General manager since August 1, 2020 together with Frank Wirthwein and Marcus Wirthwein
Mühltal. On June 1, 2016 Dr. Thomas Jakob started his career with Wirthwein AG as head of the medical technology business unit. He was also held responsible for the subsidiary Riegler GmbH & Co. KG which was renamed to Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co. KG on July 1, 2020. On August 1, the graduated chemist was appointed managing director of the company with some 350 employees. Together with the sons of the owner family, Frank and Marcus Wirthwein, he manages the company.
Shortly after he got employed with Wirthwein, Dr. Thomas Jakob got interviewed and said that he wanted to move things and make his workforce go with him. He still acts on this maxim. A lot has moved at the medical technology expert since then. To outsiders, the name change from Riegler GmbH & Co. KG to Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co. KG as of July 1, 2020 is the most visible change. “We want our business partners to see us as a unit under the brand name of Wirthwein and also want to enhance our future expansion as a globally active group of companies”, explains Dr. Thomas Jakob. Also production has been clearly extended by more employees, new and fully electric injection molding machines, toolmaking and tool maintenance, fully automated assembly and packaging systems, additional room capacities, digitalization of processes, and a new training workshop. This proves that the company is on a long-term growth course. “We could only do this as we, the entire team of Wirthwein Medical, were able to gain more orders and new customers and extend our product portfolio”, says the new managing director who is visibly proud of his team that stands behind him.
What about the corona crisis?
“The current pandemic means an upswing for our diagnostics sector, which is reflected in an increased demand as regards series products and new projects on the part of our customers”, says Dr. Jakob. Among other things, the medical technology company is very busy producing plastic components which are needed for corona tests around the world. “We have built injection molds with extra shifts at record speed, have acquired new injection molding machines, and have trained new staff on complex production processes“, praises the managing director his team which has supported him and has gone with him from the very beginning, both regarding additional hygiene requirements and professional as well as private challenges. “We will successfully weather the crisis if hopefully we all keep fit and healthy and continue working hard and persistently as a team and if there isn’t another lockdown“, the graduate chemist is cautiously optimistic. Besides entrepreneurial abilities, it also requires a bit of luck. Frank Wirthwein and Marcus Wirthwein appreciate Dr. Thomas Jakob and look forward to a continued prosperous collaboration - most recently also on management level.