Back in the 1960s, she only knew HARTING as a manufacturer
of cigarette vending machines. And young Margrit was a
little wary of Espelkamp. She was always happy once she was
past the nascent town as she travelled with her father from
Herford to Rahden, where his schools were located. But both
the company and the place went on to fit together for
Margrit Harting, who turns 75 on 3 February in a very
special and delightful way.
Born in Lippe and a qualified teacher of commercial subjects,
she married the businessman Dietmar Harting in 1971, joined
the Technology Group (founded in 1945) in 1987 and, ever
since that day, has been shaping the style and image of the
family owned and managed company in her roles as Manager,
Senior Vice President and creative and inspiring Senior
Director.
When the US President Barack Obama admired the HARTING
team‘s sneakers at HANNOVER MESSE; whenever heads of state
and ministers, VIPs from the worlds of sport, culture and
the economy have come to Espelkamp, whenever anniversaries,
successes and inaugurations have been celebrated in a big
way, and whenever impressive architecture has been created,
this superwoman has conducted proceedings with great
confidence, cutting an impressive profile. Initially, on
joining the company, Margrit Harting took responsibility for
personnel, quality, plant facilities, advertising and PR and
decided that the SME, with around 1,300 employees and sales
of nearly 150 million Marks as of 1987, should have a modern
and friendly image.
Initiating safety, cleanliness and sustainability
competitions, the Night of Innovations, the KiTec research
award for primary children, the leading-edge NAZHA training
centre, as well as promoting and supporting sports, culture
and education - her influence extends well beyond the
company and the region itself.
Meanwhile, her once sceptical attitude to Espelkamp has
reversed and reflects passionate commitment. “The town would
definitely be poorer without her”, as Espelkamp’s Mayor
Heinrich Vieker underlined her huge commitment back in 2009
when Dietmar and Margrit Harting were awarded honorary
citizenship.
Notable in this context is the modernisation and renovation
of the New Theatre, which would not have been possible
without a donation of a million euros committed by the
couple. In 22 years as a member of the General Assembly of
the Ostwestfalen zu Bielefeld Chamber of Industry and
Commerce and twelve years as its Vice President, Margrit
Harting worked tirelessly in the interests of the region’s
economy. In 1998 she succeeded in commissioning the Swiss
star architect Mario Botta to design the new sales
headquarters building for HARTING Deutschland in Minden. In
addition to many distinctions as Honorary President, Margrit
Harting 2008 was awarded the Federal Order of Merit First
Class in 2008, and an honorary fellowship of Leibniz
University, Hanover in 2018.
Perfectionism and professionalism, ever new and fresh ideas,
powerful motivation, enthusiasm and persuasive power
distinguish the 75-year-old birthday girl. There is no
question of resting on her laurels, as she has no lack of
plans for the future. Especially this year, when the company,
meanwhile run with great success by son Philip and daughter
Maresa together with their parents, reaches the same age as
the “foreign minister” of the international Technology Group.
And Margrit Harting, with her enthusiasm for performance and
quality, is on hand to ensure that the event will be stages
appropriately.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The HARTING Technology Group is one of the world's
leading providers of industrial connection technology for
the three lifelines of Data, Signal and Power and has 15
production plants and 44 sales companies. Moreover, the
company also produces retail checkout systems,
electromagnetic actuators for automotive and industrial
series use, charging equipment for electric vehicles, as
well as hardware and software for customers and applications
in automation technology, mechanical and plant engineering,
robotics and transportation engineering. In the 2018/19
business year, some 5,300 employees generated sales of EUR
750 million. Founded on September 1, 1945, the company
celebrates its 75th anniversary at many trade fairs and
events this year.
