Walter Kurtz turns 75

On May 19, 2021, entrepreneur Walter Kurtz celebrated his 75th birthday. The Haslocher has played a major role in shaping the successful development of the Kurtz Ersa Group over the past decades – with more than 35 years of operational business activity and as a long-standing member of the advisory board. As a newly graduated engineer for iron and steel with a specialization in foundry technology, Walter Kurtz initially took over special topics in the Kurtz iron foundry before increasingly focusing on foam machines. With the machine factory as his center, he expanded Kurtz GmbH into the world´s leading manufacturer of foam machines, including the associated processing machines. Kurtz´s ideas were the basis for many customers around the globe to optimize their foam production.

From 1978 to 1981, Walter Kurtz built up the North American market, and in 1984 the first subsidiary was established there. Further sales and service bases in Europe and China followed – an important step for successful market penetration. In July 2009, Walter Kurtz moved from the operational management to the Kurtz Ersa Advisory Board. This did not mean retirement at all, rather Walter Kurtz passed on his extensive expertise to the next generation – whether as a guest lecturer at the Mosbach Dual University for Plastics Technology, as a lecturer at the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences or in the group´s own Hammer Academy.

The history of the family company is also close to Walter Kurtz´s heart: He was instrumental in the realization of the Kurtz Ersa Hammermuseum, which was opened in 2014, and in doing so, he incorporated his invaluable knowledge about the iron hammer. The jubilarian, who is the proud grandfather of eleven grandchildren, celebrated his 75th birthday in the closest family circle – together with his wife Ursula, who is a whole five days older than her husband Walter.