That was quite a bold move: it wasn’t that a man dared to strike out on his own in 1983—others did that too. But the field in which he hoped to offer technical solutions that would win over many customers sounded rather exotic 36 years ago. Heat recovery—anyone who could spell that correctly back then was already way ahead of the game. Wolfgang Oehm wanted more back then—and not just back then. Oni’s second adventure began in a 60-square-meter garage with three employees. Oehm had already completed his first one several years earlier. As a native of the Sauerland region, he switched sides and set up shop as operations manager at a company in western Oberberg. And today, the man who turned 80 just a few weeks ago still calls the Rhineland home.
Over the past 35 years, he has built a thriving company that currently employs more than 460 people worldwide, supplying 5,400 customers with energy-optimized systems. On Friday afternoon, Wolfgang Oehm (pictured) invited his employees, family, and many guests to the company party and the after-party for his milestone birthday. And District Administrator Jochen Hagt summed it up: Oni-Technik saves 5.5 billion kilograms of CO2 every year. “Climate protection isn’t achieved through bans, but through intelligent engineering—just like with Wolfgang Oehm.”
Numerous well-wishers paid tribute to the entrepreneur, but also to Wolfgang Oehm the man, who always viewed his work at the helm of an internationally operating company through a social lens. He funded language courses for 50 refugees, enabled some of them to undergo training at Oni, and secured jobs for all the others through his connections. He values older employees for their experience and challenges and supports more than 40 trainees. Oehm feels a sense of responsibility and wants to “get young people on the right track.” If grades need improvement during training, the boss calls them in for a talk. Mr. Oni knows everything and everyone in his company; walking through the factory halls is part of his routine. He always has an ear for his employees, always has time for a chat, and always has room for a smile on his face.
Now Wolfgang Oehm is 80 years old—and has no intention of retiring. Anyone who brings up retirement stirs up a fighting spirit in this energy-saving pioneer. He doesn’t want to sit in the front row of the audience; he wants to be on stage making a difference—because he loves his work so passionately. And compared to his experience, his negotiating skills, and his knack for finding the right words, many younger people sometimes look like amateurs. When negotiations with a customer are hanging by a thread, Oehm always has to step in and pull the cart, the Oni employees whisper to one another.
Two regional traits have come together in Oehm. He has known how to use Westphalian stubbornness and a certain Rhineland lightheartedness to his advantage.
Oehm has already received 44 awards for his work and his social responsibility. He always emphasizes that he accepts these awards only on behalf of his employees, because they contribute significantly to Oni’s success with their expertise and dedication. On Friday, award number 45 was added to the list; this time, Oehm received it from the Oskar Patzelt Foundation for his life’s work. But he was especially delighted by the 1:10 scale cooling system that his apprentices gave him for his birthday. “This is simply fantastic. The cooling system will have a place of honor in my home,” said a delighted Wolfgang Oehm.
