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"Only cooperation can get us ahead"
| Petra Rehmet

Dr. Karlheinz Bourdon inducted into the "Plastics Hall of Fame"

Leading up to the NPE, the Plastics Academy is inducting ten new members into its “Plastics Hall of Fame” this year, among them Dr. Karlheinz Bourdon, Senior Vice President Integration at the KraussMaffei Group. An interview in the trade magazin Kunststoffe on this occasion also covered the high points of injection molding machine development during his career and the integration of KraussMaffei into the company group of the Chinese owner.

Unlike some laureates of German origin before him, such as Jobst Gellert, Robert Schad, or H. Gunther Hoyt, he did not emigrate to America. Nevertheless, Dr. Karlheinz Bourdon spent a good portion of his career in the USA or living with American corporate structures. The 60-year-old looks forward to the evening before the NPE when he is being inducted into the “Plastics Hall of Fame”.

Kunststoffe

Dr. Bourdon, congratulations on being inducted into the "Plastics Hall of Fame". How did you earn this honor?

Dr. Karlheinz Bourdon

(Laughs) As the person concerned, that is not so easy to explain. Certainly I am particularly pleased that this commendation comes from America. After all, I worked in America for a number of years and always sought to establish bi-lateral connections between the USA and Europe. Perhaps the jury also considered my efforts to build as many electric injection molding machines as possible, not only hydraulic ones.

Dr. Karlheinz Bourdon
Dr. Karlheinz Bourdon
freut sich über die Aufnahme in die "Plastics Hall of Fame"

Kunststoffe

What does being inducted into the “Plastics Hall of Fame” involve?

Dr. Bourdon

It is an honor in the classic sense, being accepted into a very illustrious circle that comes with numerous new contacts as well. I also perceive it as a strong symbol for the value our industry places on innovations. Another positive aspect from my perspective is that the Americans are open to non-Americans – even during a time when trade restrictions are on the horizon. Only cooperation can get us ahead. I do feel that the American plastics industry sees that the same way.

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