Page 54 - ITAtube Journal 3 2025

ITA Inside
Obituary
Heinrich Weiss
Heinrich Weiss, entrepreneur and
long-standing CEO of SMS group, dies at
83
SMS group mourns the loss of Heinrich
Weiss. The entrepreneur and former CEO
of SMS group passed away on September 8
surrounded by his family.
Jochen Burg, CEO of SMS group: “Heinrich
Weiss was a true role model. An extraor-
dinary entrepreneur, he transformed a
mid‑sized Siegerland company into a global
market leader in machine and plant engi-
neering for the steel industry. Our thoughts
are with his family, and he will be greatly
missed.”
Johannes Frauendörfer, Chairman of the
Weiss Family Foundation Board: “Heinrich
Weiss was not only a significant entrepre-
neur but also a person of clarity, integrity,
and passion. His life’s work is inextricably
linked to SMS. As the Foundation Board, we
will carry forward his legacy responsibly,
with future generations in mind.”
Georg Weiss, son of Heinrich Weiss and
board member of the Weiss Family Foun-
dation: “My father dedicated his life to the
company. For our family, it is a matter of
great importance to preserve his legacy and
to lead SMS into the future in his spirit.”
Heinrich Weiss remained closely involved
in the company’s development until recent-
ly. For more than five decades, he led the
family business as its fourth‑generation
head. The company’s origins trace back to
his great‑grandfather, Carl Eberhard Weiss,
who opened a forge in Siegerland in 1871
that eventually became Siemag (Siege-
ner Maschinenbau) AG. After completing
engineering studies in Munich, Heinrich
Weiss joined the company in 1968 and
was appointed Chairman of the Managing
Board in 1971. Under his leadership, the
company entered a period of strong growth
and global expansion. 1973 marked the
company’s merger with Schloemann, based
in Düsseldorf. The company’s further devel-
opment was shaped by major acquisitions,
notably Mannesmann Demag in 1999 and
Luxembourg‑based Paul Wurth in 2021.
Until 2024, Heinrich Weiss served as the
sole chairman of the Family Foundation
and carefully prepared the generational
transition.
Beyond his dedication to the company,
Heinrich Weiss also served for decades
on economic policy bodies, leading the
China Working Group of the Asia‑Pacific
Committee of German Business from 1982
to 1997, acting as Federal Chairman of
the CDU Economic Council from 1983 to
1988, and presiding over the Federation of
German Industries (BDI) from 1991 to 1992.
Among other appointments, he served on
the supervisory boards of Deutsche Bahn,
Commerzbank and Bertelsmann, and on
the Board of Directors of Bombardier.
54 ITAtube Journal December 2025
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