More space for leisure and research
As of 1.7.2021, Dr. Ing.
Matthias Gerhardt handed over his position as Managing Director of BIOPRACT GmbH to Dr. rer. nat. Angelika Hanreich-Kur.
Mr. Gerhardt will remain with the company as a consultant with his wealth of experience and scientific expertise. This is particularly welcomed by the 2nd Managing Director of BIOPRACT GmbH and also Managing Director of BIOPRACT ABT GmbH, Dr. agr. Joachim Pheiffer. He is not only a business partner, but also a long-time companion of Dr. Matthias Gerhardt. Together, they acquired BIOPRACT GmbH from the Dutch DSM Group in 2012 and subsequently expanded the company from a pure research service provider to a successful technology developer. The change in management gave rise to an interview with the three BIOPRACT executives, which, among other things, provides a look back and a look ahead and also reflects personal assessments of the development of the company and enzyme technology.
?: Mr. Gerhardt, 1.7.2021 marks the end of an important chapter in your life.
You are starting a new chapter.
What are your plans for the future?
!: From a professional point of view, the motto is “Back to the roots”. As a consultant at BIOPRACT, I will be focusing more on the research and development of enzyme products and new applications in the future. In addition to existing projects, there are also new ideas and opportunities, but I can’t say anything more about them at the moment. From a personal point of view, I will finally have more freedom to pursue my hobbies and spend the time I have gained with my family, which has grown quite a bit in the meantime. In short, I’m looking forward to what lies ahead!
?: You can look back on 29 years of successful development work in the field of enzyme technology.
Looking back, which professional milestones were particularly important for you?
!: I don’t need to think about it for long: 1. the development and transfer of a process for cellulase production at production sites in Poland, Ukraine and Ireland 2. the proof of the effect of hydrolytic enzymes on the performance of biogas processes, and 3. the very successful takeover of DSM Biopract via an MBO together with my long-standing business partner, Joachim Pheiffer. Not forgetting the successful launch of BIOPRACT ABT and the good response to our enzyme products. At the beginning, we would never have dared to dream of today’s sales figures.
?: Keyword: Co-founder of BIOPRACT ABT.
The company is dedicated to the marketing and distribution of “enzymatic problem solvers” developed specifically for biogas plant operators.
What is your assessment – is there further potential for the use of enzyme preparations?
!: Absolutely! Almost all processes based on plant biomass suffer from insufficient digestion of the substrates, which are naturally designed for stability and durability. Waste water, animal feed, food, materials – these are just a few areas where I see immense potential. I am also encouraged by the fact that the rather critical attitude towards enzyme products is now taking a positive turn. Acceptance in the industry, but also among the general public, is growing.
?: Mr. Pheiffer, as already mentioned by Mr. Gerhardt, you have had a close business relationship for 25 years.
How important has this close collaboration been to you and what do you particularly appreciate about your long-standing business partner?
!: Mr. Gerhardt has broad specialist knowledge and a great deal of experience – particularly in the field of biotechnology. I am glad that these skills will remain part of the “BIOPRACT family” in the future. In my opinion, we have complemented each other perfectly in our many years of working together. As a photographer, I would say that I was the wide-angle lens that focused on the entire broad spectrum of ideas and development possibilities of our work and the market opportunities of our developments, while Matthias was the zoom lens. He focused on the details – e.g. the scientific analysis, the evaluation of data and the optimization of processes. We didn’t always agree, but we exchanged our arguments constructively at all times. We then came to a joint decision that we both supported. And: Matthias also has the necessary willingness to take risks that you need as an entrepreneur.
?: Would you like to add anything else, Mr. Gerhardt?
!: Yes. I believe that honest and fair dealings with each other were and are particularly important for our collaboration. We can tell each other the truth unvarnished. Everyone has respect for the other person’s point of view and tries to adopt their perspective. And as far as the willingness to take risks is concerned – it’s all about making the right decision in more than 60 % of cases.
?: Mr. Pheiffer – the change in the management naturally also has an impact on your work as Managing Director of BIOPRACT GmbH and BIOPRACT ABT.
Will the focus of your activities change?
For example, will you be devoting more time to research and development in the future?
!: No. I will continue to focus primarily on the strategic orientation of the companies, the development of new business areas and the marketing of our services and products. For the scientific area, we have appointed Dr. rer. nat. Angelika Hanreich-Kur, and Matthias Gerhardt will remain with us for some time in the Research & Development department.
?: BIOPRACT ABT is still a young company, but is already very successful.
The enzyme products are now not only sold on the German market, but also in other European countries.
Do you see further growth potential on the European or even intercontinental market?
!: Yes, we have already been operating successfully in Italy for several years and we have promising contacts with sales partners in France, Scandinavia and the UK. We would also like to open up other markets in Europe. Interested parties are welcome to contact us. I do not rule out the possibility of entering the American or Asian market, but this is still a long way off at the moment.
?: Ms. Hanreich-Kur, you will be taking over Mr. Gerhardt’s position as Managing Director of BIOPRACT GmbH in the future.
How did the collaboration come about?
!: I first came into contact with Matthias Gerhardt in 2009 as part of a joint project in which I was involved as a doctoral student at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering Potsdam and BIOPRACT GmbH. Even then, I was impressed by his expertise in the field of enzyme technology. So I was all the more pleased when I was later offered the opportunity to work in the BIOPRACT scientific team. Over the past few years, I have worked on various projects. Among other things, I developed the BIOPRACT product line Ultrapract® together with Dr. Joachim Pheiffer, which was patented in 2018.
?: Where do you see the focus of your future work and how do you assess the further development and potential for the products and services of BIOPRACT GmbH?
!: I continue to focus on research and development in the field of biogas. I also see great potential here for the future. After all, the utilization of a wide variety of material flows, such as waste recycling to generate energy using innovative processes, will become even more important in the future and require special solutions. In order to make progress in these areas, we are involved in research projects – including at EU level – in which BIOPRACT’s expertise is in demand. Mr. Gerhardt, Mr. Pheiffer and Ms. Hanreich-Kur: Thank you very much for the informative interview and all the best for the future!
