The entrepreneur from Creglingen passed away peacefully at home shortly before his 80th birthday..
Creglingen. The successful entrepreneur Udo Wirthwein from Creglingen would have celebrated his 80th birthday next Monday, April 29, 2024, and the preparations for reception and a family celebration were completed. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, he had already been appointed Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Udo Wirthwein looked much forward to his upcoming birthday party and the celebrations to mark the company's 75th anniversary in June. Yet he passed away unexpectedly on April 23, 2024.
Udo Wirthwein was born on April 29, 1944 in Creglingen as son to Elfriede and Walter Wirthwein. He grew up with his brother Klaus in his parents' timber business and was eager to lend a hand from an early age. In 1970, Udo Wirthwein who had graduated as a mechanical engineer, joined his father's company. In the same year, he married his wife Ingrid, who always supported him in business. Their sons Marcus and Frank were born in 1973 and 1976. In 1978, after his father and company founder, Walter Wirthwein, had passed away, Udo Wirthwein took over the management of the company with around 100 employees at the time.
What Udo Wirthwein accomplished with his parents' small business over the following 45 years is extraordinary: When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, he recognized the great opportunity to open up new markets in the new federal states and thus generate further growth. On December 15, 1998, shortly before the turn of the millennium, Wirthwein Aktiengesellschaft was founded, which is now the parent company of all 22 companies worldwide in Germany, Poland, Spain, China, the USA and Turkey. On January 1, 2023, Wirthwein AG was renamed Wirthwein SE. Today, the Wirthwein Group is an innovative company in the field of plastics technology and mold making in the Mobility, Rail Infrastructure, New Energy, Home Appliance and Medical business units. With Bembé Parkett and Winkler Design, it is also active in the Interior Design sector. The name Wirthwein has become a brand name around the world. The company, which has been in existence for 75 years this year, has joined the ranks of global market leaders in the Heilbronn-Franconia region and is focusing on further growth.
If you ask anyone in his company about the 'boss', the response is unanimous: Udo Wirthwein's role is of invaluable importance. Under his leadership as Managing Director, CEO and finally Chairman of the Supervisory Board, the Group has grown from around 100 to over 3,000 people. A few days ago, in an interview on his 80th birthday, Udo Wirthwein said: "For me, it is crucial that customers all over the world are satisfied and that there is a healthy working atmosphere among our dedicated employees". A life maxim that earned the cheerful and popular role model entrepreneur the unreserved respect of both customers and staff. Udo Wirthwein was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, the Staufer Medal of the state of Baden-Württemberg and the Golden Citizen's Medal of the town of Creglingen for his outstanding accomplishments.
Udo Wirthwein passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2024. He leaves behind his wife Ingrid and his two sons Marcus and Frank with their families. 3,000 employees around the world mourn with the family and will keep Udo Wirthwein, the driving force behind the Group's international success, in honorable memory.
