It was a glittering gala with a few surprises that IMO Oberflächentechnik GmbH from Königsbach-Stein hosted at the Karlsruhe Congress Center in mid-October to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
IMO Oberflächentechnik is a group of companies with around 500 employees that specializes in the selective coating of precision parts for the automotive industry, electrical engineering, telecommunications, medical technology and renewable energies. The electroplating company is regarded as Europe's leading surface coater. It is a broad and demanding field of activity in which the company has now been operating for 50 years.
Master electroplater Müller started his own business in a double garage
The success story began with IMO founder Ingo Müller, described by his long-time friend and business partner Wieslaw Kramski as a creative spirit who spies market niches and knows how to exploit them with expertise and tenacious energy. Master electroplater Müller started his own business in a double garage, supported by his wife Christel. Despite the economic crisis and a major fire in 1999, the company continued to grow. In 2005, Ingo Müller handed over responsibility to his son Bernd Müller. Managing Director Thomas P. Henle now also supports the management. The founders' grandsons Armin and Kay are now also responsible. The current challenges lie in process optimization, expanding the circular economy in terms of sustainability and managing new digital projects. "We can only maintain our leading position by constantly changing, adapting and improving," says Bernd Müller.
"Working together, celebrating together"
The anniversary gala showed that the motto "Working together, celebrating together" is not just an empty slogan at IMO. Management and staff celebrated the day together. Around 800 people were in attendance. In entertaining interviews conducted by moderator Susi Herzberger, the company's history was revisited and a look into the future was ventured. "We are all dependent on reliable policies for SMEs," said Bernd Müller with regard to current political decisions. The gala was characterized by inspiring performances, live music, the sharp tongue of cabaret artist Oliver Tissot, acrobats, show dancers, drum power and, last but not least, the eagerly awaited surprise guest DJ Ötzi, who created a great atmosphere with his hits such as "Ein Stern, der deinen Namen trägt".
Power! percussion: the drummers took the audience on an incredible rhythmic journey. Drumsticks were distributed to all those present (Photo: IMO)
The anniversary gala also served a good cause, as the company had called for donations for Lebenshilfe Pforzheim Enzkreis, the Sterneninsel outpatient children's and youth hospice service and the Pforzheim/Enzkreis Christian hospice instead of anniversary gifts. Many guests responded to the appeal, so that around 30,000 euros had already been raised by the gala evening. The IMO management subsequently topped up the sum, so that a donation of 50,000 euros was raised. The donation ceremony will take place on November 14, 2023.
You can still donate to one of the organizations:
Kinder- und Jugendhospiz Sterneninsel e. V.
Sparkasse Pforzheim Calw
IBAN: DE13 6665 0085 0008 6026 03
BIC: PZ HSDE 66XXX
(Do not forget the company name and address in the subject line for the donation receipt!)
