Founder and entrepreneur celebrates 85th birthday

Ennigerloh, August 2024 - For Lorenz Bohle, social commitment has always been a top priority alongside business success. So it comes as no surprise that the founder of L.B. Bohle Maschinen und Verfahren GmbH asked his 200 or so guests to support the "Hilfswerk Schwester Petra" charity instead of giving presents on the occasion of his 85th birthday. The Oelder foundation, which has been supporting a Christian religious community in India for more than 50 years, was delighted to receive more than 27,000 euros at the end of the reception in Sendenhorst.

The founder and entrepreneur Lorenz Bohle has left his mark in Ennigerloh, in the district of Warendorf and far beyond - both nationally and internationally: Starting out as a one-man business in the summer of 1981, a renowned specialised machine manufacturer for the pharmaceutical industry with 300 employees has grown up to the present day. More than 50 patents, four own production sites, subsidiaries in the USA and Switzerland, branches in India and Singapore as well as a network of trading partners in 45 countries are proof of its success. Although Lorenz Bohle handed over the operational side of the business to Managing Directors Tim Remmert and Thorsten Wesselmann at the beginning of 2017, he is keeping a close eye on the company's development as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the family foundation.

Family foundation secures the future
His entrepreneurial spirit, his hands-on approach and his interest in new technology were also recognised by the numerous speakers at the reception attended by more than 200 guests on Friday at the "Waldmutter" restaurant in Sendenhorst. Advisory Board members Rainer Witte and Dr Hans-Georg Feldmeier emphasised not only Lorenz Bohle's lifetime achievements, but also the fact that he, his wife and two children have transferred their shares in the company to a family foundation, thereby securing the company's long-term future.

"Fighter in the ring"
Dr Robin Meier, the Scientific Director, gave a very vivid account of his first experiences at Bohle. For someone from the public sector, it was initially "a shock": a lot of personal responsibility, trust in the team and quick decisions. During a tough patent dispute with a large corporation, Lorenz Bohle stepped into the ring as a "fighter" and defended the ideas in front of others. "He will go more than twelve rounds if he has to," says Robin Meier.

600 sisters help in India
Lorenz Bohle has always been committed to cultural and social projects. Dr Reinhold Festge reported on the work of the "Sister Petra Relief Organisation" in India. For more than 50 years, 600 sisters from the Christian order have been caring for children, the sick, the poor and the elderly. "We want to build 52 houses for poor families this year," says Festge. "They cost 12,000 dollars each. Lorenz Bohle has donated accommodation, and donations from his guests have already raised more than 15,000 euros," said the foundation representative, expressing his thanks.

Four important companions honoured
After further speeches by fellow hunter Herbert Tillmann and Ennigerloh's deputy mayor Michael Topmöller, Lorenz Bohle thanked all the guests. He emphasised four people: Heinz Schwietert, who as workshop manager at Rottendorf was his first important partner when he entered the pharmaceutical industry. Robert Stauvermann was one of the first members of the L.B. Bohle team. Lorenz Bohle addressed a heartfelt "Thank you" to Chief Physician Prof Dr Manfred Arndt for successfully operating on him in 2004 and eliminating the cancer: "We couldn't have celebrated today without you!" And looking to the future, the 85-year-old praised the Head of Development, Dr Robin Meier, who has been on board for eight years and, together with Andreas Altmeyer and the other team members, has developed the globally patented drying process for Conti granulation. He was presented with a gift as a thank you before the celebration ended with the Brilon brass band and the hunting horn corps of the Warendorf/Freckenhorst/Hoetmar hunting association.