It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to our long-standing Managing Director Bernd Schmitz, who passed away unexpectedly on 10 June at the age of 78.
In Bernd Schmitz, we have lost not only an outstanding entrepreneur, but also a person who shaped our family business over the course of more than five decades. Together with his cousin Ludolf Schmitz, he took over the management of SCHMITZ in 1980 as part of the third generation.
Under their joint leadership, SCHMITZ developed from a regional manufacturer into an internationally recognised company and a world market leader in high-quality medical technology products. In particular, the establishment of our site in Bönen was a significant milestone. Today, it serves as the development and production centre for innovative medical technology products used in hospitals and medical facilities worldwide.
Despite this international success, Bernd Schmitz always remained committed to the values of a family business. Reliability, mutual respect, trust and the proverbial binding nature of the ‘handshake deal’ were the bedrock of all his collaborations. These values have remained central to SCHMITZ to this day and will continue to guide our actions in the future.
Another significant step for the future of our company was the involvement of the fourth generation. Since 2010, Matthias Schmitz and Friedrich Schmitz have been continuing the successful development of our company together with the family, ensuring the continuity of SCHMITZ as a family business.
Bernd Schmitz always took on responsibilities beyond the company itself. His commitment to business associations, social projects and charitable initiatives reflected his deep conviction that economic success can never be separated from social responsibility.
We are deeply grateful to Bernd Schmitz for his tireless dedication, his foresight and his humanity. His life’s work and his values will continue to guide and shape our company in the future.
Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones.