Martin Herrenknecht Receives the Werner von Siemens Ring

Dr.-Ing. E.h. Martin Herrenknecht accepted the Werner von Siemens Ring – one of the most prestigious technical engineering awards – on December 13, 2016 in the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities for his work in the development of innovative tunnel boring machines and groundbreaking engineering projects in mechanized tunnelling.

Around 250 guests representing the areas of science, business and politics took part in the event. The official speech was given by Nobel prizewinner and chemist Prof. Dr. Stefan Hell.

Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, praised Herrenknecht’s accomplishments. “As the manufacturer of the world’s largest tunnel boring machines, Dr. Martin Herrenknecht is an exemplary figure in these areas: he is an inventor and founder, a technical pioneer and an entrepreneur, and with the success displayed by his company, he is one of the representatives of this country’s economic strength,” Gabriel said.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Manfred Nußbaumer M. Sc., member of the Foundation Council at the Werner von Siemens Ring Foundation and former chairman of the Board at Ed. Züblin AG, highlighted the particular technical courage and entrepreneurial pioneer spirit displayed by Herrenknecht.

“You (Herrenknecht) have repeatedly broken new ground,” Nußbaumer said. “Every time we met, I was amazed at the energy with which you pursued your goals and the wide range of possible solutions at your disposal for excavating tunnels.  With a variety of groundbreaking innovations and optimizations of existing technology and methods, the Herrenknecht company has swiftly assumed the role of international market leader.”

For the past 100 years, the Werner von Siemens Ring has been awarded to inventors and entrepreneurs for outstanding achievements who, like Werner von Siemens, have realized epoch-making technical innovations and guided them to success.