the essential
The man had devoted 40 years of his career to the Bosch group, serving as director of the Aveyron site from 2000 to 2012, the year of his retirement. He leaves the memory of a “hardworking, intelligent and pugnacious” man.
It was as a control engineer that Albert Weitten joined the Bosch group, in Rodez, in 1972. He took charge of the Vénissieux factory between 1997 and 1999 then returned to Aveyron to take charge. management of the site from January 2000 until 2012, the year of his retirement. He takes over from Mathias Welker, who arrived on the site in 1973.
Originally from Lorraine, where he was born on July 20, 1948, Albert Weitten had not left Aveyron since he arrived there. He died on October 30 at age 76.
Sylvain Laurent, candle manufacturing director, was hired under “the Weitten era”. “Our common point is that we were both from Lorraine. There was a “foreigners in Aveyron” side, we joked about it”he remembers, continuing: “He was a bon vivant, someone very dedicated to the factory and his work. He was very outspoken and effective”.
Under his direction, several projects were carried out, including the installation of a pellet boiler, but also the delicate transition from pump injectors to common rail.
On the eve of retirement, Albert Weitten spoke to Pierre-Marie Terral and Adélaïde Maisonabe for the book “Bosch Rodez, a city, a factory”.
“There have been joys and sorrows. The pride here is finding the means to get out of a situation in a time that is not infinite”he declared at the time as his Ruthenian adventure drew to a close.
“The same metal as railway tracks”
In July 2011, he received the insignia of knight of the Legion of Honor from the hands of prefect Danièle Polvé-Montmasson. The ceremony takes place within the factory, and the state representative will greet a man “hardworking, intelligent, pugnacious and very human, seeming to be made of the same metal as railway rails: undeformable under load”.
In a press release, the factory management declared itself, like all employees, “all affected by the death of Albert Weitten, technical director and plant manager for many years. We remember a man who demanded of himself and his teams, in the interest of the factory. He has been able to unite around ambitious industrial projects and advance the management of our factory, thanks to its unfailing attachment to our site”explains management, which expresses its “sincere thoughts for his family at this difficult time”.
Like Gabriel Maison, Albert Weitten was considered one of the key figures of the Aveyron factory, also known for having held the presidency of the Rotary club of Rodez.
His religious funeral will be celebrated Tuesday, November 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Saint-Joseph l'Artisan church, in Onet-le-Château.
