HEGLA: Manfred Vollbracht retires

HEGLA Managing Director Manfred Vollbracht has retired after more than 41 years of active involvement in the company, and will continue to provide the company with consulting services, assisting the sales team with ongoing projects during the transitional phase.

After more than 41 years of active involvement, HEGLA Managing Director Manfred Vollbracht has retired shortly before his 66th birthday. “At some point you have to ask yourself what life after work might look like, and when that time has come,” he said, explaining his decision. For more than two years, Vollbracht has been setting the course for his exit from the company’s top position in conjunction with his Management Board colleague, Bernhard Hötger. In addition, Vollbracht will continue to provide the company with consulting services, and will assist the sales team with ongoing projects during the transitional phase.

Vollbracht personally thanked all his staff with a summer party, praising the performance of the entire team. The Managing Director was himself one of the company’s first employees. Since it was founded in 1976, the increasing amount of responsibility bestowed on Vollbracht played a significant role in the company’s success. Today, the internationally active group of companies is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of machinery for the storage, loading, cutting, sorting and residual handling of glass, as well as glass transport racks for transporters and trucks. Sales in 2016 amounted to more than EUR 76 million. Until recently, as Managing Director, Vollbracht was responsible for overall sales and the company’s marketing. 

On behalf of HEGLA’s shareholders and the entire company, the Chairman of the Management Board, Jochen H. Hesselbach, thanked Mr. Vollbracht for his long-term commitment and for his hugely successful contributions to the growth and sustainable development of the company. “During your lengthy period of involvement, you were a major contributor in turning this small factory producing machinery and equipment for the flat glass processing industry into a global player,” stressed Hesselbach during the summer party. “We wish you all the best, and hope that you enjoy as much success and happiness in your further life plans as you have done up to this point. HEGLA will remember you and your achievements fondly.” 

The existing leadership team of Jochen H. Hesselbach, Bernhard Hötger and Hans-Peter Löhner will be joined by graduate engineer Gerd Schreier (Dipl.-Ing.). “Thanks to Mr. Schreier’s many years of international experience, he is the ideal complement to the existing members of the HEGLA Management Board. He brings with him all the prerequisites to develop HEGLA beyond the important internal market and into the world,” stated Hesselbach.