The striking Bogenhalle on the Düsseldorf campus will be renamed the “Krautkrämer Building.” The decision symbolizes the impact that Herbert and Erika Krautkrämer have left at WHU:
• A building for students who want to think entrepreneurially and make a social impact.
• A legacy that is invested in scholarships, infrastructure, and freedom.
• A model of how wealth is translated into education: not through names on foundation plaques, but in the everyday life of the university.
Philanthropy and impact in education.
The extraordinary legacy of Herbert and Erika Krautkrämer.
A commitment that shaped WHU from its inception to today.
Education has the power to change lives.
Your support transforms it.
At WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, we believe in the power of education to open minds, unlock potential, and shape a better future. Thanks to the generous contributions of the WHU Foundation, the Otto Beisheim Foundation, and other dedicated donors, that belief has become action.
Your support makes the following possible:
- Scholarships are available to outstanding students, regardless of financial barriers or social background.
- Pioneering research that creates real-world impact with relevant input for science, business, and society.
- The continuous development and expansion of an innovative campus infrastructure that fosters learning and the exchange of ideas.
What do all these donations and the name Krautkrämer have in common? A shared commitment to strengthening education and empowering tomorrow’s leaders. Every form of support, large or small, helps to shape the next generation of changemakers.
The Campus Krautkrämer Foundation, the numerous individual donations, and finally, the testamentary bequest of Erika and Dr. Herbert Krautkrämer are examples of how personal commitment and a dedicated community bring WHU’s mission to life every day.
Who was Dr. Herbert Krautkrämer?
An entrepreneur with a vision.
Shortly after World War II, Dr. Herbert Krautkrämer and his brother Josef founded a company focused on non-destructive material testing. They developed Germany’s first pulse-echo ultrasonic device from a garage in Cologne, and this breakthrough propelled them to industry prominence.
Within a few years, their company became a global leader with over 400 employees. The Krautkrämer name lives on in Waygate Technologies (Baker Hughes) today. Josef led technology and development, while Herbert took over commercial management.
He completed an apprenticeship as a radio mechanic at the same time, later graduated with a degree in physics, and earned his doctorate in 1955 with a thesis on the elastic properties of barium titanate—a rare path from craftsmanship to science to international entrepreneurial success.
Philanthropy and the future of WHU.
A donation for generations to come.
Throughout their lives, the couple remained childless. Together, Erika and Dr. Herbert Krautkrämer decided to bequeath their entire estate to an institution that reflected their shared ethos: entrepreneurial thinking, scientific excellence, and responsibility toward the next generation.
As early as the early 1980s, Dr. Herbert Krautkrämer supported the founding of WHU, both conceptually and financially. His pledge of support in 1984 was one of the first documented contributions. Over the years, he remained closely associated with WHU as a member of the Board of Trustees and co-financier of the first new school building in 2000.
Erika Krautkrämer shared her husband's conviction and continued their joint commitment to WHU even after his death. She took responsibility for the Campus Krautkrämer Foundation and ensured the opening of the student residence in 2005. She made landmark decisions and ensured the project was finalized per her husband's wishes.
Erika Krautkrämer passed away on August 18, 2022. She made one last philanthropic gesture in her will: that the WHU Foundation would be her sole heir.
The Krautkrämer Building
The Campus Krautkrämer Foundation
The Campus Krautkrämer Foundation provides affordable, high-quality housing for WHU students, supporting the school’s mission to offer education regardless of social background. It helps integrate scholarship recipients and international students into campus life.
By offering housing on or near campus, the foundation removes financial barriers while fostering personal growth, global connections, and a strong sense of community at WHU.
By offering housing on or near campus, the foundation removes financial barriers while fostering personal growth, global connections, and a strong sense of community at WHU.
Thanks to the WHU community.
The lasting commitment of the Krautkrämer family is also a signal of confidence in our work: in teaching, research, administration, students, and alums. It encourages us to continue pursuing our vision.
To strengthen social responsibility through education and entrepreneurial endeavors.
Shape the future with us: Get in touch!
Would you like to learn more about our projects or get involved? We look forward to hearing from you!
Dr. Peter Kreutter
Managing Director Foundations
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