Founding Family and succession

Caspar Ludwig Opländer
Louis Opländer
Wilhelm Opländer
Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer
Oliver Hermes

Ingenuity and integrity in the fifth generation

The Opländer family of entrepreneurs and philanthropists in Dortmund can look back on a history of more than 150 years of private enterprise – a long tradition that all started with Caspar Ludwig Opländer. The company that is the Wilo Group today was transferred in 2011 by its fourth generation leader Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer and his children Claudia Nüsslein, Jan Opländer and Felix Opländer (†) into a family foundation.

The company Wilo, now in its fifth generation, has always been working toward one objective: making people’s lives easier, everywhere. This is what defines the Opländer family’s values and traditions, drives their work as engineers and entrepreneurs, and pushes them one step further each and every day in search of solutions to tomorrow’s challenges.

And it is in this spirit that the Opländer family in 2019 transferred entrepreneurial responsibility for the company to Oliver Hermes, so that he might carry on the Wilo torch in pursuit of the same goal.

The Founder

Caspar Ludwig Opländer

Caspar Ludwig Opländer was only 27 years old when he founded the copper and brass factory ‘Louis Opländer’ in Dortmund in 1872, laying the foundation for today’s Wilo Group. He turned the factory into a successful business and managed it until his early death at the age of 46 in 1891.

Biography

1872 – The beginning

Wilo’s history starts with the “Kupfer- und Messingwaren-Fabrik Louis Opländer”, a copper and brass factory for mechanical engineering, specialising in “facilities for breweries, distilleries, spirit and chemical factories” in Dortmund.

The manufacturer

Louis Opländer

Louis Opländer was born in 1873 as the first son of Caspar Ludwig and Wilhelmine Opländer. After his father’s early death, he took over leadership of the company at the age of eighteen, managing the business together with his mother. He led the business until 1928 but remained in the company even after that. Louis Opländer died in 1962.

Biography

1910

A broad portfolio

A true inventor who loved his profession, Louis Opländer gradually diversified the business. The company built equipment for pithead baths, calibration devices, vacuum cleaners, clothes lifts, sprinkler systems, locomotive washing systems and, naturally, heating systems. Opländer, a man with great know-how, realised a number of major contracts in these sectors even before the First World War.

We can only be successful if we all join forces.

The Humanist

Wilhelm Opländer

Wilhelm Opländer was born in 1901. He entered his father’s business at the age of 25 and soon became managing director, remaining in this position until he handed over to his son Jochen. Wilhelm Opländer died in 1984.

Biography

1928

The circulation accelerator

The birth of the Wilo pump: In 1928 Wilhelm Opländer invents the circulation accelerator, one year later he receives the patent for a “circulation accelerator consisting of a pump in pipes of a hot water heating system”. This is the birth of the Wilo pump, and the world of heating has been revolutionised.

Put everything to the test, and keep the best.

global Entrepreneur

Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer

Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer was born in 1931 and became a member of Wilo’s Executive Board in 1963. From 1969, he was the sole proprietor of the business. As Managing Director, CEO and later Chairman (and today honorary Chairman) of the Supervisory Board, Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer has shaped and driven the growth, international focus and technological achievements of the company that is now WILO SE for decades.

Biography

1967

International expansion

In 1967, Wilo set up its first foreign branch in Belgium. During the five decades that followed, the Dortmund-based company grew to become an international group of companies. Today, Wilo has more than 80 production and sales companies around the world.

What drove my father in the 1920s was not the goal of developing a circulation pump, but of improving people's difficult living conditions.

2011

Founding of the
Wilo-Foundation

The Wilo-Foundation was set up by entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer, together with his children, Claudia Nüsslein, Jan Opländer and Felix Opländer (†), on 14 January 2011.

When the foundation was established, the majority of the shares of the international Wilo Group, which were previously held by the family, were transferred to the foundation. As a shareholder, the foundation has been ensuring the continuity and independence of the Wilo Group ever since and also gives back to society through many initiatives.

Awards and honours for Dr.-Ing. h.c. Opländer

Diesel Medal

German Institute of Inventions

Hermann-Rietschel Medal of Honour

VDI Society for Building Services Engineering

Honorary Doctorate

Technical University of Dresden

Badge of Honour

TU Dortmund University

Federal Cross of Merit

Federal Republic of Germany

Honorary citizenship, Badge of Honour and Dortmund City Ring

City of Dortmund

Honorary award “Eiserner Reinoldus”

Presseverein Ruhr

Medal for outstanding achievements

German Rowing Association (DRV)

Title “honorary captain of the German Eight”

Team of the German Eight

Honorary membership

Rowing club Ruderclub Hansa, Dortmund

the shaper of the future

Oliver Hermes

In April 2019, Oliver Hermes took over as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Wilo-Foundation, the shareholder of WILO SE. He has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Wilo SE since 2006. In 2018, Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer named him as successor of the business.

Biography

Always be wiling to go beyond the obvious in your thinking and actions.