We say goodbye to a person who achieved major contributions for our company and for the region: Rainer Blickle was born in Heidelberg on July 16, 1947 and grew up at the headquarters of Süddeutsche Elektromotorenwerke in Durlacher Straße in Bruchsal. He studied architecture and mechanical engineering. In 1975, he went to Brazil for SEW-EURODRIVE and started to build up the manufacturing plant of SEW do Brasil in Guarulhos S.P. After the death of his father Ernst Blickle, he returned to Germany in 1987 and took over responsibility in the management of the SEW Group as Managing Partner until his retirement in 2013.
During this time, in Bruchsal the electronics manufacturing plant, the Ernst Blickle Innovation Center (EBIC), the DriveAcademy®, the large gear unit plant and many other plants around the world were established. Under his responsibility, the company developed from sales of DM 409 million (1982) to over EUR 2.5 billion (2013). While SEW-EURODRIVE had 4,648 employees in 1987, it already had 15,500 in 2013.
Rainer Blickle was a recipient of the Order of Merit 1st Class of the Federal Republic of Germany, Vice President of the Karlsruhe Chamber of Industry and Commerce, member of the Board of Directors of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association ZVEI e.V. Frankfurt, member of the Board of Directors of Südwestmetall Baden-Württemberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Südwestmetall - Karlsruhe District Group, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SEW-EURODRIVE Foundation, and involved in many social and cultural institutions. Among other things, he supported young people in particular; for example, he initiated the Bruchsal Education Foundation, which promotes education in the school sector, as well as science and research.
The honorary citizen of Bruchsal and Graben-Neudorf will be missed by us and the region.
Our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences go out to the family of Rainer Blickle.