Family Business Heraeus - from Pharmacy to Global Enterprise

Over 150 years ago, the Hanau pharmacist Wilhelm Carl Heraeus was the first in Germany to melt platinum in large quantities - thereby laying the groundwork for today's Heraeus firm with its 11,000 employees across the globe. Heraeus may be the most international of all German family-run firms. Heraeus makes state of the art technologies, manufacturing dental materials, sensors and quartz glass. The company serves the semi-conductor, automotive, aviation and steel industries. A strong global demand for gold also keeps the firm extremely busy - turnover in 2006 was 12 billion Euros. Heraeus is a market leader in many branches around the world. But the Hanau firm has strong family ties and maintains its' sense of tradition. Company shares have been distributed among many family members. Jürgen Heraeus has firmly placed the company on the global market and is now getting ready to make way for the next generation. Ute Schneider met with the family patriarch in China and in Hanau.

DW-World | January 1, 2008

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