From Bruchsal to the world – Jürgen Blickle turns 75

For more than five decades, Jürgen Blickle has been driving SEW-EURODRIVE’s global expansion, from establishing the company’s first location outside Europe to building a worldwide network. In doing so, he has built on the foundation laid by his father, Ernst Blickle, who set the course for the company’s growth and international development.

Taking responsibility for international expansion at just 22 years old

After completing an internship in export operations, Jürgen Blickle assumed responsibility for the company’s international expansion at the age of just 22. Following assignments at the subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Italy, he moved to Canada in 1974 to establish SEW-EURODRIVE’s first location outside Europe.

For SEW-EURODRIVE’s international expansion, he lived and worked on several continents over many years, from Canada and Australia to the United States, before returning to Bruchsal. Under his leadership, sales offices as well as assembly and manufacturing plants were established in North America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand in collaboration with international teams. Throughout this process, he focused on building sustainable structures, empowering local leadership, and fostering close collaboration with people on the ground. The companies and plants established during this period are now integral parts of SEW-EURODRIVE’s global production and sales network.

International openness as a key success factor
Jürgen Blickle believes that economic success is closely linked to openness toward other cultures and ways of life. This conviction shapes SEW-EURODRIVE’s corporate culture and is regarded as a key factor in the company’s global development. “Being open to different ways of life has always been part of SEW’s core philosophy. That is the reason for our worldwide success,” emphasizes Jürgen Blickle.

One example of this approach is SEW-EURODRIVE’s entry into the Chinese market in the mid-1990s with the establishment of its Tianjin location. Today, five of the company’s 18 manufacturing plants are located in China. With approximately 6,700 employees and around 65 locations, China has become SEW-EURODRIVE’s largest international subsidiary. The development of this operation illustrates SEW-EURODRIVE’s transformation from a regionally focused family business into a global provider of drive and automation technology. At the same time, it exemplifies the company’s worldwide production and sales network, which now spans locations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Australia.

Commitment to society, science, and research
In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Jürgen Blickle has supported social, scientific, and community initiatives for many years. In doing so, he continues a family tradition that regards social responsibility as an integral part of business leadership. This commitment is reflected in long-standing relationships with social institutions and organizations, particularly in the Bruchsal region. These include Caritas Bruchsal, Lebenshilfe Bruchsal, and the volunteer fire departments of Bruchsal and Graben-Neudorf.

Professional training and talent development are also of great importance to Jürgen Blickle. In the fall of 2025, SEW-EURODRIVE opened a new training center in Graben-Neudorf with more than 9,300 square meters (approximately 100,000 square feet) of space. Around 250 apprentices are currently training there in ten different occupations, complemented by approximately 100 students enrolled in dual-study programs across more than ten bachelor's and master's degree courses.

Another major focus of his work is science and research. This commitment is reflected in the SEW-EURODRIVE Foundation and the presentation of the ERNST BLICKLE AWARD. Presented by the foundation every two years, the award carries a prize of €100,000 and ranks among the most highly endowed awards of its kind.

Through the expansion of numerous locations across multiple continents and his continued commitment to society, education, science, and research, Jürgen Blickle has played a decisive role in shaping SEW-EURODRIVE’s development for more than five decades. Today, SEW-EURODRIVE stands as an example of a globally operating, privately owned company that successfully combines economic performance with long-term responsibility.

APPENDIX: International milestones and personal highlights of Jürgen Blickle