GICON celebrates 30 years of ‘Engineering the Future’

On 6 September, the Dresden-based engineering services provider celebrated its 30th anniversary with a large ceremony. The celebration took place in the OstraDome Dresden in front of more than 400 employees and guests of honour from business and politics.

The GICON® success story, which began in 1994, is an impressive example of the growth and innovative strength of a company that has developed into a leading full-service provider in Germany over a period of 30 years through its own efforts. What once began in a small office in Dresden has now developed into a global player that sets standards in many areas. This internationalisation was also acknowledged by Dresden's Lord Mayor, Dirk Hilbert, in his welcoming address: ‘It is important that you have international employees and operate internationally, because this gives you the leeway to continue to shape the future.’ At the same time, he pointed to the very good interaction between companies such as GICON and the capital of Saxony, in order to present a unified front to investors. This is particularly important when new companies, such as ESMC, are established, said Hilbert.

Saxony's Prime Minister, Michael Kretschmer, was represented by Minister of State, Conrad Clemens, who brought with him a video message from the Prime Minister, in which he once again emphasised the characteristics of GICON®: ‘We have worked together with you in many areas. With you, we know that expertise, common sense and values come together and that you are always looking for and striving for new things. You are truly a driver of innovation and are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible.’

Minister of State, Conrad Clemens, promised in response that a GICON® high-altitude wind turbine would also be built in Saxony. ‘I promise you that by the 30th.’ However, he also called for the acceleration of approval procedures for industry by the government, and this is where GICON is needed.

Other guests included the President of ESMC, Dr. Christian Koitzsch, and Dr. Martin Chaumet, innovation manager at the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, the client of the first GICON® high-altitude wind turbine, which is being built by GICON® in Klettwitz, Brandenburg. An emotional highlight was the speech by Albrecht Graf von Matuschka, who invited Prof. Großmann to a management course in the former FRG in 1989, which lasted several months, and thus laid the foundation for Prof. Großmann's entrepreneurial career.

Prof. Jochen Großmann, CEO of GICON®, once again presented the development of the group in his keynote speech and took the opportunity to thank companions from the very beginning, as well as other long-standing partners: ‘Together, we have overcome many challenges in 30 years. Then as now, our goal was and is to create a future worth living in with innovative solutions. Together with renowned customers and project partners, we are realising pioneering projects in the fields of infrastructure and energy supply.’

An emotional highlight was the speech by the Rollimaus Association, which has been accompanied and supported by the GICON® Group for over ten years. Heike Janaczek, from the board of the association, which cares for mentally and physically disabled children and young people, was shown the many joint projects. From the annual football tournament to the support of a music therapy room.

Prof. Großmann was named the first honorary member of the association and pledged a further donation of €10,000 for additional projects.

With over 600 employees and 22 locations in Germany, GICON® is one of the leading German engineering service providers. True to the GICON® motto ‘Engineering the Future’, GICON will continue to support sustainable and innovative projects.