That’s truly a rare occurrence: Gerald Ortlepp, director of the Textile Technology Center at TITK Rudolstadt, is celebrating his 50th anniversary with the company. Mayor Jörg Reichl is also there to offer his congratulations.
It was a lifetime dedicated to textile research that began on September 1, 1976. First stage: training as a skilled worker in chemical production at what was then the Schwarza Chemical Fiber Complex. Two years later, he received his skilled worker’s certificate and was assigned to the Workers’ and Peasants’ Faculty in Halle to undergo a crash course to prepare him for studying abroad. This included the high school diploma and Czech language classes. In 1983 - after four years at the Technical University of Liberec - Gerald Ortlepp returned to Schwarza as a newly minted graduate engineer in textiles and apparel, specializing in spinning, and began his professional career there in the central research department of the chemical fiber combine. After the combine was dismantled during the reunification period, the founding of the TITK allowed for an almost seamless transition for him.
Ortlepp looks back and recalls that he was indeed faced with a choice at the time: “Do you go to the West and make money, or do you stay here and enjoy your work?” Fortunately, he chose the latter. And so the TITK was now able to honor his very rare work anniversary.
“This isn’t just unusual - it’s something truly extraordinary. An honor like this isn’t even provided for in the civil service anymore,” said Mayor Jörg Reichl, who had come to the research institute on Breitscheidstraße specifically for this occasion. He brought with him a gift bag and a handwritten congratulatory note. After a fine bottle of wine and a bonus of 1,000 euros, Institute Director Benjamin Redlingshöfer presented him with a TITK commemorative coin - an award rarely given - which was a very special treat for numismatist Gerald Ortlepp.
Even at 67, the textile engineer - who has lived in Uhlstädt for many years - still works passionately every day on exciting projects and continues to learn, as he proudly reports. His work focuses on semi-finished textile products used as fiber-reinforced composites - including state-of-the-art lightweight materials for a major European aircraft manufacturer. On his anniversary, Ortlepp had just finished drafting another proposal for an industrial client.
In the meantime, however, he does indeed seem to be slowly heading toward his well-deserved retirement. His workweek has already been reduced to three days. And next year, it’s really going to be over. But TITK CEO Redlingshöfer added with a wink: If he gets bored at home, he’ll always be welcome back.
