Frank Händle – 70 years
He is still writing books and publishing essays and his regular ECT Newsletter, travelling to see customers in places like Japan and China, holding lectures, most recently in Brazil, attending conferences, working on his projects, planning and developing new machines and processes with his staff – his is the restlessness of the enterprising businessman.
He headed the world-renowned Händle company for 30 years, during which he blazed new technical trails, gave impetus and food for thought and decisively shaped the course of progress in brickyard technology. He attached great importance to working with scientific and academic institutions and even allowed himself the “luxury” of being a mid-range entrepreneur with a penchant for fundamental research. Then, at an age when others prefer to retire, Frank Händle took off on a new tangent. On leaving the Händle company in 2001, he took the “Technical Ceramics Division” with him and founded his ECT GmbH (Extrusion for Ceramic Technology) in 2002. By specializing in extrusion, backed by 35 years’ professional experience in the ceramic industry and related R&D, and with the support of the network he had built up over time, his new company ECT quickly developed into a success story. ECT designs, builds and sells plant and machinery for use in extruding ceramic and similar bodies for technical ceramic applications. Today, the company belongs – not by accident – to the front-runners in its branch. In addition to Frank Händle’s personality and charisma, ECT provides advice and guidance, solves (or helps solve) problems, does lab work, constantly expands and refines its proffered range of equipment and services, and engages in customerized R&D.
With his “Extrusion in Ceramics” handbook, which he published in 2007, Frank Händle established the first standard work of reference to ever cover the entire field of ceramic extrusion technology. The second edition is already out.
Congratulations on your big 7-0, dear Frank Händle, and many happy returns, including above all good health, pleasant work, a string of interesting projects and, last but not least, plenty of time for life’s small pleasures – from all your friends, acquaintances, business associates around the world and your former and current colleagues and co-workers.
