There are hardly any ideas that are not faced with resistance.
What was your personal path to MEIKO?
I'll summarise the most important steps: Originally, I'm from the US and, after deciding to take some time off with my family in 2009, we travelled the world. After a while, of course, the question came up of where we wanted to live and work in the future. As my wife is German, we opted for Germany, specifically the Black Forest.
Today I work in the research and development group. Our job is to come up with new ideas and technologies, to try them out and see if they fit our systems. We do everything we can to make machines faster, better and more efficient – or to open up new markets – so we take inspiration from everything. However, we always listen to our customers and markets – what they want is key.
In our development department, we have the freedom we need.
In general, we distinguish new ideas from facelifts. One new idea, for example, was to integrate screens into the operating elements of MEIKO machines. Nowadays, the full displays show a variety of details such as the programme cycle, the temperature, errors, the result of independently performed diagnostics and give recommendations for action such as: check whether the tap is turned on. We consider facelifts to be existing solutions that we vary or further optimise.
What do you think is MEIKO's lifeline?
It's our culture. In my opinion, what brings MEIKO together as a company are our values, which are not just written down on paper, but also brought to life. One in particular has grown on me: treat others as you would like them to treat you.
Which MEIKO innovations have impressed you the most over the past 95 years?
It's a short answer: the M-Q. If MEIKO innovations cover the entire range from facelifts to truly new solutions, then the M-iQ is clearly one of them.
Is there some kind of meta-trend within the industry?
Yes! It's called hygiene. Hygiene plays a role in various areas. Dishwashing is not just about plates looking clean, but actually being clean. Many dishwashers are content with visible cleanliness. MEIKO is always careful to wash hygienically clean on a microbiological level. However, the means used to achieve the highest level possible hygiene standards are different. Some manufacturers use chlorine. That's certainly one possibility. However, MEIKO relies on thermal processes, i.e. on a level of heat that enables microbiological cleanliness. This process makes sure that every crack and scratch is cleared of germs without having to accept other restrictions. That is the MEIKO solution.
How do you make decisions about whether or not to pursue an idea?
No matter how simple or complex an idea is, there is always someone who is against it. And there are also ideas that everyone is against. The standards are high and only those who fight for their ideas and convince others of the benefits have a chance of getting the green light to develop them further.
Perhaps the greatest art is not to let ideas die, but to prioritise them properly.
In the research and development group, prioritising individual ideas is crucial to achieving major goals together. I am always impressed by the loyalty with which colleagues pursue their ideas. We cultivate an open culture of innovation in which criticism is also voiced. But, when something doesn't work, it is always the idea, rather than the person behind it, that is criticized. This is what sets MEIKO apart.
What are your birthday wishes for MEIKO and for the next 95 years?
Dear MEIKO, stick to your values.