PRESS RELEASE

The Hermann Monument shines once more

Tallest statue in Germany is cleaned gently

Winnenden / Detmold, 7 September 2016 – Since 1875, the famous

Hermann Monument near Detmold has sat enthroned in the Teutoburg Forest.

Organic dirt and environmental conditions have left their mark on the much-

loved attraction. Along with the monument owner, the Landesverband Lippe,

cleaning specialist Kärcher took on the project and is currently cleaning the

monument as part of a cultural sponsorship.

"For over 35 years, we have been campaigning for the preservation of cultural

monuments", says Jan Recknagel, managing director of Alfred Kärcher

Vertriebs-GmbH. "In doing so, we have already freed several famous

landmarks from dirt, such as the presidential heads of Mount Rushmore, the

colonnades at St. Peter's Square in Rome, and Aachen Cathedral. The

restorative cleaning of the Hermann Monument represents another important

contribution to the sustainable protection of cultural and historical heritage."

"Kärcher has excellent expertise in cleaning important monuments", says

Anke Peithmann, board member of the Landesverband Lippe. "Cleaning the

Hermann Monument is making a sustainable contribution towards protecting

the monument and preserving it for future generations. We are already looking

forward to the result: the Hermann Monument will now be able to show itself in

the best possible light to over 500,000 annual visitors for a long time to come."

The work will take place from 5 to 9 September. With the help of lifting

platforms and the HDS 13/20-4 S and HDS 12/18-4 professional hot water

high-pressure cleaners, organic material such as algae, lichen, moss and

animal-based dirt will be removed from the sandstone of the 27-metre-high

base as well as from specific parts of the statue, using the steam setting,

which is gentle on the surface material. Walking around the lower level, the

remains of paint will also be removed, which are the result of vandalism.

Press ContactLinda Schrödter

Press Officer

Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KGAlfred-Kärcher-Str. 28-4071364 Winnenden

T +49 71 95 14-3918

F +49 71 95 14-2193linda.schroedter@de.kaercher.com

Peggy PfaffPress SpokespersonLandesverband LippeSchlossstr. 1832657 Lemgo

T +49 5261 – 250 238p.pfaff@landesverband-lippe.de

PRESS RELEASE

Test cleaning was carried out in October 2015 in order to determine the

cleaning methods and parameters required to preserve the original building

material. In conjunction with the Landesverband Lippe and the monument

authority of the city of Detmold, comprehensive steam cleaning was chosen.

The water temperature is 145°C, which removes organic particles and plant

spores from the pores in the stone and significantly slows their subsequent

build-up. The best cleaning result is achieved at half water flow (around 650

l/h). The surface pressure, with the nozzle placed between 10 and 20 cm

away from the surface to be cleaned, is around 0.5 bar. A flat jet nozzle with

an angle of around 40° is used.

The Hermann Monument will be closed for the duration of cleaning, while the

area around the monument with its catering, tourist information, WALK,

climbing area and hiking routes will be open to all visitors.

Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KGFounded in 1935, the family-owned business based in Winnenden (Baden-Württemberg) is the

world's leading supplier of cleaning technology to the private, commercial and industrial sectors.

The product range includes high-pressure cleaners, vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners, window

vacs, vacuum sweepers, scrubber driers, vehicle washing bays, drinking water and wastewater

treatment systems, dry ice blasters, cleaning agents, garden and household pumps, watering

systems and drinking water dispensers. Over the past 35 years, Kärcher has carried out over 100

PRESS RELEASE

cleaning projects on historical monuments. Restorative cleaning work was carried out, for

example, on the colonnades at St. Peter's Square in Rome, the Brandenburg Gate in

Berlin, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, the over 3,300-years-old

Colossi of Memnon in Luxor, Upper Egypt and the presidents' heads at Mount Rushmore.

Cleaning is always carried out in cooperation with monument conservators, restorers and

art historians.

Landesverband LippeThe Landesverband Lippe was founded in 1948. As a public corporation, it is similar to

higher local government associations, comparable to charitable foundations in its method

of operation. It finances its activities mainly from its own proceeds. This includes income

from sustainable forestry, real estate, building lease agreements, financial assets and

investments in renewable energy. It uses these proceeds to fund and finance art and

culture in the region. The Landesverband Lippe spends an average of 5 million euros per

year to this end. On the one hand, it finances its own cultural institutions: Lippe Regional

Museum in Detmold, the Weser Renaissance Museum at Schloss Brake, the Lippe

Regional Library and the Lippe Culture Agency with the Steinberg Castle. On the other

hand, it funds the Regional Theatre in Detmold in cooperation with partners, the

Archaeological Open-Air Museum in Oerlinghausen, the Artist's Town of Schwalenberg

and the Festival "Wege durch das Land" (Paths Through the Country). The

Landesverband Lippe also supports regional orchestras, choirs and clubs. Its diverse

activities also include responsibility for two important cultural and natural tourist sites in

Lippe: the Hermann Monument and the "Externsteine" rock formation.

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A Word file and printable images for this press release are available for you to download from our Newsroom HYPERLINK "https://www.kaercher.com/presse"https://www.kaercher.com/presse.

PRESS RELEASE

Organic dirt and environmental conditions have left their mark on the

much-loved attraction – the famous Hermann Monument.

Cleaning specialist Kärcher took on the project and is currently cleaning

the monument as part of a cultural sponsorship.

PRESS RELEASE

The water temperature is 145°C, which removes organic particles and

plant spores from the pores in the stone and significantly slows their

subsequent build-up.

Since 1875, the famous Hermann Monument near Detmold has sat

enthroned in the Teutoburg Forest.