Werner Baier, co-owner and Chairman of the Webasto Supervisory Board, was – following the fall of the Berlin Wall – one of the first West German entrepreneurs to invest 1990 in an East German site: Neubrandenburg. The German Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has now presented Werner Baier with the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award in recognition of his services and his social commitment. Baier accepted the prize on Friday, July 3, in the city’s Konzertkirche (concert church) as part of the “Webasto marks 25 years in Neubrandenburg” anniversary celebrations.
Webasto took the plant over from VEB Sirokko following German reunification, and has turned it into a success story. Today, 25 years later, over 650 workers are employed at the plant which supplies heaters to customers around the globe. The fact that some one hundred of the current workforce have been employed here right from the beginning already speaks volumes. Since the takeover by Webasto the plant has produced over 16 million heaters. Today, around 1 million heaters roll off the line each year – amounting to one heater every 30 seconds. The plant site has been continuously modernized and expanded. Over the past 25 years over EUR 110m has been invested in the site.
Entrepreneurial vision recognized
In his welcome address, Harry Glawe, Minister for the Economy, Construction Industry and Tourism of the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, praised the outstanding service the 71-year old has given, together with the huge contribution that Webasto makes to the economy of Neubrandenburg and further afield. “Webasto has been strongly committed to this site from the very first day and has continuously expanded and developed the plant by investing continuously in it. This has resulted in the creation of secure jobs – ones that are sustainable over the long term and which are highly significant to our region where we live and work.”
During the 25th anniversary celebrations, Dr. Holger Engelmann, Chairman of the Management Board Webasto SE, emphasized to the guests from the spheres of politics and commerce that “I have great respect for the entrepreneurial vision demonstrated by Werner Baier with his decision to take this plant over. During the initial difficult years he did not once waver in his conviction that this plant would become a success story.”
Dr. Engelmann also used the celebrations as an opportunity to sincerely thank all of the employees, without whom this success story would not have been possible. Over the past 25 years they have successfully overcome ups and downs, and contributed to developing the Neubrandenburg plant into Webasto’s largest heater production site.
