International. Businessman Uwe Ziehl handed over the chairmanship of the Ziehl-Abegg Supervisory Board from the start of the year, his son, Dennis Ziehl will assume the position. "I greatly appreciate our father for this excellent technological development of the company in a global way, very well positioned in the last 20 years," he says.
Now, Sindia Ziehl is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Ziehl-Abegg. Dennis and Sindia Ziehl are great-grandchildren of company founder Emil Ziehl. In addition, Dennis Ziehl works full-time as director of the ZIEHL Industrie-Elektronik GmbH in Schwäbisch Hall and is also a member of the general assembly of the regional Chamber of Commerce. Uwe Ziehl wishes his children as members of the Supervisory Board luck and much success in the development of Ziehl-Abegg.
Uwe Ziehl always emphasized and encouraged the strong family bond within the company. The transition of the company's management has progressed smoothly and safely. That is why his sons Sindia and Dennis participated in more than 80 meetings of the Supervisory Board in recent years, even without a mandate. "Within many companies, a generational shift comes abruptly and with problems – Uwe Ziehl worked for decades precisely on the fact that we can now seamlessly continue our successful global course as a technology leader," says Executive Board Chairman Peter Fenkl.
Entrepreneur at heart
Uwe Ziehl should be regarded as an entrepreneur at heart and with a great technical understanding. For his excellent business efforts and to thank him for his special services for the economy of Baden-Württemberg, Mr. Nils Schmid, Minister of Finance and Economy, presented him with the Medal of Economics at Schwäbisch Hall. "You represent all these successful baden-Württemberg family businesses that consider international success and regional solidarity not a contradiction. You are an exemplary entrepreneur and contributed with your appearance to make Baden-Württemberg and remain a strong and liveable country," Schmid praised. As an attractive employer and innovative company, Ziehl-Abegg managed to increase the competitiveness of the entire Heilbronn-Franken region."
Already during his university days, Uwe Ziehl founded ZIEHL industrie-elektronik GmbH & Co KG in Schwäbisch Hall, a producer of measuring and control devices. Ziehl-Abegg grew to become a leading global producer of fans for air and climate technology as well as elevator drives.
In 1973, Ziehl-Abegg began to become an international company. In 2001, the transition to a family stock company took place. In 2005, Uwe Ziehl assumed the chairmanship of the Supervisory Board of Ziehl-Abegg. This was possible due to the fact that it united all the parties into a family holding company – with huge personal financial risks. That is why investments in R&D have been possible and have managed to expand Ziehl-Abegg's position as a technological leader.
Uwe Ziehl drove the expansion of vertical integration and competition, including the company's introduction into the production of granulated material at the Hohenlohe Industrial Park (Kupferzell); in addition to the internal aluminium foundry, which is located in Schöntal-Bieringen.
Inspiring children and teens for technology
Today, 4,300 employees work for Ziehl-Abegg, of which 2,400 are from the Hohenlohe region (Künzelsau, Bieringen, Kupferzell). With 10 per cent of the total workforce, Ziehl-Abegg employs a large number of apprentices and students with dual training who receive an unlimited work guarantee by signing their contract with approximately 10 per cent of the total employment base.
7 percent of the annual turnover goes to R&D. Apart from its professional commitment, Uwe Ziehl supports the promotion of technical jobs in preschools, primary schools and higher education institutions for technology. Another heartfelt project has been social engagement in addition to normal business life: Among others, the Albert-Schweitzer Kids Foundation (Waldenburg) or the open-air museum in Wackershofen, which shows the life and dwellings of our ancestors (Schwäbisch Hall).
Uwe Ziehl was born in 1947 in Füssen as the grandson of Ziehl-Abegg founder Emil Ziehl. He grew up and spent his youth in Künzelsau. Uwe Ziehl has two sons: Sindia and Dennis Ziehl.
