Interview With Our New Division President

Hello Mr. Mühlon. It’s great to have you on board at Bucher Hydraulics. For our people who haven’t met you yet, please tell us a thing or two about yourself.

Frank Mühlon: Hello and thanks for the warm welcome. Well, my name’s Frank Mühlon, I’m 54 years old and my background is in industrial and mechanical engineering. During my career, I’ve had various roles within the industry, especially automotive and more recently in the electricity sector. Outside of work, I’m happily married and a proud father of two, although the kids are grown up now, one of them is still studying and the other pursuing a career.

You’re currently living in Zug in Switzerland. Do you plan on staying there?

That’s right, I live in Zug in Switzerland, which is a beautiful place. But as division president, I absolutely need to be on the ground at Bucher Hydraulics HQ in Klettgau, to be close to the action. So I’ll definitely be relocating to that part of southern Germany.

Your experience in the electricity sector will be of great value to Bucher Hydraulics, especially with regard to electrification. What excites you about this new challenge?

Electrification is an exciting development that I have been enthusiastically involved in for decades. Bucher Industries has this unique structure, it combines the stability of a family business with the dynamic of a publicly traded corporation. Because of the company’s size and the way the divisions act autonomously, there is so much scope to forge ahead and to drive innovation. I see a great deal of potential for combining my experience with electromobility and Bucher Hydraulics’ mechanical engineering expertise, especially when it comes to electrohydraulics.

How familiar are you with the hydraulics industry?

How do you unwind after a hard day’s work?

It isn’t always easy to let work go, but sports really help me wind down. I used to do a lot of running, but these days, I spend more time cycling. It helps me clear my head. At home, I’m a big reader and I also love gardening and spending time outdoors, in nature – I’m a big animal lover.

So you have pets?

No, we don’t have any pets right now. Getting a pet is always a family decision, so it isn’t just up to me. But who knows what may happen!

Bucher Hydraulics does business all over the world. Will you be visiting the various sites soon?

Yes, I absolutely intend to. Daniel Waller and I will finish getting me settled in, then visiting our international offices is next on the agenda. I want to see every part of our company for myself. It’s really important to me, to connect everywhere and keep the lines open.

Mr. Mühlon, thank you very much for talking with us. We wish you the best of success in your new role. Do you have any closing words you’d like to say to everyone?

My advice to anyone interested in developing their career is to face new challenges with an open mind, to see change in the industry as an opportunity. At Bucher Hydraulics, I see a promising future, with tradition and innovation working hand in hand. My basic attitude, to be open and accessible, is what drives my approach and is why I always try to work constructively with everyone. What I want to do is promote appreciation and dialog, so we can all play an active part in the company’s success.

Pascal Kiwitz interviewed Frank Mühlon on May 17, 2024 in Neuheim, Switzerland.