Dec 2 2008
The Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree is one of New York’s best-known images. For the past few years, this tradition has featured a contribution from Germany. When the 76th annual tree lighting ceremony takes place on December 3, the tree will be topped by a huge star, weighing some 360 kilograms and made of stainless steel from ThyssenKrupp Nirosta in Krefeld.
The star is adorned with 25,000 glittering crystals. It was designed by the internationally renowned German artist Michael Hammers, whose studios also planned the ornament and manufactured it in conjunction with Christian Pohl GmbH of Cologne. The Christmas tree in downtown New York is decorated with over 25,000 lights and will be lit tomorrow in a televised ceremony. As in past years, the star - which measures three meters in diameter – was assembled on site by the Michael Hammers Studios in mid-November and lifted to the top of the 25-meter-plus spruce by crane. The star first shone out over New York in 2004. “Our customers expect the very highest quality.
When it comes to meeting the most demanding aesthetic requirements, we put our faith in stainless steel,” says Daniel Schulze-Wethmar, International Project Manager at the Michael Hammers Studios. For the main structure of the star, the Michael Hammers Studios chose stainless steel from ThyssenKrupp Nirosta. Heinrich Robert Pohl, whose company manufactured sophisticated edgings for the star, emphasizes: “All the companies involved are proud to be part of the success of this world-famous tradition.”