An Obituary to Karl Lenhardt - A pioneer of glass processing leaves the stage

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Karl Lenhardt | Glaston Corporation

Date: 24 April 2023

The company founder and managing director of the former Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH (now Glaston Germany GmbH) in Neuhausen-Hamberg in southern Germany has passed away at the age of 82.

If there is a need for a prime example of the oft-cited success story "From a one-man business to a world market leader", then one may gladly look back on the life's work of Karl Lenhardt.

"Glaston Corporation and employees mourn the loss of a down-to-earth, conscientious, responsible and visionary entrepreneur," says Anders Dahlblom, CEO & President of Glaston Corporation. Dietmar Walz, Senior Vice President of Glaston's Insulating Glass Business Unit adds, "With Karl Lenhardt, we are losing a personality for whom people were always at the center of his thoughts and actions. For him, the company's success was based not only on his inventive thinking but predominantly on the personal commitment and expertise of his loyal, long-standing employees."

An entrepreneur is one who takes action

Karl Lenhardt's motto was "An entrepreneur is one who takes action. When he took the courageous step into self-employment in 1966 at the age of 27, no one could have guessed that 36 years later, on the occasion of his retirement in 2002, he would hand over a medium-sized mechanical engineering company with 300 employees at the time, which is still considered one of the world market leaders in the field of glass processing.

With his invaluable wealth of ideas, he is still considered one of the pioneers in glass processing today. The current process for manufacturing insulating glass for windows and facades was developed by him. More than 150 patents were based on his inventive genius, including the TPS® technology he introduced to the market in 1995 and still the most flexible and sustainable insulating glass production technology worldwide.

Karl Lenhardt has loved bearing responsibility for his employees, customers, business partners and his company all these years. It was not always easy for him to successfully assert himself in the interplay of circumstances. But his persistence in learning from mistakes and constantly improving, as well as his motivational skills, helped him develop the company successfully.

Our condolences and deepest sympathy go to his family and loved ones.