This year and last, two major corporate anniversaries took place – 40 years of ETHERMA and 105 years of Viessmann. An excellent reason to celebrate together. On September 12, 2022, the ETHERMA family, which has been part of the Viessmann Group since 2018, was finally able to greet the members of the Viessmann family at the headquarters in Henndorf.
The opportunity to see each other "live and in color" was even more special following a long period without in-person meetings. In September, it finally happened: Chairman Prof. Dr. Martin Viessmann, CEO Max Viessmann, CFO Dr. Ulrich Hüllmann and Timo Tauber, Managing Director Viessmann Investment GmbH, were greeted by the ETHERMA family. Together, they visited both plants in Henndorf to look at the developments that took place in the past four years of successful collaboration. One highlight was the dialogue between Max Viessmann and ETHERMA Managing Director Thomas Reiter, during which everyone could ask questions and share one or two personal anecdotes. In addition to visiting the production sites, the ETHERMA family also shared insights into their goals for the period up to 2025 and associated initiatives such as ETHERMA eCARE.
Naturally, the day also focused on the urgent topic of the energy transition and the contribution that the companies will make to further it. Max Viessmann: “In 2018, Viessmann entered the market for electric heating with ETHERMA – an area of business that is more important today than ever before. This means that we have effectively accompanied ETHERMA for one-tenth of its entire corporate history, which has been a pleasure and has provided both partners with many opportunities. As solution providers, together we provide potential for an independent transition to sustainable thermal energy. We now have the opportunity of a century to create a positive change for generations to come – and the ETHERMA family members play a key role in this.” The goal now is to combat climate change quickly and pragmatically, and to rethink future energy yield and use. We must move away from fossil fuels and toward renewable fuel sources in order to strengthen Europe’s geopolitical independence.
Thomas Reiter added: “ETHERMA was founded in 1981 based on the vision of heating buildings with zero emissions – that is our DNA. Our advantage is that, in contrast with other industries, we don’t have to invent highly efficient and sustainable future technologies. They are already market-ready and available for every application. And if electricity is produced in a carbon-free manner – that is, using renewable sources such as water, wind or solar power – we can greatly reduce carbon emissions in the building sector and thus make a significant contribution to the success of the energy transition. In this way, ETHERMA’s vision adds to Viessmann’s purpose – with the goal of leaving behind a clean environment for generations to come.”
At the meeting in Henndorf, everyone shared the view that achievement of the energy transition will require a strong and courageous alliance as well as intensive collaboration between society, business and politics: It will require joint understanding of the goal as well as a willingness to use this challenge of the century to create positive change and turn it into the opportunity of a century.