INTERVIEW
THREE GENERATIONS OF THE GÖPFERT FAMILY SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS
Karl F. und Siglinde Göpfert Esther Göpfert André Göpfert Marie-Luise Göpfert und Florian Göpfert
ESTHER GÖPFERT
CEO
Mrs. Göpfert, what is your role in the company?
Esther Göpfert: I’m responsible for finance, human resources, cost and process optimization, and I am the main point of contact for many of our employees. When you reflect on the company’s history, what feelings come to mind?
Pride. Pride in what my parents have achieved. We have the privilege of continuing their legacy. What values do you live by?
My parents instilled many important values in me, such as friendship, contentment, and honesty. I strive to live by these values within the company and pass them on to others. Are these values also a key part of the company’s unique selling points?
You could say that. Our success and the satisfaction of our employees are proof that we are on the right track with these values. What memories do you have of your grandfather, Albin Göpfert?
Albin Göpfert was always kind and incredibly likeable. He left a lasting impression with his warmth and approachability. You have been with the company for many years. What events do you look back on most fondly?
For example, the trade fairs in Paris and my early days at the company. Above all, I remember the many encounters with the people who work here, as well as the numerous innovations and progress we’ve made as a company. What fascinates you about the industry?
First and foremost, the material corrugated cardboard. It is versatile, recyclable, and used in countless everyday applications. The machines we use to process this material are incredibly durable and robust. These qualities stem from our innovative drive, which is why our products are found all over the world. Your company has a very low staff turnover rate. How do you explain this?
We treat each person with respect because every employee plays a crucial role in the smooth running of the business. This appreciation leads to a very low turnover rate. The working atmosphere is managed by the leadership team, and I’m extremely proud of the positive results it produces.
Our success and the satisfaction of our employees prove that we are on the right track with our values.
Esther Göpfert
“Every employee is crucial for the smooth operation of the company”: Esther Göpfert emphasizes the importance of her employees to fully unlock the company‘s potential.
“Every employee is crucial for the smooth operation of the company”: Esther Göpfert emphasizes the importance of her employees to fully unlock the company‘s potential.
Over 90 percent of all companies in Germany are family-owned. Why is that?
Most of these companies were founded in the post-war period. They were the driving force behind the German economy and have maintained that position to this day. Family-owned businesses are so successful because they have short decision-making processes and the flexibility to act quickly. Behind these companies are people who wanted to achieve more. Our engineering tradition and training system have been unique worldwide, just like our commitment to perfection and success. This vision has always depended on individuals, such as my father’s tireless spirit. Owners of family businesses are usually actively involved in overseeing every aspect of their companies. You need to understand both the products and the company, and you have to identify with them. How important is digitalization to you?
Very important, especially internally. Due to current staff shortages, we are placing an even stronger focus on this issue. There is still a lot of potential for development in this area. Personnel changes continue to present us with challenges, and we need new digital solutions to address them. Does sustainability play a role in the company?
We try to be as sustainable as possible. We operate a one-megawatt wood chip heating system. Heat pumps and fossil fuels are almost completely a thing of the past. In addition, we generate around half of our annual electricity requirements ourselves with our two-megawatt photovoltaic system on the roofs of our halls and continue to use a battery storage system with 1.5 megawatt hours. We also take care to choose suppliers with the shortest possible travel distances. With Marie-Luise and Florian Göpfert, the fourth generation is now ready to take over. What advice would you like to give them?
That they should continue to run the company as we do, with the ethos that we exemplify to our children.