50 years of Keil Anlagenbau - The start as a one-man business

Part 1: The early years

How did the company come to be founded?

H.-J. Keil: After my training as a heating engineer, I worked as a journeyman at my training company Lutte in Bohmte. After I had completed my military service, I started working with my master craftsman in Oldenburg. At the same time, central heating was a big trend. Many homeowners decided to install central heating in existing properties and also in new buildings, which generated a corresponding demand. More and more homeowners approached me directly and asked me to carry out heating work for them. The high demand led me to start my own business.

What were your first customers?

H.-J. Keil: I started with the installation of heating systems in private households and farms, and about three years after setting up, we expanded our clientele. Commercial customers were added. Initially school centres in nearby towns, a large bank in Osnabrück, animal feed manufacturers and large laundries. In 1984, I completed my master craftsman’s diploma in sanitation to be able to offer our customers a broader range of services.

How did the company develop in the first few years?

H.-J. Keil: There was a great demand for a specialised company, so I was able to hire a first helper for the orders only a few months after founding the company, and one year later I added two apprentices. With this team, we were able to process the orders at first. We had a full workload, although of course competition and pricing were always an issue.

However, it quickly became clear that I had a bigger goal, moving away from small private heating systems to complex systems in commercial enterprises - I was always looking for the challenge.

Looking back, what would you do differently/do the same way again?

H.-J. Keil: I think there are always decisions that one would have made differently from today's perspective, but I would say that I would do everything the same again, given the state of affairs at the time. Mistakes have to be made in order to develop. My incentive has always been to make - if mistakes are made, they can be corrected. I can only say that I have always done something to build up my company and that is exactly what has brought Keil forward and made it what it is today.

We thank Hans-Jürgen Keil for his time and the great interview.

In Part 2, we talk about specialisation in the field of polyurethanes - from the development of the first tank farm to becoming a specialised provider of tank farms for the storage of polyurethanes.