In Memoriam: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Wilfried Ensinger
Wilfried Ensinger, the visionary founder of the renowned family-run plastics processing company that bears his name, passed away on May 23 at the age of 87. The entire Ensinger Group, alongside his family members, joins together in mourning the loss of this remarkable individual.
A Trailblazer in Engineering and Entrepreneurship
With the departure of Wilfried Ensinger, we bid farewell to a passionate engineer, a creative inventor, and a dedicated entrepreneur. Even after his retirement from the Management Board, he remained fully committed to the company’s welfare and the well-being of its employees. From its humble beginnings in a garage in Ehningen in 1966, the small company founded by Wilfried Ensinger has blossomed into an international corporate group and a global leader in high-performance plastics processing.
A Journey of Excellence
Wilfried Ensinger embarked on his career by completing an apprenticeship as a toolmaker, followed by his master craftsman’s examination. He gained invaluable experience as an operations and factory manager in various mechanical engineering, precision mechanics, and plastics processing companies. He pursued further education, earning degrees as an Industrial Engineer and a Diploma Engineer through part-time studies.
Driven by a vision to produce exceptional stock shapes and machine components using emerging engineering plastics, Wilfried Ensinger established his own company in Ehningen. The subsequent relocation of the company headquarters to Nufringen facilitated the expansion of production capacities. Soon after, the company ventured into the machining of stock shapes to create intricate components.
Pioneering Innovations and Global Expansion
In 1977, Ensinger achieved a significant milestone by supplying aluminium window manufacturers with the world’s first series-produced insulating bars made from glass fibre-reinforced polyamide 6.6. This breakthrough led to the establishment of a second production plant in Cham in 1980, enabling the mass production of profiles and other product lines. In 1986, the company expanded its reach by establishing a major subsidiary in the USA. Over the years, Ensinger set up numerous additional overseas branches across Europe, South America, and Asia.
A Legacy of Excellence and Community Engagement
Wilfried Ensinger’s commitment to progress and employee development remained unwavering throughout his career. Continuous product and process advancements, as well as nurturing employee potential, were his guiding principles from the very beginning. In 1997, he entrusted the operational management to the second generation, allowing him to devote more time to community and social projects. Together with his wife, he established the Wilfried and Martha Ensinger Foundation, which sponsors social, cultural, and scientific institutions both domestically and internationally.
Wilfried Ensinger’s contributions extended beyond the realm of business. As President and later Honorary President of the Böblingen District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he played a pivotal role in committee reform and enhancing in-company training. In recognition of his remarkable achievements, the University of Stuttgart bestowed upon him the title of Honorary Senator. In 2005, he was honored with Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit, and two years ago, the town of Rottenburg am Neckar granted him the status of Honorary Citizen.
Honoring a Life Well-Lived
As we bid farewell to Wilfried Ensinger, we celebrate his extraordinary life, marked by pioneering innovation, unwavering dedication, and profound impact. His legacy will continue to inspire and shape the future of the Ensinger Group and the industries it serves.
Source: Ensinger Group with additional information added by GlassBalkan
