Dr Dieter Kress, who was at the helm of the
MAPAL Group for almost five decades, passed away on December 27, 2023, at the age of 81, following a long illness. He was a passionate entrepreneur and well-known personality within the industry and is credited for shaping the once small company into the international group it has now become. He retired from active management in 2018 but continued to take a close interest in the company’s developments.
Dr Dieter Kress joined MAPAL Dr Kress KG in 1969 after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering and business administration. He joined his father, Dr Georg Kress, who founded the company in 1950. While working at the company, Dr Dieter Kress completed his doctorate on the subject of reaming, which was the foundations for the success story of MAPAL — Dr Dieter Kress developed high-performance special tools from the standard reamer product. He managed the company for 49 years as president and the product portfolio was continuously expanded under his leadership with MAPAL evolving into a full-range tooling supplier. Tools for drilling, countersinking, milling, hard turning and boring joined the reaming range, while chucks and devices for setting, measuring and dispensing, as well as numerous tool-related services, expanded the portfolio further.
Today, MAPAL is represented in 44 countries and employs around 5,000 people worldwide, including around 1,700 at the headquarters in Aalen, Germany. In 2018, Dr Dieter Kress handed over responsibility to his son Dr Jochen Kress, who is now the third generation to run the precision tool manufacturer.
In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Dr Dieter Kress was also involved in a number of honorary positions. The region and the training of young people were particularly close to his heart — he attached great importance to training junior staff directly at MAPAL and invested in the corresponding infrastructure.
Today, MAPAL is one of the largest training companies in the East Württemberg region. There are as many as 300 apprentices at MAPAL worldwide, with around 130 learning different professions at MAPAL in Aalen - from cutting machine operators to warehouse logistics specialists and IT specialists. Dr Dieter Kress also supported research and education at Aalen University - among other things by setting up an endowed chair in cooperation with other companies and as a member of the university council. He was active in committees, initiatives and associations, including as Chairman of the VDMA Precision Tools Association and as a founding member of the P.E.G.A.S.U.S. association, which supports company founders.
Dr Dieter Kress has received numerous awards for his services, including the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Golden Staufer Medal of the State of Baden-Württemberg. He was also one of the first recipients of the German Mechanical Engineering Prize and was the Honorary Senator at Aalen University.