With the death of Margret and Günter Blase, igus not only loses its founders but also two personalities who shaped the company for decades. 'My parents not only built igus but also showed us what courage, responsibility, and solidarity mean,' says Frank Blase, son of the founding couple and chairman of the supervisory board of igus. 'My father was an indefatigable tinkerer who passionately sought ever better solutions. My mother laid the foundation with her commercial expertise and foresight on which these ideas could grow. Their shared legacy continues to live on in our corporate culture.'
1964 marked the starting signal for igus: 'Then do it'
After an apprenticeship as a carpenter and an engineering degree, Günter Blase discovered the potential of technical plastics. At the same time, the desire to become self-employed grew. When he told his wife Margret about it in the kitchen, she simply said, 'Then do it.' It was the starting signal for igus GmbH, which was founded on October 15, 1964, to manufacture injection-molded parts. Günter Blase's motto was: 'Give me your most difficult part, and I will find a solution.' The first order came from the automotive supplier Pierburg.
His most complicated part was a valve cone for a vehicle carburetor. In 1965, no one could have manufactured this small metal part from plastic because the production would have been too complicated. But Günter Blase succeeded. He retreated to his double garage in Cologne-Mülheim and experimented until the first perfect valve cone made of plastic came out of the injection molding machine.
Meanwhile, Margret Blase laid the economic foundation. The tax consultant brought her commercial expertise into the young company from the very beginning. While Günter Blase drove the technical development, she organized administration and finance, took care of customers, and made all important investment decisions. As a co-founder, she played a crucial role in turning an idea into a successful company. With the establishment of today's location in Cologne-Lind, Margret and Günter Blase realized their vision of a modern factory in the early 1990s, which still forms the heart of igus today. From 1983 onwards, their sons, Frank and Carsten Blase, also actively shaped this path and brought new impulses into the family business. Together, they consistently developed igus as motion plastics specialists, expanded the product portfolio to thousands of products, and drove the company's international expansion.
'You have to create your own fun in life'
Together, Margret and Günter Blase shaped the development of igus for decades. Until old age, Günter Blase was daily in the company. 'My father's passion for technology remained unbroken. He continued to work on optimizing production processes and remained curious about new ideas until the end,' says Frank Blase. 'One of his guiding principles will always accompany us: You have to create your own fun in life.' Günter and Margret Blase also knew that their life's work was in good hands. igus has been operating as SE & Co. KG since October 2025 and is managed operationally by four managing directors. Frank Blase accompanies the strategic development as chairman of the supervisory board. With more than 5,700 employees worldwide, including around 2,500 in Germany, and new business areas, igus continues its growth course. A principle of Günter Blase still resonates today: One must always be prepared for plus 50 percent as well as minus 50 percent. This belief was based on the conviction to proactively address growth and uncertainty alike and to align a company towards financial stability, flexibility, and crisis resilience. However, what Günter and Margret Blase left behind goes far beyond economic figures. This is also evident in the long-standing partnerships with customers and companions that they built over decades. Their entrepreneurial spirit, values, and trust in people continue to shape igus today and will accompany the company in the future.
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