Jürgen Echterhage celebrates his 70th birthday

Jürgen Echterhage laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial career in the early 1980s. Rather than pursuing the security of a career in the civil service, he deliberately chose to become self-employed. In 1984, he founded HBE GmbH, creating the basis for what has since grown into today's Echterhage Group. What began as a small business specialising in hydraulic technology has developed into the Echterhage Holding, headquartered in Neuenrade. Today, the Group brings together several specialised companies operating in fluid technology, pump and drive technology, as well as other industrial sectors.

Together with his family and long-standing companions, Jürgen Echterhage steadily expanded the Group over the years. Today, it comprises numerous subsidiaries and associated companies, employing several hundred people at locations in Germany and abroad. Jürgen Echterhage has never regarded the company's success as his own achievement alone. Instead, he repeatedly emphasises the importance of his family, long-standing companions such as Axel Vedder, and the many employees whose commitment and dedication have helped shape the company's development over several decades.

His commitment, however, has never been limited to industry alone. The development of his hometown has always been close to his heart. Through projects such as the Quartier am Stadtgarten and investments in residential and commercial property, he has provided important momentum for urban development and helped shape the future of Neuenrade. In recognition of his entrepreneurial and social commitment, Jürgen Echterhage has received several honours, including the title of Manager of the Year in South Westphalia. The award recognised not only the economic success of the Group but also the family's strong ties to the region and its commitment to the local community.

To this day, Neuenrade remains the centre of the Echterhage Group. The company's headquarters are still located there, reflecting the Group's enduring commitment to its roots despite its international growth.

With entrepreneurial vision, courage and a clear sense of long-term opportunities, Jürgen Echterhage has helped shape the regional economy for decades. On the occasion of his 70th birthday, his family, long-standing companions and employees look back on a lifetime of achievement that extends far beyond the creation of a successful business.