Death of Berthold Leibinger
VDMA mourns former president
It is with deep sadness that the VDMA and its members bid farewell to Prof. Berthold Leibinger. He passed away on October 16 at the age of 87. Between 1989 and 1992, he represented the German mechanical engineering industry as President of the association.
Berthold Leibinger, long-time owner of the Ditzingen-based machine tool manufacturer Trumpf, was elected VDMA President in October 1989. German reunification took place during his term of office: Leibinger devoted all his energy and entrepreneurial expertise to the integration and new start of the East German mechanical engineering industry. He fought both in the famous "Chancellor's Round Tables" and on the Board of Directors of the Treuhand to realistically assess the situation of the companies in the new federal states and to pave the way for a competitive structure. Together with the VDMA, Leibinger quickly established the important Mechanical Engineering Days after reunification and opened information offices and regional groups in East Germany. However, it was just as important to the Stuttgart native to pave the way for German mechanical engineering in Asia: "Top technical positions can only be defended if you compete with other technologically leading countries," was his credo. To this end, it was essential for the mechanical engineering industry to step up its commitment to Asia. In recognition of his extraordinary services to German mechanical and plant engineering, Berthold Leibinger was awarded the 'Bernhard Weiss Plaque' in 2001.
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