OTS - "Major support of democratic society": Former Federal President Joachim Gauck acknowledges the achievements and commitment of HARTING / Festive celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Technology Group attended by many prominent guests (part 1)
2020. September 02. 12:37
Espelkamp/Minden, 2 September, 2020(APA/OTS) - With a festive
ceremony attended by the former German Presidents Dr. Joachim Gauck
and Christian Wulff, the HARTING Technology Group (Espelkamp)
celebrated its 75th anniversary. Gauck extended his congratulations
on the anniversary, and delivered a humorous, but also pensive
speech. He honoured the achievements of the company that was
founded by Wilhelm and Marie Harting in 1945 in Minden, and is now
managed by the second and third generations.
- Cross reference: Picture is available at AP Images
(http://www.apimages.com) -
In view of a German society that would appear "satiated and
fatigued in parts" ("the country's spirit is on the brink") as the
former headed of state commented, it is all the more remarkable to
experience HARTING as decidedly and firmly looking to the future
with courage, optimism and genuine joy, and bearing responsibility
as "the most beautiful form of freedom." Family owned and managed
companies like HARTING are a "stable support of society".
Government cannot replace their activities.
Preceding Joachim Gauck, Margrit Harting - with a joyful "Oh,
happy day" - had greeted around 100 invited guests, including the
chairman of the board of Deutsche Messe AG, Dr. Jochen Köckler, his
predecessor Sepp Heckmann, discus world champion and Olympic
champion Robert Harting, as well as the presidents of Private
Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Technik and of the Osnabrück
University, Prof. Dr. Dennis De and Prof. Susanne Menzel-Riedl.
In his speech, Dietmar Harting, the former long-standing
Chairman of the Board of Management and son of the company founder,
cast a look back on the beginnings of the company, which just a few
months after the end of the war had started to manufacture
household appliances such as energy-saving lamps, hotplates,
lighters, waffle irons and irons in a small workshop and a dozen
employees. The company's first buyer brought raw materials in from
the Rhineland, stowed away in a backpack while riding a coal
waggon; the wife of the company founder delivered the company's
goods by bicycle, accepting food as payment from farmers in the
surrounding area. The young firm developed rapidly, soon
concentrating on automotive electrics, medical equipment,
jukeboxes, record players and tape recorders. With the advent of
the patented Han® connectors in 1956, the company, which was
gradually relocated to neighbouring Espelkamp from the 1950s
onwards, went on to write technology history.
Speaking at the Botta building in Minden, the headquarters of
the German sales company, Philip Harting, grandson of Wilhelm
Harting, who took over the management of the family business from
his father Dietmar in 2015 and manages the company together with
his sister and parents, thanked the former and present employees
throughout the world for their valuable contributions to the
success of HARTING. The company, with its production facilities and
sales companies on all continents, faces global competition and
needs the support of the political arena in order to strengthen the
locations in the region and make them even more attractive. This is
the only approach that will enable HARTING to grow in the future in
the age of digitalization, make the most of its opportunities,
while co-determining the course of technology and shaping the
future with technologies for people, as laid down in the HARTING
vision formulated in 1996. No efforts will be spared in ensuring
that the baton will be passed on to the fourth generation when the
time comes.
The mayors of the cities of Minden and Espelkamp, Michael Jäcke
and Heinrich Vieker ("Espelkamp would not be conceivable without
HARTING"), the District Administrator of the Minden-Lübbecke
district, Dr. Ralf Niermann, as well as the District President of
Detmold, Judith Pirscher, emphasized HARTING's role in the
technology sector, as an attractive employer and leading-edge,
ultra-modern training company, and as a promoter and generous
supporter of the region in their welcome addresses. The musical
accompaniment of the ceremony was by members of the Northwest
German Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Life Gospel Choir.
In Espelkamp, numerous trainees gave Joachim Gauck a warm,
enthusiastic welcome in the afternoon. The former Federal President
visited the NAZHA training centre, inaugurated in 2008 and extended
in 2015, where the company's future employees are being prepared
for their professional careers in two dozen training courses or in
dual study programmes. At several stations, such as the NAZHA
Company, trainees from different technical focus areas informed
Gauck about their practical training and subsequently had the
opportunity to put some questions to their prominent guests.
The last highlight rounding up the exceptional festive day was
a short reception of the former Federal President in the town hall
of Espelkamp, where he signed the Golden Book. (continues)