BIRN in Holstebro has a very special family history. Four brothers work side by side here – Niels Anton, Henning, Arne and Lars Peter Poulsen – who together have been part of the company for more than 160 years. Together with their father, wives, siblings, children and nephews, the family's total seniority amounts to over 250 years.
- I started at BIRN in 1976, and back then all processes and procedures were manual. Before, it took four of us to work on one mould. Today, one person can do the same thing with machines and lasers. A lot has changed over the years, but the team spirit is the same, says Niels Anton Poulsen, who is now 68 and still happily arrives at work every morning at 6.30 a.m.
From manual labour to high technology
The four brothers have followed developments in the industry closely – from the days when iron was hand-slinged and cast with spoons to today's modern, automated processes.
Today, the brothers work in different roles at the foundry:
- Niels Anton: employed since 1976, foundry worker
- Arne: employed since 1987, iron delivery driver
- Henning: employed since 1983, forklift driver in the fettling department
- Lars Peter: employed since 1986, foundry worker and union representative
What they all have in common is that BIRN has been an integral part of their lives – both professionally and personally. Several members of the family have worked at the foundry over the years, including Lars Peter's wife, who has worked in the laboratory since 2014. If you count all the family members – from father and siblings to wives, children, nieces and nephews – the Poulsen family has a combined total of more than 250 years of service at BIRN.
- You could say we grew up with BIRN. Our father worked here for 17 years, and then the rest of us joined one by one. We've had BIRN under our skin our whole lives – it's always been part of the family. We argue just as much as we always have, but that's part of it, and we always go home happy. That says something about the place. There's something special about being in a workplace where you feel at home and are still challenged, says Lars Peter with a smile.
A working community that lasts
When asked why they have stayed for so many years, the answer is simple: solidarity and community. For the brothers, it means something to be part of a place where everyone knows each other – and where you are appreciated for your efforts.
- It's a workplace where everyone respects each other. There's always a good atmosphere, flexibility and good relations, and that means a lot in everyday life, says Henning Poulsen, who now drives a forklift truck in the fettling department.
At BIRN, there is a tradition of celebrating anniversaries, and several of the brothers are approaching the 40- and 50-year milestones. But even after so many years, it is not routine that drives them – it is their colleagues, the culture and the feeling of being part of something bigger.
A piece of Danish industrial culture
The story of the Poulsen brothers is a vivid illustration of how, for generations, BIRN has been a workplace where craftsmanship, technology and community go hand in hand. Because even though machines have taken over the heavy work, it is still the people who make it all work.
- There's not so much shutting up, falling in line and following orders anymore – we talk properly to each other and find solutions. We're happy out here. For us, it's not just a job, it's part of our lives, says Lars Peter.
Watch the feature from TV-MidtVest here (in Danish): https://www.tvmidtvest.dk/nyheder/30-09-2025/1930/1909-30-sep-2025?t=1138s
(The feature starts after 18:58 minutes)