today s Cen Ter and almost everything was done by hand. The most significant Factor in its modernisation since the move 10 Augsburg in 1�7i was a result of trip or the Quick return investment program. Under the program the Center has bought equip ment that simplifies and speeds production in the Var ious shops. Kerns said. The 20 pieces of Industrial Equi Mcm we be received through trip saves the government More than $300,000 each year he said. The key requirement with the program is that the machine pay for itself within two years. An example is a new mattress renovation machine that Cut Lime by More than 50 percent and significantly increased he Quality of the product troller said. Kerns believes the Augsburg Center s Success in modernization has been a Central Factor in its Success in Usa eur and army maintenance excellence com petitions. The unit has been selected As tops in Vii corps the last three years Hacsi in Usa eur the last to years and was runner up us army for 1985. In was chosen Best in the army for 1986, and is in Competition for the lop maintenance Kirin in the defense department. We be always been the bridesmaid never the Bride Kerns said but this year we Are the Bride Munich students step in to raise donations Munich is Munich High school senior Tom Cirice figured since he had to do it anyway Why not try to be the Best. And he was. Once led about 100 students mostly Spring sports athletes volunteered by their coaches in raising More than si.000 tuesday in the second annual jul creche Marathon sponsored by the school s chapter of the future business leaders of America. The Money was donated