groninger mourns the passing of company founder Horst Groninger

Born in 1939 in Langenburg (Germany), Horst Groninger discovered early on a desire to build something of his own. After graduating from high school, he studied mechanical engineering in Stuttgart and Ulm – an education that provided not only technical expertise but also the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. Grounded, diligent, and driven by a strong will to create, he founded groninger & co. gmbh in Crailsheim in 1980 together with his wife Eva. What began with a small team of committed employees grew over the decades into a global leader in filling and closing technology for the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and consumer healthcare industries.

Today, the family-owned company employs more than 1,600 people across three locations in Germany and the United States. This remarkable development is inseparably linked to Horst Groninger’s vision, tireless dedication, and entrepreneurial courage. He saw opportunities, met challenges with passion, and always kept people at the center of his decisions – customers, partners, and employees alike. “His people,” as he called them.

Horst Groninger was a man of principle: direct, honest, curious. Different opinions? For him, not a contradiction – but an opportunity to grow. He sought dialogue. Always respectful. Always on equal footing. He believed that all generations could learn from one another. The young from the old. And the old from the young.

“At groninger, we’ve never had to lay off employees for economic reasons – and that’s something I’m especially proud of,” he said in an interview on his 80th birthday. A statement that still resonates. For him, responsibility wasn’t just a concept – he lived it every day. This mindset lives on. Also, in the second generation. His values – honesty, discipline, and a passion for innovation – remain the foundation of groninger to this day.

Even after handing over management to his sons Jens and Volker, Horst Groninger remained closely connected to the company and continued to shape it until the end.

“The groninger company is our father’s entrepreneurial legacy,” say Jens and Volker Groninger. “His courage, his passion, and his perseverance made the company what it is today – a reliable and internationally respected partner in filling technology. We are grateful for everything he built and will continue his life’s work with responsibility, humility, and respect.”

In recognition of his achievements, Horst Groninger received numerous honors – including the Baden-Württemberg State Medal for Economic Merit in 2001 and the Federal Cross of Merit in 2012. Despite these accolades, he never sought the spotlight. Modest in demeanor, never seeking personal acclaim, he always emphasized that the company’s founding and success were a shared achievement – with his wife Eva, his lifelong companion since their youth.

On Friday, 14 November, Horst Groninger’s life came full circle. The groninger group and all its employees will honor his memory. His legacy lives on – in the people who worked with him, in the values that shape the company, and in the spirit that continues to guide its future.

With Horst Groninger, the world loses an extraordinary individual whose impact reaches far beyond the boundaries of the company.