Company Founder Gerhard
Company Founder Gerhard Schubert has Passed Away Gerhard Schubert, the founder and shareholder of leading packaging machine manufacturer Schubert, passed away peacefully in Crailsheim on 4 July 2023 at the age of 84. With his passing, the packaging industry has lost a defining figure and an extraordinary personality. In 1966, he founded Gerhard Schubert GmbH, one of the most innovative and successful companies in international packaging machine manufacturing. To this day, his visionary ideas of a modular robot-assisted top-loading packaging machine continue to influence modern packaging technology around the world. Gerhard Schubert laid the foundation for the company in 1953 with an apprenticeship as a mechanic. He then spent several years gathering experience as a design engineer at the Strunck and Kugler companies before setting up his own engineering & design office in 1964. Only two years later, Gerhard Schubert GmbH was founded in Crailsheim. With his pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial daring, Gerhard Schubert built the small company into an international group of companies over a period of decades and took the family business to the forefront of the world’s packaging manufacturers. He always remained down-to-earth and deeply connected to the region surrounding his hometown of Crailsheim. In addition to his two sons Ralf and Gerald Schubert, the next generation of grandchildren is now working in the company. Gerhard Schubert’s passing is a great loss. But on his life’s journey, he left traces that will reach far beyond his time with us. He once very aptly described himself: “Yes, I am a visionary. A designer must have vision.” And this vision – to build “the best packaging machines in the world” – is one that he brought to life with flying colors. We, the publishing team of Dr. Harnisch Publications admired Gerhard Schubert: We’ll miss him. fmt Rico Maga, Plant Pathologist 1948-2023 We were very sad to hear of the premature passing of our friend and colleague Rico R. Magda, at the age of 74 at his home in the Philippines. He worked as a Plant Pathologist at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños and wrote about many plants, fruits and vegetables over many years. Rico loved learning and had a very sharp memory, planning and writing new articles right until the end. The first article on Lemongrass was over thirty years ago and the last one on Young Jackfruit in this year’s February issue. He was a very prolific writer with a wide knowledge on a large range of plant topics. His 38 food Marketing & Technology • August 2023
style of writing was refreshing and the readers were often enthusiastic to find out more details. Over the years some of the plants he wrote about have found their position in the global food markets. These include Dragonfruit, Mangosteen, Shea and Yacon. The articles always talked about the botanical background and history, sourcing, including plant breeding and went on to describe existing and potential uses and markets. There were often recipes for readers to try out. Rico’s humor came through and sometimes very dry topics came to life. Rico loved plants and planting, and his family will dedicate some fruit trees and an orchard for him in the Philippines later this year. He actually was able to buy 10 Calamansi trees a few weeks before he passed away. Among his other interests Rico was a blackbelt at karate and he loved spending time with his grandchildren, and teaching them. Rico Magda was a part of our publishing house. We will miss him. Ian Healey food Marketing & Technology • August 2023 39 Key No. 105604
