Harting boss to celebrate birthday

Dietmar Harting, personally liable partner of the Harting Technology Group, will be celebrating his 65th birthday on 15th September 2004.

Dietmar Harting, personally liable partner of the Harting Technology Group, will be celebrating his 65th birthday on 15th September 2004.

At the company's headquarters in Espelkamp, he will welcome prominent guests from the business community, as well as representatives of politics and the media to a celebration event.

Some 37 years ago, after concluding his studies, Harting joined the family-owned and managed company that his parents Wilhelm and Marie Harting had founded 1945 in Minden.

The Harting headquarters had put down roots in Espelkamp already in 1950.

After the death of her husband in 1962, Marie Harting led the company on her own.

In 1967, her son Dietmar joined the company, providing the additional family support in company leadership she had hoped for.

At the time that Dietmar Harting entered the company there were around 1000 employees active in Espelkamp, generating sales of DM 29 million on the German market.

Today, there are more than 2100 members of staff throughout the Harting Technology Group worldwide, of which 1500 are based in Espelkamp.

In the 2002-03 business year the company generated sales of Eur 261 million.

The positive development is especially attributable to the international orientation as a Technology Group.

As a forward looking entrepreneur, Dietmar Harting founded the first Harting subsidiary already in 1979 in France, followed by an investment in Japan in 1985.

Since 1986 the company has also been represented in the USA.

At present, Harting is operating a total of 34 subsidiaries in 22 different countries.

Dietmar Harting's business policies have always adhered to the guidelines of soundness and forward-looking planning.

It is this consistent orientation that has established his standing, and that of his company, as an esteemed employer and business partner.

Apart from his entrepreneurial success, Dietmar Harting's multifaceted engagement outside of the company has earned him an outstanding reputation.

The 65-year old has been active in a host of associations and organisations for many years.

Already in 1998 he was honoured with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his exceptional societal engagement.

On 23rd June 2004, a very special honour was bestowed on Dietmar Harting.

Following five successful years as President of the ZVEI, the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association, Dietmar Harting was appointed the first Honorary President of the association.

During his tenure as President, he succeeded in establishing the application and solution oriented networking and integration of the individual technical associations under the ZVEI umbrella that were formerly exclusively product-oriented.

In addition, today's Honorary President formulated a vision for the association, marking a genuine first for an industrial association of this kind.

On 5th November 2003, the Espelkamp based entrepreneur assumed the presidency of DIN, the German Institute for Standardisation, another influential task area.

The continuous advancement of market-oriented standardisation is a major focus issue in the coming years, as Dietmar Harting emphasised on taking up the presidency.

His additional activities in various associations and organisations include the Vice Presidency of the BDI, the Confederation of German Industry, as well as the post of Deputy Supervisory Board Chairman of Deutsche Messe.

In January 2004, Dietmar Harting was the only Mittelstand entrepreneur to be invited by Chancellor Gerhard Schroder to the innovation summit meeting in Berlin.

In addition to high ranking representatives of the business community, politics and associations, Dietmar Harting was involved as a member of the "Partners for Innovation" initiative.

As personally liable partner, Dietmar Harting heads the company together with his wife Margrit, sole limited partner and Executive Manager.

The Hartings regard themselves as entrepreneurs "with heart and soul".

One of the defined company goals at Harting is the desire to: "remain an independent, family-owned and managed company".

The course has been set and over the years the third generation, Philip and Maresa Harting, will be joining the company that will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year.

Dietmar Harting enjoys spending his free time with his family.

As an enthusiastic hunter and hobby farmer, he enjoys the outdoor life.

He is also known to be avid reader.

Referring to his untiring business and political commitment Dietmar Harting states: "Resolute entrepreneurial action, long-term perspectives and networking with policy-making instances are essential in advancing innovations worldwide".

"Naturally, this not only involves impulses generated all over the world, but for myself, starts right here at the Harting Technology Group".

"As an entrepreneur, it is one of my essential tasks to always generate new impulses for my company, and to motivate my staff".

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