The Supervisory Board, Management Board and employees of Schmitz Cargobull have announced the death of Heinz Schmitz, who passed away on 17 October 2025 at the age of 88. Following the death of his father August Schmitz in 1970, Heinz Schmitz took over direct responsibility for Schmitz-Anhänger Fahrzeugbau-Gesellschaft and, a year later, became managing director of what would become Schmitz Anhängerbau. Together with his cousin Peter Schmitz, who joined the management team in 1973, he led the company through a period of profound transformation marked by production expansion and growing international reach.
During the 1970s and 1980s, production was broadened through the introduction of new product lines and manufacturing technologies. In the following decade, the Group launched a strategic review of its operations: the product range was streamlined to focus investment on core segments, and a modular production system was introduced to standardise processes and establish assembly plants abroad. It was during this period that the decision was taken to adopt the Schmitz Cargobull brand, a name designed to consolidate the company’s international presence and strengthen its market recognition.
Between 2002 and 2010, Heinz Schmitz served on the company’s Supervisory Board, remaining a key figure in ensuring industrial and strategic continuity. From 1993 to 2000, he also represented the trailer, bodywork and container manufacturing sector on the executive committee of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), where he contributed to shaping development policies for a sector largely made up of medium-sized enterprises.
