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2 I MTU Report 02/11
Editorial
Volker Heuer, Chairman and CEO of
Tognum AG and Chairman of MTU
Friedrichshafen GmbH
Dear Readers
Has it had the same effect on you? The horrific disaster in Fukushima is now six months
past – but I still have the images engraved in my mind. In Germany, that catastrophe led
to a change in energy policy that many people were very surprised by. In 2022, the last
German nuclear power plant will be shut down, by which time the proportion of renewable
energies is to be increased to 35 percent to compensate. An ambitious target, to
which we – even though we continue to offer emergency power generators for nucle-
ar plants – aim to make our contribution. In our cover story, my fellow board member
Christof von Branconi and Stephan Kohler from the German Energy Agency explain what
the energy mix of the future will look like and where our products will find their place
within it.
At the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix in October, our power generation modules will have
a trackside position. They supply the necessary horsepower off the track to generate the
electricity that the power grid is unable to provide. Our editor met the architect of the
new track and talked to him about the challenges of designing motor racing circuits. It
makes for a fascinating story about the world of Formula 1 that starts on page 48.
Finally, a few words on a personal note. On September 30, I will be leaving the company
to take my retirement. Of course, I am looking forward to what lies ahead, but saying
goodbye is still difficult. After Daimler’s exit at the end of 2005, taking a new company
direction and undergoing the period of transition with EQT was not always easy, but it led
to what Tognum AG stands for today - a modern-day company with a committed workforce,
fascinating products and a clear focus on growth – and I thoroughly enjoyed the
challenge. I know that with my successor, Joachim Coers, l am leaving the corporation in
good hands. The strategy we have in place today is the culmination of my many years of
work with him. While he can be counted upon to maintain continuity, I also know that he
will work with our new owners, Daimler and Rolls-Royce, to make the most of the opportunities
presented by the new constellation – for the benefit of our customers and of our
workforce.
I wish all of you personally and the company as a whole the very best for the future.
Volker Heuer