He was one of the greatest entrepreneurial figures in the branch. In the post-war years, he made a small family business into an internationally successful company that today delivers state-of-the-art warewashing technology around world. In 1981 he was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit for his achievements. His lifelong motto was “Success is always a team effort” and this philosophy still shapes the company to this day. On the evening of Monday, 16 January he passed away at the age of one hundred.
In November last year he celebrated his one hundredth birthday with his family.
He founded the company Winterhalter Gastronom from scratch in 1947. His first big sales triumph was the Backhexe, a portable electric oven which he exhibited at the IBO (International Trade Fair for Consumer Goods) in Friedrichshafen.
On packaging paper in 1957, he drafted sketches for his first fully electric dishwasher, the legendary GS 60. It hit the mark and demand for the product exceeded his expectations many times over. He quickly decided to concentrate on producing industrial dishwashers and decided Meckenbeuren was just the right location for the new factory. Production capacity was quickly reached and further factories followed in his hometown of Endingen (Kaiserstuhl) and in Rüthi, Switzerland.
Karl Winterhalter’s motto “Success is always a team effort” is best seen in his relationship with his employees. He regarded them as the company’s most important foundation and made a point of maintaining personal contact with them. Even up until recently he continued to come twice a week from his home in Wasserburg to the company in Meckenbeuren.
Today, this successful company is managed by Jürgen and Ralph Winterhalter, the founder’s son and grandson.
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