Motor Repairs - Reliable, Fast, Everywhere
Interview with Christian Leibetseder, Managing Director of Carl Baguhn GmbH & CO. KG
Global energy demand continues to rise. Increasingly larger amounts of electrical energy are needed for industrial production, the operation of data centers, air conditioning, and maritime transport - the International Energy Agency forecasts an annual increase of 4%. As a global service partner in the shipping and energy sectors, Carl Baguhn GmbH from Hamburg is directly affected by this development. They repair and maintain engine components, thus making a valuable contribution to sustainability.
European Business: Mr. Leibetseder, Carl Baguhn GmbH is celebrating its 120th company anniversary this year. Is there a common thread that has run through these years?
Christian Leibetseder: Carl Baguhn was founded in 1905 and remains privately owned. Since the very beginning, electrification and motorization have run through the company's history, even though we are dealing with different dimensions today. It all started when the founder Carl Baguhn, a trained mechanical engineer, tinkered with the first car that drove in Hamburg in 1894, to solve a problem. Even today, we solve engine-related issues - whether it involves a 5 HP outboard motor on a private sailing boat or 90,000 HP two-stroke machines installed on a 24,000 TEU ship. That we are now operating worldwide on such a scale was not foreseeable at the turn of the century.
European Business: How is the company positioned today to reliably realize such complex projects?
Christian Leibetseder: We employ 90 staff in Hamburg and have been part of the Zephyr Group since the end of 2024, which includes six companies with 250 employees at locations in Hamburg, La Spezia, Rotterdam, Bilbao, Singapore, and Barranquilla in Colombia. Our customers operate globally; to be close to them, this international setup is very important. As part of a restructuring, we have not only advanced internationalization but also professionalized sales, so that today 32 sales staff provide on-site consulting to shipping companies and power plants. Carl Baguhn has moved three times in 120 years and is now located on a 5,000 m2 site in Hamburg. The focus on shipping began after World War II and was further intensified in the 1970s following a change of ownership. Today, it accounts for 70%, with 20% in the power plant sector, and the remainder in a mix of food industry, aviation, chemistry. Wherever there is rotation and movement, crankshafts and cylinder liners are installed. Through our repair of heavy components, these receive a second or even third life, and we thus reduce CO2 emissions.
Wirtschaftsforum: So, does Carl Baguhn primarily deal with the repair of engine components?
Christian Leibetseder: Repairs and maintenance play a central role, but we also manufacture. In 2020, the plant of a long-term partner was closed; we dismantled some machines and brought them to our site, so we can carry out more manufacturing steps in-house – but above all, we are a medium-sized company with a hands-on mentality, offering customers services from a single source.
Wirtschaftsforum: You have been working for Carl Baguhn for 20 years, and since 2019 as managing director. Ten years ago, the company had 65 employees, now it has 90. What led to this growth?
Christian Leibetseder: We stay close to our customers and can offer quick solutions thanks to our flat hierarchies and short paths. Since we place great emphasis on training, most of our new talent comes from within our own ranks. We have employees who have been working for Carl Baguhn for 40 years. Despite the growth, we maintain a family-like approach.
Wirtschaftsforum: Has the culture of the company changed with the growth?
Christian Leibetseder: Carl Baguhn has always stood for values such as consistency, quality, and reliability—values that are often overlooked in society today, but are still important and valid for us. We adhere to the Hamburg merchant tradition and stand by our word.
Wirtschaftsforum: Do you expect to continue to grow?
Christian Leibetseder: Our aim is to establish more locations worldwide. As power needs continue to rise and transportation increases, reciprocating engines will still play an important role in the future. The founder's original thought thus remains relevant today and in the future. Only the fuel will and must change. Because we do not want to lag behind in future developments but rather be well-prepared, we are involved in research projects that deal with alternative fuels
Wirtschaftsforum: You have known the company and the industry for many years. What personally appeals to you?
Christian Leibetseder: As a person enthusiastic about technology, I am pleased with every order that sends our employees out into the world—whether a cruise ship is stranded in the Arctic or a power plant in Bermuda has failed.