Willi Illbruck

Wilhelm Gustav "Willi" Illbruck (September 26, 1927 – November 21, 2004) was a German industrialist, the founder and CEO of the Illbruck GmbH, and a notable yachtsman.[1][2][3][4][5]

Willi Illbruck
Willi Illbruck, c. 1993
Born
Wilhelm Gustav Illbruck

(1927-09-26)September 26, 1927
Opladen, Germany
DiedNovember 21, 2004(2004-11-21) (aged 77)
Leverkusen, Pattscheid, Germany
NationalityGermany
OccupationBusiness, Engineering, Yachting
OrganizationIllbruck GmbH
Spouse(s)Christiane Illbruck
ChildrenSabina Illbruck and Michael Illbruck
AwardsBundesverdienstkreuz

Career

After education as a toolmaker, military service as a 16-year-old boy in the German Navy during World War II and five years of Soviet POW, he worked at the German Railways and later in the cardboard industry.

On September 26, 1952, Willi and Christiane Illbruck founded a small business for the production of steel wool dies in Leverkusen-Opladen.[6][7][8] At first, the 2-man business manufactured steel die-cutting tools and later plastic parts like platters, index tabs, lottery stencils etc.[6] Within 20 years, the company had grown and established subsidiaries in Switzerland, Austria, France, Spain, Australia and the USA.[9]

In 1980 Willi Illbruck OH was turned into an incorporated firm named Illbruck GmbH.[7]

In 2000 Illbruck GmbH was a privately held international company with six autonomous business units: Automotive, Sealant Systems, Sanitary Technology, Architectural Surfaces, Filtration Systems/Insulation Systems and IT Services. Illbruck GmbH had 35 locations in 15 countries worldwide and was headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany. About 3,200 employees developed and produced customer-orientated, complex and highly sophisticated system solutions[10]

Following Willi Illbruck's death in 2004 Illbruck GmbH was restructured into Illbruck Sanitärtechnik GmbH, Pinta-Elements,[7] Tremco Illbruck,[8] Pinta Acoustics[9] and RPM International Inc.[11]

Personal life

Illbruck was married and has two children.[2]

Yachting
Hans-Otto Schumann, Willi and Udo Schütz celebrates Admirals Cup 93

In 1969, Illbruck named his first sailing yacht Pinta. The inspiration for the name was the historical Pinta, the fastest of the ships used by Christopher Columbus on his voyage to America. In the 1980s and 1990s, Illbruck dominated the German offshore yachting scene together with Udo Schütz and Hans-Otto Schumann.[12] Illbruck and his yacht Pinta won the Admiral's Cup in 1983[13][14] and 1993[15][16][17] for Germany (skipper Russell Coutts[18][19] ). The team also won the Sardinia Cup 1984.[20] Pinta won the One Ton Cup in 1993[21] (skipper Russell Coutts / helmsman Peter Lester) and 1994[22] (skipper John Kostecki / helmsman Rod Davis).

Illbruck’s unflagging drive and longstanding commitment to yachting were always a role model and incentive for his son Michael Illbruck and the crew members.

The Illbruck GmbH company was, under the leadership of his son, the main sponsor of the yacht Illbruck Challenge, the winner of the 2001–2002 Volvo Ocean Race[23] (skipper John Kostecki).

Honors

On July 2, 1994, Illbruck and the Pinta crew was awarded with the Silberne Lorbeerblatt,[24] the highest sports award in Germany. On September 26, 2002, on his 75th birthday, Illbruck received the Bundesverdienstkreuz.[25]

References
  1. "Willi Illbruck gestorben". Der Spiegel. November 29, 2004.
  2. "Admiral's Cup-Gewinner Willi Illbruck gestorben". Frankfurter Allgemeine. November 23, 2004.
  3. "Hochsee-Legende Illbruck ist tot". Spiegel Online Sport. November 23, 2004.
  4. "Willi Illbruck ist tot". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. November 24, 2004.
  5. "Willi Illbruck passes away". Sail-world.com. November 25, 2004.
  6. "Vom Familienunternehmen zum Weltkonzern". Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  7. "Pinta Elements GmbH history". Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  8. "The History of Tremco illbruck". Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  9. "Pinta Acoustic, Inc., About the owner".
  10. "Illbruck Challenge Volvo Team Begins Southern Ocean Training". Sail-world.com. November 24, 2000. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  11. "RPM to acquire Illbruck Sealant Systems". Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  12. Pokorny, Tatjana (November 24, 2004). "Sail On". Sailing Anarchy. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  13. "Der dritte Mann". Der Spiegel. July 11, 1983. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  14. 1983: Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup
  15. 1993: Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup: Germans Win By The Narrowest Of Margins
  16. Pokorny, Tatjana (1993). Überraschungscoup / Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup 1993. DSV-Verlag. ISBN 3-88412-178-2.
  17. Pinta, Year of the cups - 1993. Illbruck GmbH. 1994.
  18. "Russell Coutts Official website - Highlights". Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  19. "Russell Coutts". 32nd America's Cup. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  20. "Sardinia Cup and ISAF Offshore Team World Champs". Sail-world.com. June 5, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  21. RORC Admiral'Cup History 1993 Pinta, plan de Jedel/Vrolijk, avait déjà gagné la OTCup 1993 à Cagliari
  22. Pinta Sailing History Willy Illbruck avec Pinta, OTCup 1993 et 1994
  23. Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002 / Overview website: Retrieved May 3, 2012
  24. "Lorbeer für alle". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. July 2, 1994. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  25. Bundesverdienstkreuz an Willi Illbruck
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