On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Hehl family company, today’s editorial team spoke to Managing Partners Juliane Hehl, Renate Keinath and Michael Hehl about memories and challenges and their vision for the future of the family company.
today: What is the significance of this anniversary for you?
Michael Hehl: “100 years of the Hehl family company” is a very special success story. Although technology has been a key factor, people and the region have also played a particularly important role.
Renate Keinath: The anniversary is of course an opportunity to pause and review the past 100 years, which were shaped as much by difficult times as by bold decisions and innovative developments.
Juliane Hehl: Our family company’s centenary is an opportunity to reconcile the past and the future - in other words, to take pleasure in our successful past while also embracing the chances to position our company for the future.
today: What is your own favourite moment in the company’s history?
Renate Keinath: For me, the construction of the first Arburg injection moulding machine in 1954 - under very adverse circumstances at that time - is outstanding. It was the starting signal for Arburg as an injection moulding machine manufacturer.
Michael Hehl: Yes, that development really set the ball rolling. The innovation that then made our company successful worldwide was the Allrounder. This pioneering machine was a stroke of genius by Karl Hehl: as brilliant as it was simple!
Juliane Hehl: We were able to add many more examples to the list of innovations, because each era had its own highlights. Something very personal for me is that I get to be part of the company’s 100-year history.
today: Your fathers made Arburg one of the world’s leading injection moulding machine manufacturers. What did the two of them teach you along the way?
Juliane Hehl: “Substance over style” is the motto of my father Eugen - both in his business and private life.
Michael Hehl: We also learned from him how to be persistent and persevering, to never give up and to use resources sparingly. For us, as the third generation, the same applies: we think, we analyse and we implement something consistently when we are convinced of it!
Renate Keinath: Fittingly, my father Karl always used to say “Look before you leap”. For him and my uncle, it was important to be down-to-earth, to look out for employees and to be involved in social issues.
Managing Partners Juliane Hehl, Michael Hehl and Renate Keinath (from left) in the gallery with historical pictures. To the left of them, company founder Arthur Hehl (centre) can be seen with his sons Eugen (left) and Karl.
today: What was or is the biggest challenge for you as a representative of the third generation?
Juliane Hehl: I think I speak for the three of us when I say that it was and is a daunting task to follow in the great and successful footsteps of Karl and Eugen Hehl and to continue the company as successfully as our fathers did.
Renate Keinath: A major and important challenge was and continues to be that of ensuring that the positive values from the past are maintained despite the many changes and the enormous growth of the company.
Michael Hehl: I can only agree with these two statements: our task is to preserve the family company and to pass it on to future generations!
today: Where do you see your family company in ten years and beyond?
Renate Keinath: Leading the market and blazing a trail on important issues.
Juliane Hehl: And with an even greater international reach while remaining close to our customers.
Michael Hehl: We will continue the successful concept of the past years: think, analyse and implement something consistently when we are convinced of it! This is how our family company has continued to develop and adapt itself and its portfolio over the course of its 100-year history, and what we will continue to do in the future! As a family company.
today: What would you like to share with customers on the occasion of this centenary?
Michael Hehl: Over the past decades, we have always demonstrated that ARBURG is a reliable partner! And this will remain the case in the future.
Renate Keinath: Together with them, we can find the best solutions for their challenges.
Juliane Hehl: To put it in a nutshell: you can always rely on us. We are here for you!
