AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION

“Actually the university has shaped my entire life”, Hanns W. Weidinger remembers today. He actively participated in university life even beyond his studies. He used to be the lighting technician at the university puppet theatre ‘Spieldose (music box)’ at that time, and built a new control panel. He met his wife Barbara at TUM – and proposed to her in lecture hall 1100. In addition Hanns W. Weidinger says: “I received an excellent education at TUM; a crucial foundation for successfully pursuing my career.”

After his diploma thesis with professor Hans Prinz and his first work experience at Bosch in Stuttgart the young engineer joined his father’s company, a trade agency for electrical engineering in Munich. As its managing director, he transformed the company into Weidinger GmbH, which, under his leadership, became the most important German provider in the brazing technology industry. International expansion was never on the agenda: “I always believed the German market to be sufficient in order to be adequately busy.” In 2006 he sold the business. “I worked hard up until the age of 69, then I said to myself ‘that’s enough’, and was finally able to decide freely what I do.”

APPOINTED HONORARY SENATOR

In the following year the alumni set up the Hanns W. Weidinger-Fonds, which supports projects in electrical engineering, and thus became a founding donor of TUM University Foundation. While I am alive, I have a say in what is being supported, later on how the resources are being used is of course open.” The entrepreneur is convinced that, like this, his legacy creates ‘optimal benefit’. “I can trust that whatever is left will be used in a meaningful way.” In response to his commitment TUM president Wolfgang A. Herrmann has appointed Hanns W. Weidinger Honorary Senator in 2012.