In Memory: Erema co-founder Georg Wendelin dies at 84

The Erema Group announced that one of its co-founders, Georg Wendelin, died on March 29. He was 84.

Wendelin joined forces with Helmut Bacher and Helmuth Schulz in 1983 to build their first plastics recycling machine, as well as the business that would eventually grow to become the Erema Group.

The company’s announcement cited Wendelin’s leadership in shepherding the company through a period when plastics recycling was a niche to the company’s eventual role as a driving force for the circular economy. It also noted his business acumen and respectful style of management. He was honored in 2019 with the Golden Decoration of the Republic of Austria in recognition of his work.

Manfred Hackl, CEO of Erema Group GmbH and a long-time friend of Wendelin’s, said, “We will greatly miss Georg Wendelin as a personality who was closely associated with us for all these years. Because of his humanity, he was a highly respected figure of leadership on all sides.”

The Erema Group’s LinkedIn page marked Wendelin’s passing by saying, “His death fills us with great sadness, but also with gratitude for his work, his trust and his unwavering involvement in the EREMA Group. Our deepest sympathy goes to his whole family.”