The German Association of Transport Sciences (DVWG) has honoured Herrenknecht founder and chairman Martin Herrenknecht with the Innovation Award of the German Mobility Industry.
The award, in the Personality category, was announced at the 10th German Mobility Congress earlier this month.
“We are proud to have Martin Herrenknecht in our ranks, a unique doer who drives mobility solutions made in Germany around the world,” said Professor Knut Ringat, managing director of the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) transport association, and jury chairman of the innovation award.
DVWG president and jury member Professor Jan Ninnemann said Martin Herrenknecht’s vision and entrepreneurial courage had changed the thinking about infrastructure projects.
“In metropolises such as Shanghai, Paris or London, where countless pipes and cables already cross under the ground, the precision and reliability of Herrenknecht machines open up new possibilities for subways, road tunnels and all other types of underground transportation,” he said.
Professor Rolf Katzenbach from the Technical University of Darmstadt paid tribute to his “great life’s work” and said, “we need more Martin Herrenknechts in our country”.
Dr Herrenknecht said it was an honour to receive the award, which he also accepted on behalf of the company’s employees.
He also commented on the current state of German’s infrastructure.
“Our infrastructure, which contributes significantly to our prosperity and competitiveness, is dilapidated. Germany, once a pioneer in this field, is increasingly at risk of falling behind. We now need the courage to start major projects and see them through to completion. For me, this award is therefore not only an honour, but also an incentive to continue to point out the problems. Let us fight together to ensure that Germany invests in the future again and promotes innovation so that we do not continue to remain in the status quo,” he said.
