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Austrian industry has lost a visionary in Hellmut Longin
Mourning for Hellmut Longin, who made industrial history with the purchase of Österreichische Magnesite AG. His life's work continues to shape RHI Magnesita AG to this day. read more about his remarkable career.
Austrian industry has lost a visionary in Hellmut Longin
The Austrian industry mourns the death of Hellmut Longin, who died at the age of 90. He made a name for himself when, as managing director, he acquired Österreichische Magnesite AG (ÖAMAG) from the US group Grefko. This transaction was a significant coup in industrial history, securing Longin a place at the heart of the Austrian economy.
In 1973 Longin joined Grefko, where he headed the Europa-Werke company. As early as 1985 he planned to buy the plants in Radenthein and Hochfilzen. Looking back, he described the event as a “strange undertaking” because, while he was looking for the asking price of 525 million schillings, he often encountered a lack of understanding from the banks. “I felt like a teacher at school,” he recalled of that time. In addition, the Zentralsparkasse ultimately withdrew its commitment, which initially caused the entire deal to fail. Despite these setbacks, Longin managed to secure financing for the purchase and ultimately acquired 10.5 percent of the shares.
Influential acquisitions
Another milestone in Longin's career was the takeover of Veitscher Magnesit AG in 1991. Here he was able to acquire 51 percent of the shares from Karl Kahane for 3.2 billion schillings. This step led to the founding of Radex, which is now considered the cornerstone of RHI Magnesita AG - a company that operates at almost 50 locations worldwide with around 20,000 employees. Under Longin's leadership, the company expanded and acquired, among others, the companies Didier from Germany and Dolomiti Franchi in Italy.
After his resignation in 1995, Longin increasingly withdrew from business life and ultimately lived in Wolfsberg. His family, especially his wife Gitte and their two children, are now the focus of the compassion shown to him and his life's work.
The importance of Longin's work to today's industry cannot be overstated; RHI Magnesita AG owes its place as one of the leading providers in the industry to its innovative way of working. This is also a strong testament to his ability to turn challenges into opportunities.
Longin's career and legacy will remain deeply anchored in Austria's industrial history, and his achievements will serve as an inspiration for future generations.