All good things come in threes: Fantastic start to "100 years of the Hehl family company"

Einzigartig: die Eventlocation ARBURG Cube. (Foto: ARBURG) / Unique: the ARBURG Cube event location. (Photo: ARBURG)

Emotionaler Abschluss: Im Namen aller Mitarbeitenden bedankten sich die Geschäftsführer Gerhard Böhm (links), Jürgen Boll (2. v. l.) und Guido Frohnhaus (rechts) am Ende der Jubiläumsfeier bei den geschäftsführenden Gesellschaftern Renate Keinath (3. v. l.), Juliane Hehl (4. v. l.) und Michael Hehl (2. v. r.). Standing Ovations gab es, als Gisela Hehl (3. v. r.) auf die Bühne gebeten wurde. (Foto: ARBURG) / Emotional conclusion: On behalf of all employees, Managing Directors Gerhard Böhm (left), Jürgen Boll (2nd from left) and Guido Frohnhaus (right) thanked Managing Partners Renate Keinath (3rd from left), Juliane Hehl (4th from left) and Michael Hehl (2nd from right) at the end of the anniversary celebration. There was a standing ovation when Gisela Hehl (3rd from right) was asked to come on stage. (Photo: ARBURG)

– Enthusiastic: Arburg celebrates 100 years of the company's existence with around 1,200 guests from 32 countries
– Familial: Partners provide insights into the past and coming 100 years
– Successful: Two hybrid anniversary machines set the stage for new machine technology

In February 2023, Arburg celebrated the first three events marking "100 years of the Hehl family company". Regional guests, German and international customers and other associates closely involved in Arburg's success story were invited to the event in Lossburg. Whether they came from Lossburg, the US or China, everyone was enthusiastic about the fantastic events programme, recently unveiled machines, and friendly and innovative spirit given off by the company.

The company's three managing partners, Juliane Hehl, Renate Keinath and Michael Hehl, kicked off the evenings with an amusing question-and-answer session and explained in a very authentic and personal way all the things that have made Arburg what it is for a century and the path it is taking for the next 100 years.

Substance over style: As true today as it was back then

Juliane Hehl told of how her grandparents Arthur and Maria Hehl courageously founded the company in 1923, and how her father Eugen and uncle Karl Hehl played a key role in shaping its success and making Arburg one of the world's leading manufacturers of machines for plastics processing. Renate Keinath talked about the importance of independence, dynamic employees, innovative strength and reliability to the family company. She explained how Arburg had always trodden its own path, conducting business globally and acting locally, assuming responsibility for people and the environment, both then and now. Michael Hehl emphasised the need for Arburg to change in order to stay true to itself while retaining the fundamental positive and character-forming features of a family company. "Substance over style", the motto of previous generations, could be a valuable guide through the next decades, he felt.

Journey in time through Arburg's history

A review of 100 years of success was presented on two 45 x 4.5 metre LED screens. The 400 to 500 guests were taken on an exciting journey through time, interspersed with Arburg milestones and pictures of various events from the past. These included the company's first in-house injection moulding machine for overmoulding flash contacts, the "Informant" bus, appearances at various trade fairs, and much more.

The audience could also follow performances by freestyle artists on stage and via the LED screens. The golden 20s were reflected by five young men in a breathtaking swing & breakdance show.

Drummers provided a glimpse into the future with a spectacular LED drum show, which ended in front of two "display windows", behind which a world premiere was revealed: two new machines paving the way for a new kind of machine technology.

World premiere for two anniversary machines

Sales and Technology Managing Directors Gerhard Böhm and Guido Frohnhaus presented the two anniversary machines in an animated conversation: The hybrid Allrounder 470 H in "Comfort" and "Premium" performance variants, featuring many technical innovations that are only available from Arburg.

Guido Frohnhaus listed a number of features set to thrill sales staff and customers alike, while also quickening the pulse of any technicians in the audience: an energy footprint up to 50 per cent better than with the hydraulic machine, up to 12,000 kilograms less CO2 emissions, and a new oil management concept requiring around 35 per cent less oil. Added to this was a reduction in dry cycle time of up to 33 per cent, flow rate splitting for simultaneous movements of the axes, and options for preventive maintenance.
Gerhard Böhm pointed out that the future is electric because this reduces the energy requirement, operating costs and carbon footprint. In his opinion, the anniversary machines would be of particular interest to customers looking for an energy-saving alternative, who appreciate an electric clamp and want the cost effectiveness of the hydraulic injection unit. An "Ultimate" performance variant and other sizes will follow later this year.

Varied event programme

Video greetings sent in advance by many of Arburg's 3,600 employees worldwide were another highlight at the anniversary celebrations, and a selection of these was played on the big screens. The individual videos finally came together to form a mosaic image of the heads of Eugen and Karl Hehl. The evening ended with a party featuring the band "Fabelhaft". Accompanied by live music, many guests made the most of the opportunity to chat deep into the night, holding stimulating conversations with old acquaintances and new faces at the bar and looking forward with pleasure to the next 100 years of Arburg's success story.