CEO DIARIES
TRADITION AND INNOVATION
In the first feature for our CEO diaries, Hoist hears from Dr Oliver Kempkes, managing director at KULI Hebezeuge, as he discusses his role as an industry leader, his experience in the hoist sector and his expectations for the future.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role as an industry leader? I am 49 years of age, and I live with my family in the city of Remscheid, Germany, that is located conveniently for Cologne, Düsseldorf and the Ruhr region. Frankfurt and Hanover can also be reached by car in around two hours, so the location is very central.
I studied business administration and mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt. At that time, my main interests were in the automotive sector and in the optimisation of supply chains. During my studies, I had the unique possibility to do an internship with the Materials Handling Industry of America (MHIA), which was renamed and today is known as MHI. I am still very thankful to John Nofsinger, the CEO at that time, who took personal care of me and introduced me to the industry. During my time as a research assistant at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, chaired by Professor Gerhard Wagner, the “Father of the EN 13001 crane standards series”, I was involved in different projects in the materials handling industry. At that time, he taught me a lot about cranes in general and specifically about crane standardisation. I am grateful that I was allowed to support him also by attending meetings on national, European and international levels. All of this gave me the expertise to hold workshops and to train many people in the branch. Later on, I was awarded a doctorate.
Dr Oliver Kempkes
Of course, standardisation also helped me when joining the family’s company. It is a challenge to enter, if you have such outstanding personalities like my grandfather and my father. But, at least in the field of crane standardisation, I could bring new knowledge into the company, so I was recognised by the employees right from the start.
20 | July 2025 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
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