12/08/2022
50 Years Ago at the Founding of Lumberg Netherlands - Part 8: Water
Fifty years ago, in October 1972, Lumberg Netherlands was established as a branch of the German company Lumberg. This was a significant milestone, and this year we are taking the opportunity to regularly reflect on the key moments in our rich history. In this series, we explore what else happened in 1972. Here’s part 8: Water.
Wastewater Treatment
In 1972, Amsterdam city engineer Koot published the book Wastewater Treatment. This became an important work for the Dutch wastewater industry. Professor Koot, who was an engineer for the city of Amsterdam, made significant contributions to wastewater purification in the Netherlands. His book was used by every technician for designing wastewater treatment plants until the 1990s, making Amsterdam a true trendsetter in the field.
In the same year, the Surface Water Pollution Act was passed in the Netherlands. The theme of “Clean Water” was a global concern during those years.
Smoke on the water
In 1972, Deep Purple released the hit song “Smoke on the water”. The lyrics tell a true story. On December 4, 1971, Deep Purple was in Montreux, Switzerland, to record their album Machine Head. They had rented a mobile recording studio from the Rolling Stones, referred to in the song as the “Rolling truck Stones thing.” The entertainment complex, part of the Montreux Casino, is also mentioned in the song as “the gambling house.”
On the eve of the recording session, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention performed a concert in the casino’s theater. This was to be the last concert in the theater before it closed for its annual winter renovations, making room in the schedule for Deep Purple to record their new album. During Don Preston’s synthesizer solo on “King Kong,” the venue suddenly caught fire when someone in the audience fired a flare gun. The ceiling, covered in rattan, quickly ignited. This incident is referenced in the lyrics as “some stupid with a flare gun.” Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, but the fire destroyed the entire casino and all of the band’s equipment. The title “Smoke on the Water” refers to the smoke that spread over Lake Geneva from the burning casino, as the members of Deep Purple watched from their hotel.
Waterproof Connectors
Supplying waterproof connectors is a key focus of Lumberg Netherlands’ product range. Next month, our booth at the World of Technology and Science at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, booth number 9A014, will be entirely themed around “Waterproof Connectors”.