ElringKlinger commemorates company founder Paul Lechler on 100th anniversary of his death

ElringKlinger's roots can be traced back to a trading company established by the Swabian entrepreneur and social reformer Paul Lechler in Stuttgart in 1879. Born in Böblingen, he was not only the founder of what was later to become the ElringKlinger Group but also dedicated himself to a wide range of social issues that were visionary at the time. His ground-breaking charitable efforts, in particular, were on a par with his outstanding entrepreneurial endeavors. April 24, 2025, marks the 100th anniversary of Paul Lechler's death.

On the centenary of Paul Lechler's death, ElringKlinger looks back on the impressive legacy of a man whose vision and generosity laid the foundations for today's ElringKlinger AG. As early as 1875, the 26-year-old agreed with his father to donate a tenth of the profits from his family business to charitable causes. This early commitment to social awareness continued when Paul Lechler established a trading company for technical products and gaskets in Stuttgart in 1879 – the first chapter in ElringKlinger's success story.

Paul Lechler's dedication to social projects was unparalleled. In 1887, he founded the association “Hilfe in außerordentlichen Notstandsfällen auf dem Lande” (offering assistance in extraordinary emergencies in rural areas), which is still active today as the Stuttgart Nothilfeverein. In the same year, he set up a "Büro zur unentgeltlichen Arbeitsvermittlung," a form of non-profit employment agency. In 1916, in addition to the "Verein für ärztliche Mission," he had a convalescent home for tropical diseases built in Tübingen, a hospital known today as the "Paul-Lechler-Krankenhaus." His son, Paul Lechler Junior, also embraced these charitable causes by establishing the “Paul Lechler Foundation” in 1928. It still exists today and, in its capacity as an anchor investor, benefits from ElringKlinger's business performance.

Commenting on the centenary, CEO Thomas Jessulat emphasized, “Our company founder Paul Lechler was a passionate driving force with tremendous vision who, in addition to displaying entrepreneurial spirit, always stood up for the more vulnerable members of society. For us at ElringKlinger, Paul Lechler's work is an incentive to strive for success every day and to carry his ideas forward. It is not least because of him that sustainable action is part of ElringKlinger's DNA."

ElringKlinger is planning various forms of commemoration in 2025, the focus being on Paul Lechler's endeavors and values. This includes information made available to external parties and employees as well as events and initiatives within the Group. The Group will provide regular updates on these activities.