“With its lived diversity between generations, genders and cultures, the Busch family stands for a form of forward-looking, economically very successful entrepreneurship that exceptionally implements the long-term securing of the company in the hands of the family,” quotes jury member and INTES* Managing Director Catharina Prym from the jury’s statement.
The family-owned company with worldwide annual global turnover of around one billion Euro is managed by the founding couple Ayhan and Dr Karl Busch and their children Ayla, Sami and Kaya Busch. Decisions are made jointly by the Busch family. With this attitude, they cultivate a culture of discussion which requires a great deal of discipline and strength, but at the same time ensures the best results.
“We are all Co-CEOs,” says Kaya Busch, and Ayla Busch adds: “Everyone has a different view, criticism takes us further.” A constructive critical view, diverse perspectives and open words are also expected from the 3,800 employees worldwide who work at six production sites and subsidiaries in 45 countries.
This discussion-oriented corporate culture and cooperation can be traced back to the married couple Ayhan and Dr Karl Busch. In 1963, the engineer Karl Busch invented the first vacuum pump for packaging foodstuffs, the HUCKEPACK, in the basement of his home. From this innovation, the family company developed leading vacuum and overpressure technology. However, the ingenious invention would never have become so successful without Ayhan Busch. She expanded the organization and ensured the appropriate marketing of the product. From the very beginning, the founding couple pursued an equal partnership in which engineering spirit and entrepreneurship complement each other. The three children were “born into the startup,” as Sami Busch puts it. From an early age, they had the opportunity to accompany their parents on business trips and share their opinions on the company.
The company has remained loyal to its headquarters in Maulburg for decades, as local anchoring and regional commitment are important to the family. Busch Vacuum Solutions has already received awards for its social and cultural commitment. The family company is not worried about its long-term existence: Six grandchildren are already in the starting blocks to follow their parents and grandparents. “They all want to work for Busch once,” says Dr Karl Busch.

Busch Vacuum Solutions is one of the world’s largest producers of vacuum pumps, vacuum systems, blowers and compressors.
Its extensive product portfolio comprises solutions for vacuum and overpressure applications in all industries, including the chemical, semiconductor, medical technology, plastics, and food sectors. It also covers the design and construction of customized vacuum systems, as well as a global service network.
The Busch group is a family-owned company and is still managed by the Busch family. Busch Vacuum Solutions has 3,800 employees in more than 60 companies in over 40 countries and agencies worldwide. Busch is headquartered in Maulburg, in southwest Germany. This is the location of Busch SE headquarters, as well as the German production facility and German sales company. In addition to Maulburg, Busch also has its own production plants in Switzerland, the UK, Czech Republic, Korea and the USA.

*The “INTES (Integrated Owner Strategy) Academy for Family Businesses” is part of the PwC Group (PriceWaterhouseCoopers). Since 2004, the prize has been awarded jointly by INTES, FBN (Family Business Network) Germany and the association “Die Familienunternehmer” (The Family Entrepreneurs) at the “Entrepreneurial Success Forum” at Schloss Bensberg, near Cologne, Germany. Managing directors and shareholders who contribute to the long-term security of the family-owned company are honored. This includes measures in the areas of strategy, governance, financing or corporate succession, but also strategies that strengthen the cohesion of the owner family and the awareness of their entrepreneurial responsibility.