On Monday, November 10, we experienced a special day: Safety Line met with a delegation from Beijing at the FOM in Frankfurt.
It was a committee from the Office for Integrated Urban Administration and Enforcement of the City of Beijing, an authority directly subordinate to the People’s Government and responsible for coordinating and implementing urban administrative measures. The goal of this authority is the professionalization, standardization, and digitalization of city administration to create a modern and livable capital environment.
The delegation consisted of senior figures, including directors, deputy directors, and heads of specialized enforcement units such as the Inspection Unit, Water Management Enforcement Unit, as well as officials responsible for district authorities and key locations. (Names are intentionally not mentioned.)
The delegation was particularly interested in how security and digitalization are handled in Germany. They were looking for a company in the Frankfurt area that operates in both the private and public sectors and is considered a pioneer in digital transformation—and that led them to Safety Line.
We met in the conference room of FOM Frankfurt. After a short tea break for the guests, the event began. To ensure smooth communication, we were supported by a professional interpreter.
Managing Director Daniela Gröbel-Becker, Managing Director Matthias Herteux, and Operations Manager Lennart Martin gave presentations.
At the beginning, I introduced Safety Line, our areas of activity, and our strengths, then transitioned into various digitalization topics, such as Smart City.
Our company owner, Matthias Herteux, added the company’s history and provided practical examples from everyday work. Particularly interesting for the delegation was the distinction between public authorities and private security companies, as well as the delineation of their respective responsibilities.
Operations Manager Lennart Martin delved deeper into topics such as technical tools, employee expertise, and their successful combination. He also spoke about our university partnership with Diploma University, whose students in the Security Management program are currently working in China at the Changshu Institute of Technology.
The interest was great, and many aspects were new to the delegation. A lively discussion developed with numerous follow-up questions. Topics such as digital transformation, intelligent systems for urban administration, and security management at major events attracted particular attention.
To conclude, we presented each member of the delegation with a gift from the Kloster Eberbach winery, a long-standing client of our company—much to the guests’ delight. In return, we received gifts from China, including a teddy bear dressed in an authentic municipal enforcement uniform—a real highlight.
For the guests from Beijing, there were gifts from Kloster Eberbach, a long-standing client of Safety Line.
The meeting was a successful contribution to international knowledge exchange. It demonstrated how important the connection between security, service, and digitalization is—both in Germany and in China. We will maintain contact with the delegation to explore future cooperation and joint projects in the areas of Smart City and security management.
The managing directors Matthias Herteux (right) and Daniela Gröbel-Becker (center), together with operations manager Lennart Martin (left), pose with the gifts.