April 04, 2005

Always new ideas, always new commitment

Last Saturday Gerhard Hettinger, who has been managing director of the Bürkert group for many years, celebrated his 65th birthday. For over 30 years at the top the skilled toolmaker and graduate in light engineering has made a significant contribution to the success of the company and played a decisive part in its development. Even though he is already looking forward to long bike rides and other activities with his family, Mr Hettinger will still serve 'his' company in an advisory capacity and in our region with regard to young people's concerns and the promotion of training.

'Excellent' is an attribute that can certainly be taken literally with Gerhard Hettinger. The Ministry of Science, Research and Art for Baden-Württemberg has for example contributed to this accolade in making him an honorary senator of the Mosbach Vocational College. And for good reason. Gerhard Hettinger's commitment to intensive promotion of new blood and training is unsurpassed. His particular concern is and always was the purposeful fostering of talent through development of the whole person.

Lifelong learning is the principle which Gerhard Hettinger espoused long before this slogan existed. Prompted by Christian Bürkert, his training as a toolmaker was followed by a degree in manufacturing and light engineering in Berlin. After time spent working in the USA and England and after the early death of his mentor and patron Hettinger took over the management of the Bürkert group. In the same way as Christian Bürkert he did everything to lead the company through innovation and commitment to further success.

Opening up new areas of business, the development of new ideas and continuous training and further training by which the company itself brought in new blood, these are the pillars on which Bürkert's success is built. Internal personnel development was always in first place for Gerhard Hettinger and the company continues to attach great importance to further training. The training centre is the visible expression of this. And how will Gerhard Hettinger continue to slake his thirst for knowledge in his 'active retirement'? His activity in various company committees, his social commitment and his love of art and nature will certainly help him.