Happy Birthday, Paul Weckenmann

During this time, he has made a name for himself in the city located between Stuttgart and Lake Constance. In 2009, an 8-meter tall steel sculpture named "Wesen des Optimismus" (embodiment of optimism) was erected on site, and his name inseparably links him to one of the largest employers of the community of 1,000.

Paul Weckenmann not only left his mark on Dormettingen, however. He is also one of the reasons why precast concrete parts can be made efficiently and effectively, and his work helped lay the foundation for today's fully automatic plants that manufacture floors and walls. Paul's recipe for success is a healthy blend of technical expertise and the inventive spirit Swabians are known for - ingredients that still characterize the company. Paul developed the first machines, plants, molds and other apparatuses to streamline the production of precast concrete parts back in the mid-1960s. It was at this time that he also made the first concrete spreaders for manufacturing floors, and some of this equipment can still be found in use today. In the 1970s, Paul became a supplier to licensees of the Omnia flooring organization. 

The success story that began with Paul and Elfriede Weckenmann has long since written its next chapter. Early on, he introduced his two sons Hermann and Wolfgang to the business, who were primarily involved in production during their education and later became more acquainted with design, sales, and administration activities. In 1989, he withdrew from the company and handed it over to them. Growth has not slowed down since, with the most recent expansion being a new sales and technology center currently under construction at the company's headquarters in Dormettingen. As of April 2012, some 40 employees will work here to further the success of the family-owned business.

Paul Weckenmann continues to "drop in" almost every day to socialize with veteran and new personnel and to offer the occassional tip. Hopefully he will continue to do this for many years to come and remain in good health.

Steel sculpture from Paul Weckenmann: "Wesen des Optimismus" (embodiment of optimism).