Testimonials

Dr. Karl Spanner

"Ambition"

“In German, the word for ambition is ‘Ehrgeiz’. I think that it is a determining characteristic of people. Because someone who doesn’t want to achieve anything, who has no vision or goals, won’t achieve anything. I am sixty years old and have been the managing director of Physik Instrumente (PI) for thirty years. I no longer have any truly new goals. I try to keep on achieving my existing goals. From a business point of view, I am committed to building up the company’s reputation, making it profitable and offering continuity.

I therefore take great pride in the fact that we are still number one in the area of piezo technology. This means that our efforts to further improve our products are bearing fruit. Companies that grow always leave gaps which the competition can fill up. Our task is to keep these gaps as small as possible. I am very much committed to this.

I have the same commitment to my family and friends. Hopefully, they appreciate this, and it doesn’t matter so much if my efforts have or haven’t been successful in the end. I feel responsible for them, and I enjoy that I can put the chances and opportunities that life offers me to good use. In a sense, I am also committed to ALT. Ever since the company was set up. I have had a special relationship with the company. I got on well with the founder, and I am also on good terms with Erik and Dick. We communicate openly and frankly about developments in our market and within our companies. I therefore regard it as natural that I make an effort for them, should this be required and should they ask me. (Of course always in mutual consultation!)
Returning to the theme of ambition: I will continue putting in efforts for others. On a personal level, I have nothing to wish for.”

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