Kress was at the helm of the company for almost five decades. He shaped the once small company into an international group. He retired from active management in 2018, but continued to take an active interest in the company's developments. "The company is my baby and that's why I will never let it out of my sight," he once said. The entire workforce joins the Kress family in mourning the loss of Dr. Dieter Kress.

Dr. Dieter Kress joined Mapal Dr. Kress KG in 1969 after graduating in mechanical engineering and business administration. His father, Dr. Georg Kress, had founded the company in 1950. While working at the company, Dr. Dieter Kress completed his doctorate on the subject of reaming, which was the basis for Mapal's continued success story. Dr. Dieter Kress developed high-performance special tools from the standard reamer product.

With great vision and personal commitment, Kress managed the company for 49 years as Managing Partner. Under his leadership, the product portfolio was continuously expanded and Mapal established itself on the market as a full-range supplier. Tools for drilling, countersinking, milling, hard turning and boring were added to the reamers. Chucks and devices for setting, measuring and dispensing as well as numerous tool-related services were also added to the portfolio.

In addition, company acquisitions and start-ups were responsible for Mapal's enormous growth. Dr. Dieter Kress followed his very own strategy. It was important for him to respect and preserve the respective culture of the acquired companies. In his 49 years at the helm, Dr. Dieter Kress transformed a regionally active manufacturer of taps into an internationally active, broadly positioned group of companies.

Today, Mapal is represented in 44 countries and employs around 5,000 people worldwide, around 1,700 of whom work at the main plant in Aalen. In 2018, Dr. Dieter Kress handed over responsibility to his son Dr. Jochen Kress, who is now the third generation to run the precision tool manufacturer.

In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Dr. Dieter Kress was also involved in a number of honorary positions. The region and the training of young people were particularly close to his heart. He attached great importance to training young people at Mapal himself and invested in the corresponding infrastructure. Today, Mapal is one of the largest training companies in the East Württemberg region. Around 130 trainees learn different professions at Mapal in Aalen, and as many as 300 worldwide - from cutting machine operators to warehouse logistics specialists and IT specialists. Dr. Dieter Kress also supported research and teaching at Aalen University - among other things by setting up an endowed chair in cooperation with other companies and as a member of the University Council. He was active in committees, initiatives and associations, including as Chairman of the VDMA Precision Tools Association and as a founding member of the P.E.G.A.S.U.S. association, which supports company founders.

Dr. Dieter Kress has received numerous awards for his services, including the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Golden Staufer Medal of the State of Baden-Württemberg. He was also one of the first recipients of the German Mechanical Engineering Prize. Aalen University awarded him the title of Honorary Senator.