Sentences that start off with some variance of "I don't want to brag, but..." are generally a good indicator that it's precisely what the speaker intends to do and typically end with bold proclamations that are immediately and eminently quotable - the kind of quotes perfect for beginning a feature story with an eye-catching artistic flourish. And, true to form, Stephan Hecht didn't disappoint. "I don't want to sound stuck-up, but..." began Hecht, the senior executive vice president for Oelheld U.S., "we are a business out of Germany and we are really rapidly growing here in the U.S. The reason for it is, you know, a lot of operations in Europe are using our product. Based on higher wages and social benefits, they have to operate on the cutting edge.
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