Friedhelm Loh turns 80: an entrepreneur who demonstrates integrity and shapes the future.
Gratitude takes centre stage for the passionate entrepreneur and owner of a global family business on his 80th birthday.
Friedhelm Loh is an entrepreneur who shapes the future. Curiosity, a drive for progress and the courage to think outside of existing limits continue to shape his actions to this day. This approach has had an impact: for his employees, for the Group, and for the entire region. When the passionate entrepreneur and owner of a global family-run business celebrates his 80th birthday on Sunday, one thing above all else will be the focus of his attention: gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity to have built a life’s work – through entrepreneurship, responsibility, and drive – that will extend far into the future.
On the occasion of his 80th birthday, Prof. Friedhelm Loh is especially grateful for the opportunity to have built a life's work – through entrepreneurship, responsibility, and drive – that will extend far into the future.
Haiger: Together with his staff, Prof. Friedhelm Loh has built up a Group with 12,900 employees over the past few decades: the Friedhelm Loh Group is today an internationally operating family-run business with 94 subsidiaries and 13 production facilities in every region of the world. It combines hardware, software and automation, and helps customers in almost all industrial sectors to make their value creation more efficient and future-proof.
As a leader in innovation, the Group is actively shaping the future of the industry. This entrepreneurial success story is irrevocably linked to family and regional roots, a value system rooted in Christian principles, and the ambition to turn opportunities into a bright future.
Family values as a guide for life
Friedhelm Loh’s parents made courageous entrepreneurial decisions when they set up the Rudolf Loh GmbH Metallwarenfabrik shortly after the Second World War. At the same time, they gave him and his sisters values that continue to shape him today. “For us as children, they were role models in the life of the Christian faith, in taking responsibility and in their business practices,” recalls Loh.
His own career path did not follow a straight path. Friedhelm Loh describes himself as a “bad student” and initially completed an apprenticeship as a high voltage electrician and later studied Business Administration. After the premature death of his father in 1971, Friedhelm Loh joined the Rittal management team in 1974. Back then, the company had a workforce of around 200 and systematically continued to develop the series production of enclosures as a business model. Over the following five decades, Friedhelm Loh turned this company into a globally operating market leader.
A constant focus on the region and its people
The family name of Loh has always been closely linked to the region of Central Germany. Responsibility for his employees and their families is a matter close to the heart of Friedhelm Loh, as is supporting the region through his social involvement. Taking responsibility is an integral part of the company’s DNA and is actively practiced by the owner, his wife Debora, his family, and employees.
The Rittal Foundation is a key element of this commitment. Since 2011, the Foundation has been funding not-for-profit projects in education and parenting, social services and social welfare, culture, science, and the environment. Its mission is to send out a signal, alleviate suffering, take responsibility for the vulnerable, and strengthen the communities in which people live and work.
Important voice and pioneer of German business
As deeply rooted as Friedhelm Loh is in Central Germany, he is also a true ambassador for the region. As a well-respected industrial manager, he is considered one of the leading voices in the German business community. His awards and honorary positions, including Honorary President of the Central Association of the Electrical and Digital Industry, and Honorary Professor of the State of Hesse, highlight the high regard in which he is held by the business and political communities.
Entrepreneurial success always also means a commitment to others for the family business owner. Alongside this is his deep-rooted interest in global developments and technological trends. His willingness to think outside of the box, try something new, and actively shape change, set him apart as a pioneer of his industry.
Education and an enthusiasm for technology are close to his heart
According to Friedhelm Loh, the past “is there to learn from” and to do things better than they have been done up to now. Education and empowering young people are therefore key concerns of the businessman. For many years, he has been advocating for close integration between vocational training, study and work, as the initiator and promoter of practice-based training models, such as StudiumPlus and SchulePlus. His aim is to offer young people direction and open up paths towards a successful future.
Since 2023, Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection has also adopted this approach in his hometown of Ewersbach. This is where Friedhelm Loh has made one of the most internationally important automotive collections available to the public. The site is also a university campus, has its own Foundation Professor, and combines an enthusiasm for technology with high-quality education. This is a real win for the educational region of Central Germany.
Gratitude and optimism
Gratitude and optimism characterize this 80th birthday. For Friedhelm Loh, what has been achieved is not an end point, but rather a starting point for what lies ahead. For him, looking ahead remains both a source of motivation and a responsibility: “What I have achieved has no value in itself, but rather serves as the foundation for the path ahead that I wish to continue shaping, and that I love.” This attitude of Friedhelm Loh is synonymous with a business that combines economic success, a responsibility towards people, and a belief in the future.
