Deutz AG marks 160th anniversary

Cologne, Germany- Deutz AG., celebrated its 160th anniversary in Cologne with guests from various sectors. Hendrik Wüst and Henriette Reker honored the occasion alongside CEO Dr. Sebastian C. Schulte. The Nicolaus August Otto Award was also presented at the event.

Deutz AG celebrates its employees, past and present, for their pioneering spirit, perseverance, and commitment to keeping the world moving. The anniversary kicks off with a grand ceremony, followed by a festival for the entire workforce at the former Deutz site in Cologne-Mülheim.

At the ceremony, Deutz AG presented the Nicolaus August Otto Award, now in its sixth year, with a prize of €30,000. Professor Denise Fischer-Kreer from the University of Bonn, recognized for her research on entrepreneurial behavior in agriculture, was the 2024 recipient. Jan-Hendrik Mohr, CEO of Claas, presented the award, stressing the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture.

Dr. Sebastian C. Schulte, CEO of Deutz AG, said “Our 160-year history shows what can be achieved through the power of innovation and a belief in your own abilities. In some of the debates that we are having as a country right now, I see an absence of exactly this – a belief in our strengths and courage and optimism,” The Deutz CEO thanked current and former employees and called for the internal combustion engine to be made more climate-friendly: “The internal combustion engine is at the heart of German industry. More than 600,000 people work in the engine industry and their livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on its future. The example of Germany’s solar industry shows that once something is gone, it doesn’t come back. And for the foreseeable future, at least in the commercial vehicle sector, we won’t be able to do without combustion engine technology. We have to accept this for the good of our economy.”

In 1864, Nicolaus August Otto and Eugen Langen founded the company that evolved into DEUTZ AG. Their atmospheric gas-powered engine revolutionized industries. Today, DEUTZ provides drives for vehicles and machines globally, aiming for a climate-neutral product ecosystem through intelligent maintenance and sustainable engines.

Mr. Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, said, “DEUTZ AG has been a pioneer in engine development for 160 years and throughout that time has been an engine in its own right – driving innovation, progress and prosperity, and advances in automotive engineering. Today, DEUTZ is a global company that supplies state-of-the-art drive systems for vehicles and machines all over the world. It also exemplifies the huge entrepreneurial potential that still exists in our country. The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia is actively working to create an environment in which DEUTZ and companies like it can continue to thrive, innovate, and invest and thus enhance our standing as a region of commerce and industry.”

Mr. Henriette Reker, Mayor of Cologne, said “Cologne is proud to have DEUTZ AG as its engine of innovation. The Company has been creating high-quality jobs for 160 years now, making a vital contribution to progress and prosperity in the city. I am confident that this will carry on in the future and that DEUTZ will play its part in the shift to a climate-neutral economy by offering increasingly low-emission and alternative drive systems.”

It is a great honor for me personally and for our work in the department to receive this award,” said Professor Denise Fischer-Kreer from the University of Bonn in her acceptance speech. “We need more people who are able to put their ideas and visions into practice. And set up companies. Nicolaus August Otto showed how that can be done and what can be achieved if you believe in your own ideas and abilities and are prepared to constantly reinvent yourself. We try to instill this mindset in our students and equip them with the skills and tools they will need to help ensure food security while making agriculture sustainable around the world.”