WHU receives 35 million euros: Krautkrämer's legacy ceremoniously honored

WHU receives 35 million euros: Krautkrämer's legacy ceremoniously honored

The WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management recently learned of the testamentary gift from Dr. Herbert Krautkrämer and his wife Erika benefited. This generous donation, which brings around 35 million euros to the foundation's capital, represents a significant step in supporting the university. The Krautkrämers' connection to WHU goes back to the founding years of the institution. Since 1984 they have been sponsors and partners of the university, on whose committees Dr. Herbert Krautkrämer played a more active role as an honorary senator and member of the board of trustees. This was celebrated on June 18th with the renaming of the Bogenhalle on the Düsseldorf campus to the “Krautkrämer Building”.

In the future, the Krautkrämer Building will be a central location for teaching, meeting and exchange at WHU. Prof. Dr. Christian Andres, the Rector of WHU, expressed his gratitude for the couple's long-term support. Dr. Toni Calabretti, Chairman of the WHU Foundation, describes the legacy as an incentive and a commitment for the future of the university.

The krautkrämer family of entrepreneurs

Dr. Herbert Krautkrämer was instrumental in founding a company for non-destructive materials testing, which he founded together with his brother Josef in 1949. Josef Krautkrämer, born on September 14, 1913 in Cologne, was an outstanding physicist who was the first in Germany to receive a doctorate with a thesis on drift phenomena in the ionosphere. The company proved to be innovative by introducing the first operational ultrasonic testing device for testing industrial materials in 1949.

In the following decades, under the brothers' leadership, the company developed into a market leader in industrial inspection technology. Herbert Krautkrämer was responsible for the commercial fortunes of the company, which now employs over 400 people. These successes led to the company becoming part of several international corporations in the 1970s, most recently the Baker Hughes Group in 2019.

From science to foundation work

The Krautkrämers' commitment to WHU and science remained strong. Erika Krautkrämer continued the support until her death in 2022. With the renaming of the Bogenhalle “Krautkrämer Building”, its legacy will now be visible and inspire future generations of students and scientists.

In addition to their support for WHU, private foundations play an essential role in the education sector. The increasing importance of foundations in Germany is also reflected in platforms such as stiftungssuche.de underlined, which provides information on over 31,000 foundations and enables a nationwide online search. These initiatives help increase nonprofit visibility and engagement.

In summary, the legacy of Dr. Herbert and Erika Krautkrämer not only represents financial support for WHU, but also a lasting connection to science and the promotion of future talent.