Arburg Senior Partner Eugen Hehl passed away
On 12 December 2023, Eugen Hehl, Senior Partner of Arburg, passed away at the age of 94. In addition to his entrepreneurial vision, the trained master mechanic was recognised above all for his services to the development of global sales at Arburg and the company's construction infrastructure, as well as his strong social commitment to and in the region. As Chairman of the Management Team for many years and responsible for global sales at Arburg, Eugen Hehl played a key role in the company's global success. Technically trained, but with a keen instinct for sales in particular, he played a decisive role in shaping the family business for more than seven decades in congenial co-operation with his brother Karl, who passed away in 2010. With his ideas and solutions regarding construction, he gave the company an unmistakable profile worldwide.
At Arburg, in his hometown Lossburg and far beyond the region, Eugen Hehl was held in high esteem both personally and professionally. Together with his brother Karl, Eugen Hehl was also known for his strong social commitment. The two of them had the Gebrüder Hehl Foundation established in Lossburg, which officially began its work in 1999. The retirement home operated by “Bruderhaus-Diakonie,” a non-profit, Christian diaconal foundation in Baden-Württemberg, is open to older people for assisted living, short-term and elderly care.
In November 2000, the Federal Republic of Germany honoured Eugen Hehl with the Federal Cross of Merit for his achievements. The company also received the Baden-Württemberg Business Medal in 1990 and the Baden-Württemberg Competence Award for Innovation and Quality in 2015. Further awards include honorary citizenship of the municipality of Lossburg in November 1997 and the Golden Master Craftsman's Certificate in 2005. The American Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) presented Eugen and Karl Hehl with the Business Management Award in 2007 for their joint life's work. Eugen Hehl was inducted into the "Plastics Hall of Fame" in 2015 for his life's work. In 2020, the senior partner received the Richard Vieweg Medal of Honour, the highest award of the Association of German Engineers (VDI).
In Eugen Hehl, Arburg and the entire industry have lost a down-to-earth and success-orientated person, entrepreneur and pioneer. The Managing Partners, in particular his two children Juliane and Michael Hehl, who together with their cousin Renate Keinath are currently managing the company in the third generation, the Managing Directors and all employees will remember him with honour and gratitude.