Dieter Kapp celebrated his retirement from the active business of the custom machine builder Graebener® Maschinentechnik in Netphen on April 24 and looked back on his personal achievements with joy and pride. And at the same time he transferred the leadership of the company to his son Fabian Kapp. In addition to continuing the hitherto successful custom machine building business, the latter intends to expand plant development for the fuel cell and electrolysis industry.
Dieter Kapp started his career in 1970 at Wilhelm Schäfer Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. in Wilnsdorf-Wilden. After training as a technical designer, he worked there for 25 years in various functions – as design engineer, sales manager and technical director with full power of attorney as well as member of the management board. In 1995, his career then took him as a machine engineering expert to the family business Theodor Gräbener Großrohr GmbH & Co. KG. From then on, he worked there as technical director and authorized officer at the side of Dr. Theodor Gräbener, who was already managing the company in the 3rd generation. At that time, the company still operated a pipe mill for the production of large pipes. However, a realignment was soon required for strategic reasons, as a result of which the large-diameter pipe mill was shut down and from then on, the focus was only on mechanical engineering.
With the realignment, which Dieter Kapp had decisively shaped through his technical leadership, the company developed positively, and so he was appointed as a further shareholder and partner of Dr. Gräbener already in 1999.
Innovative spirit is a top priority
Since then, Gräbener Maschinentechnik GmbH & Co KG develops and implements tailored custom machines for customers from all over the world. Thanks to Dieter Kapp's outstanding technical expertise, the company set new standards in many ways. At the turn of the millennium, Dieter Kapp revolutionized ship deck production at Meyer Werft in Papenburg with his patented Tailor-Welded-Plates technology. In 2003, he built the Roboclamp, which is used to produce automotive parts. To date, this is the most powerful hydroforming press in the world, with a clamping force of 13,000 tons. In 2010, the company was awarded the "Förderpreis für innovative mittelständische Unternehmen” (Promotion award for innovative medium-sized companies) for its innovative strength, presented by NRW Minister President Jürgen Rüttgers and NRW Economics Minister Christa Thoben. In addition, Dieter Kapp has repeatedly implemented a wide variety of innovative systems for large-diameter pipe production and the wind tower industry.
Besides plant construction for the core markets of hydroforming, automotive, large-diameter pipe production, vessel construction, wind tower production and shipbuilding, the company has also been active in the future market of hydrogen for 20 years in order to cope with the change towards climate-neutral energy production and usage.
Graebener® remains a family business with continuity
With handing over the business to his son, Fabian is now the sole managing director of Gräbener Maschinentechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Netphen-Werthenbach. Fabian Kapp joined the company as a trained electrician and electrical engineer back in 2009 and dedicated himself in particular to the research and development of technologies and equipment for the production of fuel cell and electrolysis components. As early as 2003, Dr. Gräbener and Dieter Kapp had recognized the enormous potential of the future-oriented hydrogen market and developed a hydroforming press for forming bipolar plates, the heart of fuel cells and electrolyzers. With Fabian Kapp joining the company, research and development activities were intensified and further production plants for the hydrogen industry were implemented. In addition to the traditional machine construction business, Fabian and Dieter Kapp established another main pillar and ensured that Graebener® with its Graebener® Bipolar Plate Technologies division is known worldwide today as a specialist in the hydrogen market and valued as an expert.
Meanwhile, Dr. Theodor Gräbener gradually stepped back from operations and management. Fabian Kapp, in the meantime, was initially appointed as authorized officer and then as managing director in 2020. With the recent retirement of his father as Managing Director, Fabian Kapp continues to manage the company. Years ago, the company had already initiated a transformation process with the intention of being able to successfully move forward into the future with the next generation of executives.
Although Dieter Kapp is now handing over the lead, he will still be available to the company as a consultant, so the next generation can continue to benefit from his technical knowledge of the past 50 years. Dieter Kapp is optimistic: "This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and I am looking forward to having more time for personal activities, such as my two grandchildren.“ With a smile, he adds, "At the same time, I'm glad I'm not completely turning my back on machine building, which has been my passion for so many decades."
Fabian Kapp is grateful for the instructive time spent together. Despite ongoing global crises, he is optimistic about the future and points out: "I am not only responsible for the continuing existence and further development of our family business. This goes along with a huge responsibility for all my employees and their families. It's a challenge that I'm happy to accept and that I want to continue to meet with passion and great commitment.
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