Death of Veka founder Heinrich Laumann
4th September 2018

Heinrich Laumann, the founder of Veka and one of the very first pioneers of the PVC-U window, has died, aged 89.

He had lived to see the company he founded in 1969 become the world leader in extruded PVC-U products, with factories in countries across Europe, Asia, America and Russia. From a workforce of eight when he bought Vekaplast, a plastic roller-shutter manufacturer in Sendenhorst, Veka AG now employs more than 5,200 and remains headquartered in the city where it began.

Among the tributes to him, Dave Jones, MD of Veka Group in the UK said: “It was a pleasure and a privilege to have worked with Heinrich early in my career. He will be deeply missed by many people and I send my condolences and sympathies to his family.

“The global success story of Veka today and its people-focussed culture is a tremendous legacy for Heinrich to have left, and – together with his daughter and son-in-law, who still lead the global Veka Group today – we will continue his life's work.”

He continued: “In 1999, Heinrich saw VEKA AG reach its 30th anniversary and celebrated with 2200 guests from 37 countries. In the same year, he received honorary citizenship from the city of Sendenhorst – the site of his first extrusion plant. Heinrich was also decorated for his entrepreneurial performance and awarded the Bernhard Kleinhans badge for his diverse involvement in the city.”

As well as his business achievements, his home regional newspaper, the Westfälische Nachrichten records his charitable work as founder with his wife Rita of the Heinrich-und-Rita-Laumann-Stiftung which cares for sick and elderly people in the region.

The newspaper adds: “He was always the big "Veka family" at heart. In the course of the eventful company history, he proved again and again special entrepreneurial vision, whereby he always remained down-to-earth and collegial.
The staff appreciated him, well beyond his time in the company, as evidenced by standing ovations for the Veka founder at the annual Christmas celebrations. In his active days he knew most of them personally.”

He died sadly before the group’s 50th anniversary celebration, due next year, the preparation of which he had played a large part in planning.