Rüdiger Fischer "That's my thing!"

Rüdiger Fischer is CEO of EMKA, and he personally drives new developments and innovations. He reveals why he is living his childhood dream, why he wishes for more expertise from many decision-makers, and what he finds most rewarding about his job.

Rüdiger, anyone who knows you immediately senses: This guy has gasoline in his blood. But what personally motivates you to bring your passion to EMKA?

RF: I love extreme performance and powerful vehicles. It's deeply ingrained in me. Even as a child, I was fascinated by technology. Today, it's about turning that fascination into innovative solutions. You could say: I’m living a childhood dream! I originally came from the trade in auto parts and accessories. When Volker Kilthau presented me with the opportunity to join EMKA, I knew: This is my thing. I understand what's in demand and what many customers out there are looking for and need.

Is that your recipe for success?

RF: Actually, that’s the foundation for good products. But I keep hearing rumblings in the automotive industry because so much is discussed and decided without anyone having real expertise. This is something the industry cannot afford. That’s why our approach is: We need to stay close to the customer, otherwise, they can’t do good work. Our portfolio is always based on demand. We ask of every single product: Is this the right one for the workshops, business clients, and private customers who rely on EMKA? And how can we make their lives easier and their machines more efficient and durable?

What role does your team play in this?

RF: Our brand thrives on team spirit. I am convinced that everyone here knows they are making an important contribution to EMKA’s success. We still need outstanding solutions, and to achieve that, we listen to each other. The sum of the experiences and various skills we gather within the team – that’s our capital! But for us, team spirit doesn’t stop at the production hall. We focus on close collaboration with our customers, because their needs and experiences also feed into our developments.

'Engineered in Germany' is your mark of quality. It’s appreciated worldwide. Why do you think it’s so important to your customers as well?

RF: All our products are developed in Germany. For me, this represents a promise of precision and high quality. But there are even more values associated with it. We operate in many different parts of the world, so we especially need reliability. In the future, we also want to set new standards. What’s gaining more and more importance: responsibility. At EMKA, we have a complete new sustainability and disposal system, which we call 'THE GREEN PACT.'

What is the most joyful part your work?

RF: I can say that clearly: Many of our customers and partners have become my friends!"