When he joined the management board on August 18, 1975 – fresh from the Technical University of Berlin – he immediately assumed responsibility and set bold impulses. At just 28 years old, he initiated the shift toward modern drive technologies, giving MENZEL Elektromotoren a decisive edge in a rapidly changing market.
Over the decades, Kurt Menzel proved to be a visionary, strategist, and rock in the storm. He guided the company through political and economic crises, safeguarding jobs and future opportunities.
Yet just as defining as his entrepreneurial courage was his humanity. Kurt Menzel always remained close to his employees, meeting everyone at eye level and knowing the people behind the motors. Whether in personal conversations, during shared meals, or even when he himself cooked for the team, he embodied the true spirit of a family business. As long-standing head of training, he was also a passionate supporter of young talent and guided generations of apprentices.
Together with his son Mathis Menzel, who joined the company in 2005, a new chapter began: international expansion, increased production capacities, and the transformation into a globally recognized manufacturer of large industrial motors. Even after transferring management to the third generation, Kurt Menzel has remained a mentor, advisor, and companion – a constant guarantor of stability and continuity.
A heartfelt thank you
On behalf of all employees, partners, and friends we say: Thank you, Kurt Menzel! Thank you for 50 years filled with energy, courage, and dedication. Thank you for your commitment to responsibility, for your warmth, closeness, and solidarity. Thank you for a life's work that goes far beyond business success because it is above all characterized by humanity.
Today, MENZEL Elektromotoren is a globally successful family business built on the values you live and have passed on. And so, we look to the future with confidence: to many more chapters that we will shape together, inspired by your example and guided by your wealth of experience.
Learn more about Menzel's nearly 100-year company history!
