Family Entrepreneurs of the Year

“With its lived diversity between generations, genders and cultures, the Busch family stands for a form of forward-looking, economically very successful entrepreneurship that exceptionally implements the long-term securing of the company in the hands of the family,” quotes jury member and INTES* Managing Director Catharina Prym from the jury’s statement.

The family-owned company with worldwide annual global turnover of around one billion Euro is managed by the founding couple Ayhan and Dr Karl Busch and their children Ayla, Sami and Kaya Busch. Decisions are made jointly by the Busch family. With this attitude, they cultivate a culture of discussion which requires a great deal of discipline and strength, but at the same time ensures the best results.

“We are all Co-CEOs,” says Kaya Busch, and Ayla Busch adds: “Everyone has a different view, criticism takes us further.” A constructive critical view, diverse perspectives and open words are also expected from the 3,800 employees worldwide who work at six production sites and subsidiaries in 45 countries.

This discussion-oriented corporate culture and cooperation can be traced back to the married couple Ayhan and Dr Karl Busch. In 1963, the engineer Karl Busch invented the first vacuum pump for packaging foodstuffs, the HUCKEPACK, in the basement of his home. From this innovation, the family company developed leading vacuum and overpressure technology. However, the ingenious invention would never have become so successful without Ayhan Busch. She expanded the organization and ensured the appropriate marketing of the product. From the very beginning, the founding couple pursued an equal partnership in which engineering spirit and entrepreneurship complement each other. The three children were “born into the startup,” as Sami Busch puts it. From an early age, they had the opportunity to accompany their parents on business trips and share their opinions on the company.

The company has remained loyal to its headquarters in Maulburg for decades, as local anchoring and regional commitment are important to the family. Busch Vacuum Solutions has already received awards for its social and cultural commitment. The family company is not worried about its long-term existence: Six grandchildren are already in the starting blocks to follow their parents and grandparents. “They all want to work for Busch once,” says Dr Karl Busch.