He has been writing a column for packaging journal readers in every print edition for over two years: committed, pointed, sometimes provocative. Just like that. Because we asked him. Michael Koch (55) is the founder and has been Managing Director of the company of the same name in Ubstadt-Weiher for over 20 years. Because we know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, we asked him what drives him.
Anyone who believes that a committed and responsible CEO from the Ländle region would have enough challenges to deal with in managing a company in this day and age is hugely underestimating Michael Koch's potential. He would not say that about himself, but rather that he is just one of many entrepreneurs who do more than is generally assumed. That he has been lucky in his life, very lucky, which has taken him out into the world and allowed him to gain many experiences. And that it is great that, despite all the prophecies of doom, Germany offers the freedom and support to make your own luck.
pj: Why did you decide to found a company in 1997?
Michael Koch: Because it has always been a dream of mine, a factory to pull up. At that time, we had already been self-employed for a year as a management consultancy in classic marketing - product, price, organisation, logistics, communication - and with a product idea came the chance to prove that a company can be successfully built up by applying marketing as business management.
pj: Which goals were the focus?
Michael Koch: Independence. Or let's call it Freedom. It was hard to think about at the beginning. But my wife and I had previously been double earners as employees for several years and were therefore able to get through the toughest times. Speaking of my wife, she's been a hard worker since the beginning and likes to call herself the buzzkill who always brings me back down to earth, more or less gently. But if I can convince her of something, then the highest hurdle has been overcome.
pj: What is the company all about and why is it the „factory“ for everyone?
Michael Koch: A small niche is all about security and reliability, as well as the opportunity to save money and even earn money. The niche is the Electrical drive technology, for which we Safe braking resistors and Dynamic energy storage solutions offer. My wife Christine and I started from scratch and have slowly but steadily grown to over 50 employees - like a family. Nevertheless, our company can still be described as small and is therefore a "Fabrikle", as a Hohenlohe native would call such a unit.
pj: What standards does Michael Koch set for himself and his employees? Others would call it company philosophy ...
Michael Koch: Reliability is the core. Everyone should be able to rely on us, on the factory, on our products, i.e. on our promises. And we want to be good and exemplary. In every respect. As a training company, as an innovator, as a company in the community, as a unit that takes responsibility, that can be fully trusted and that does not simply run away when things get serious.
pj: What do customers and partners think of the entrepreneur Koch?
Michael Koch: We are proud of our customers, and I hope our customers enjoy working with us. Our suppliers are the best there are. Overall, we get quite good feedback and I take our growth as proof of that.
pj: Which award is the maker really proud of?
Michael Koch: Our company has already received several awards, which motivates us all and confirms that we are on the right track. One very special and wonderful award is the Premier, which we received as part of the „Grand Prix of the Mittelstand“ as the highest honour from the Oskar Patzelt Foundation in Leipzig. I call the Premier the German Championship of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, for which around 5,000 companies compete every year. It's all about the company itself, economic development, jobs and apprenticeships, innovation, customer proximity and social commitment. We were honoured to receive the fantastic porcelain figure 2016. Wow, that was a very special moment for us.
pj: A successful man is usually accompanied by a strong woman. How does it work with boss and bossess in the „Fabrikle“?
Michael Koch: Wonderful! We have different areas of responsibility in which we don't interfere with each other. My wife is responsible for HR and current finances, while my areas are strategic, namely marketing, development and financing. This is the best way to work office to office. And of course around the clock. The factory always plays a role in everything we do.
pj: What does Michael Koch think about voluntary work?
Michael Koch: Nothing works in our society without voluntary work. I have great respect for every person who does something for others. After all, that's what our freedom is based on. We help each other, help each other move forward and even manage ourselves at a local level. The state structures can support this, but everything in our society depends on us. An arrogant attitude of „the others will sort it out“ is fatal.
pj: How does recharging your own batteries work?
Michael Koch: Oh dear, there isn't really anything I do regularly. I used to do a lot of sport, but unfortunately I've become quite lazy. I really enjoy being able to organise my time as a freelancer - that's what I call freedom! - I like to sleep deeply, enjoy reading the newspaper in peace, write a lot, like the column in this magazine or for my second company, the advertising agency Werbekoch, and there are always nice moments in my voluntary work.
pj: What visions does Michael Koch have for the future of the company?
Michael Koch: The factory will continue to grow because we support safety and convenience. It will become more international, CO2-more neutral and digital than today. In any case, it remains a company that gives people the freedom to develop and have fun in the process. This is the reason for the reliability that our customers rely on.
