ANYONE ANYONE CAN DO CAN DO “ SIMPLE“. “ SIMPLE“. Rainer Zobel and his time at Vogelsang from entirely Around 90 employees, 5 million German marks in annual revenue (equivalent to approx. 2.56 million euros), generated almost the agricultural technology segment: This was the backdrop against which Rainer Zobel (born in 1960) began his profes- sional career at Vogelsang. The trained mechanical engineer had already gained international experience at another pump manufacturer and joined Vogelsang in July 1994 as Sales Director with a clear mission: to expand sales territories in Germany and worldwide and tap into new markets. “Back then, Vogelsang operated almost exclusively in the agri- cultural sector and had only one branch of its own in Denmark,” recalls Rainer. Building sales and international branches What followed was pioneering work in the truest sense. Rainer built up sales outside the agricultural machinery sector, thereby laying the foundation for the new business areas of wastewater, industry, and biogas. Together with the management team led by Harald Vogelsang, Rainer played a leading role in establishing new branches. As a result, the company has grown to include over 30 subsidiaries and representative offices in more than 50 countries, employs over 1,300 people worldwide, and has gener- ated annual revenue of approximately 200 million euros in recent years. Staff selection, country- and market-specific portfolios, customer training, and T H A N K T H A N K Y O U , Y O U , R A I N E R ! R A I N E R ! acquisition: these key responsibilities took Rainer to many countries around the world and provided plenty of stories. The world in view – and on the plate One experience has stayed with him: “Due to my tight schedule on site, I usu- ally saw very little of the country itself. That’s why it was always important to me to eat local specialties and learn a little more about the country and its people, at least through its cuisine. So it happened that during a five-day stay in Spain, I ordered Crema Catalana ten times. I was simply captivated by that creamy dessert with its caramelized sugar crust,” Rainer still raves about it today. Knowledge sharing and innovation In addition to building up the sales force, he also served as a knowledge broker for decades: For more than 25 years, he conducted product trainings, sometimes for up to ten weeks a year. These sessions focused not only on technology but also on sales pitches, applications, and keep- ing an eye on new developments. Many ideas for products and features came directly from the sales team – a principle that Rainer always championed. He also vividly remembers his first trade show appearance for Vogelsang in 1994 at TerraTec in Leipzig, a trade fair for environmental technology and services. “Our booth was very simple: mobile partitions, pumps from the warehouse instead of shiny trade show exhibits. And to top it off, we were placed right next to my former employer and competitor. I’ll never forget the pitying looks from my former colleagues,” Rainer says with a smile, adding, “That company no longer exists in that form today.” Trust-based collaboration His conclusion after over 30 years as part of the Vogelsang family: “Together with management and our dedicated colleagues, we have achieved many goals and contributed significantly to the company’s strong international presence. Smooth sailing was not often the case, but we worked together in mutual trust. It wasn’t always easy, but anyone can do the easy stuff.” Now a new chapter in Rainer’s life begins. One that he’s consciously choosing to take a bit slower. More time for family, for his own garden, and for cycling trips through Germany. But he won’t be saying goodbye completely: Whenever support is needed, Rainer will still be available for product training. And what does Rainer wish for Vogelsang? “I hope the company continues to develop so well,” he says. He helped lay the groundwork for that. Thank you very much, Rainer! 360° | 19 360° | 19