“The future needs a heritage” - Leitz Celebrates 150 Years with a Festive Anniversary Ceremony in Oberkochen

Leitz celebrated its 150th anniversary with a festive ceremony at its corporate headquarters in Oberkochen. Around 200 guests from politics, business and society attended the anniversary event, including Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, representing the state government, as well as District Administrator Dr Joachim Bläse and Mayor Marcel Winter, representing the region. The event focused on pride in and gratitude for what has been achieved, while also highlighting the company’s responsibility for the future. In this spirit, the family-owned company paid tribute to five generations of company history while looking ahead to what responsible entrepreneurship across generations truly means.

Ahead of the official ceremony, guests had the opportunity to gain a closer insight into the company during a guided tour, which included a visit to the newly redesigned presentation centre. Jürgen Köppel, CEO of Leitz GmbH & Co. KG, officially opened the ceremony by welcoming the guests. At the same time, he symbolically presented Dr Cornelia Brucklacher with the company’s 150th anniversary gift, the new FineCut circular saw blade. To mark the anniversary, the shareholder had wished for a “wow product” on behalf of the company, one that would showcase Leitz’s innovative strength and technological expertise. The result was FineCut, a newly developed circular saw blade that sets a new benchmark and demonstrates its exceptional performance, particularly in applications where conventional solutions reach their limits.

A Legacy That Brings Responsibility and Creates Opportunities for the Future

Dr Cornelia Brucklacher, fifth-generation shareholder and Chair of the Advisory Board, then addressed the guests. She thanked the four generations of entrepreneurs who came before her and who successfully managed and developed Leitz in their respective eras. She also expressed her gratitude to the generations of employees whose dedication, expertise and passion have helped shape Leitz’s 150-year history.

Tradition, Innovation, Future

Guided by the themes of tradition, innovation and the future, Dr. Cornelia Brucklacher traced the company’s development from its beginnings to the present day while also looking ahead. She emphasised the importance of the company’s roots for the future development of the family business:

“Future needs origins. Those who do not know where they come from will find it difficult to decide where they want to go. The experiences, values and convictions of the generations before me are therefore more than simply a look back. They provide guidance for our path into the future.”

Dr. Cornelia Brucklacher is responsible for the company’s strategy. In her speech, she outlined her key priorities: “One of my central responsibilities is to actively shape Leitz’s digital transformation. For us, digitalisation means far more than the use of new technologies. It will continue to change the way we develop and manufacture tools and provide services worldwide.”

 From Oberkochen to the World

Dr. Cornelia Brucklacher also addressed the company’s international development in her speech. From its origins in Oberkochen, Leitz continued to evolve over the generations, entering new markets and steadily expanding its international presence.

The close connection between Leitz’s roots in Oberkochen and its international orientation was also evident at the anniversary ceremony. Among the guests were the managing directors of Leitz companies from around the world, along with long-standing partners and associates from various countries. They had travelled to Oberkochen to celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary together at the place where its story began.

The scale of this development was clearly visible: today, Leitz has its own subsidiaries in 38 countries and is present across continents. From strong roots, an international group of companies has grown, united by a shared history, common values and a shared commitment.

Family Businesses as a Driving Force of the Economy

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg. Under the title “Family Businesses – The Driving Force of the German Economy”, she highlighted Leitz as an example of the strength of family-owned businesses:

“Each generation has successfully guided Leitz forward under new circumstances. They have invested, taken risks, embraced new technologies and entered new markets. And each of these generations has essentially answered the same question: How do we successfully lead our family business into the next generation?”

As a gesture of thanks, Dr. Cornelia Brucklacher presented the Minister with the first copy of the anniversary publication “150 Years of Leitz – Tradition, Innovation, Future”.

Perspectives on the Future of Family Entrepreneurship

This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Prof. Dr. Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller, Chairwoman of the Managing Board of TRUMPF SE + Co. KG; Prof. Dr. Michael Kaschke, member of Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG and former President and CEO of Carl Zeiss AG; and Bertram Kawlath, President of the VDMA and Managing Partner of Schubert & Salzer GmbH. The panel discussion was moderated by publisher Dr. Florian Langenscheidt.

The discussion focused on key questions: How can responsible business succession be achieved? What role should the owning family play? And how can companies preserve their identity while at the same time driving the changes necessary for the future?

Despite differing perspectives on individual aspects, there was broad agreement on one point: family businesses have a strong future. What matters is not simply who leads a company, but whether the best solution is found for the company and for the people connected with it.

Tradition, Innovation, Future – Interpreted Through Music

The ceremony was accompanied musically by the duo BOLZ&KNECHT on saxophone and guitar. The musicians took up the central themes of the anniversary publication: tradition, innovation and the future. They dedicated a piece to each of these themes, giving them their own musical expression.

A Festive Evening at Leitz

The official ceremony was followed by a reception and festive dinner at Leitz. Between courses, Dr. Joachim Bläse, District Administrator of the Ostalbkreis district, and VDMA President Bertram Kawlath addressed the guests. Representing the two sister companies that form the Brucklacher Group together with Leitz, Johann Werl spoke on behalf of Boehlerit and Michael Voss on behalf of Bilz.

A striking symbol of Leitz’s international ties was the ceremonial entry of flags: managing directors from the 38 countries in which Leitz operates its own subsidiaries carried their national flags into the hall. Afterwards, Vitor Ledur, Managing Director of the Brazilian subsidiary, conveyed greetings from all Leitz subsidiaries and employees around the world.

150 Years as a Foundation for the Future

The anniversary ceremony made clear that for Leitz, the anniversary is about more than looking back on what has been achieved. The principles that have sustained the company for 150 years will remain equally important in the decades ahead. As Dr. Cornelia Brucklacher put it in her speech:

“Our aspiration remains the same as it was 150 years ago: not simply to respond to change, but to shape it responsibly.”

The story of Leitz, which began in Oberkochen in 1876, will therefore continue to be written with the same values and the same sense of responsibility.