HYMER-News

The president emeritus of the Hymer supervisory board, majority owner of HYMER AG and grand seigneur of the European leisure vehicle sector celebrates his birthday.

Bad Waldsee, 23 June 2010

Successful entrepreneur, loving father, affable citizen and highly distinguished public personality – Erwin Hymer has many facets. Born in Bad Waldsee / Upper Swabia, he never forgot his native roots, despite his Europe-wide business success.

Raised in Bad Waldsee, he completed secondary school and began vocational training in 1947 to be a toolmaker. He then studied Engineering at the Technical University in Constance. The young engineer then worked as of 1953 for Professor Claudius Dornier. Hymer co-worked on the first German post-war aircraft, the DO 27. For Dornier in Munich, he then developed the small automobile, Dornier Delta. In 1956, Erwin Hymer returned to his parents’ company in Bad Waldsee.

The entrepreneur

In 1957, Erwin Hymer began with the development and production of caravans (“Ur-Troll”). They went into serial production in 1958. Today’s pop-top caravan, HYMER Touring, is directly based on these models and has achieved cult status.

Already back in 1961, Erwin Hymer produced his first motor home called Caravano, based on a van by Borgward. However, due to Borgward’s insolvency, the project could not be completed. Hymer continued to successfully focus on caravans. Parallel to this, he took over the production of aluminium conductors from Dornier in 1962 in Wangen/Allgäu, the basis for the modern company, Hymer-Leichtmetallbau – a renowned manufacturer of conductors and a supplier in the leisure vehicle- and omnibus sector.

In 1971, Erwin Hymer gave motor homes another try and, this time, he was successful. The former aircraft- and automobile developer relied on integrated motor homes with an independent body. With several production series, they still represent the basis of the renowned brand, HYMER.

In 1990, after a health-related setback, Erwin Hymer changed the traditional brand, HYMER,
to a public company. He remained majority owner and took the position of chairman of the supervisory board.

The years to follow were marked by expansion. Both the listed company
HYMER AG and the holding CMC in Hymer’s private ownership acquired renowned brands in the leisure vehicle sector.

Today, the HYMER Group comprises the brands HYMER, Eriba, Bürstner, Carado, Laika and Niesmann + Bischoff, as well as the accessories brand Movera. In the holding CMC, the motor home- and caravan brands Dethleffs, Sunlight, LMC and TEC are combined.

In the past few years, Erwin Hymer has reduced his career engagement. Yet he can still be found, almost daily, in his office at the company headquarters in Bad Waldsee. Behind the desk hangs an oil painting of the first caravan from1957.

With innovation, hard work, talent with figures and underlying humour, Erwin Hymer embodies the typically Swabian characteristics. He is also known for his sayings: “The best insurance for a successful future are good figures today,” is one of his credos.

Erwin Hymer has been honoured for his achievements several times. Of particular note is the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2000), the Founder Prize of the state of Baden Wurttemberg (2004) and the Enterprise Medal of the state of Baden Wurttemberg (1991).

The private person

Despite his untiring commitment to his company group: there is a private Erwin Hymer as well. He plays golf, likes to travel and was a passionate skier. Now, he has to somewhat reduce his sportive activities.

For the Swabian-Allemannic holiday of Fasnet – which has particular significance in his native home of Upper Swabia – Erwin Hymer is one of the enthusiastic “jesters” taking part in the “fifth season”.

His career legacy includes the Erwin-Hymer-Museum in Bad Waldsee which is part of a foundation. It is situated right across from HYMER AG. It will be opened in the coming year. Typical for Erwin Hymer: the collection of his motor homes and caravans is not only focused on his own brand. He loves the caravans of long-forgotten manufacturers and from the GDR.

The father, Erwin Hymer, and his wife, Gerda, are proud of their two children Carolin and Christian. With his family, Erwin Hymer will celebrate his birthday on 27 July.

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