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Interview with Gerald Tropper.
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News from Mannheim
Interview with Gerald Tropper
Gerald Tropper on a passion for engines, industrial responsibility and the future of the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant
An engine is more than the sum of its individual parts. It takes expertise, precision and passion to create a true Mercedes-Benz engine. At the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant, this pursuit of excellence is evident everywhere: in the attention to detail in every individual task, in the level of technology and in the deep understanding of what is being created here.
This understanding extends beyond engine manufacturing to the entire site: state-of-the-art powertrain technologies, the foundry, remanufacturing and decades of accumulated production expertise all come together here. This makes the Mannheim plant a key part of Daimler Truck’s transformation.
Since 1 July, Gerald Tropper has been Site Manager for Powersystems at the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant. After holding various positions, including in China, and most recently working in Daimler Truck’s Audit function, he is now right at the point where technology, production and people come together. In an interview with Sybille Schütze, from Marketing Mercedes-Benz Powertrain, he talks about his first impressions, his passion for engines, the people in Mannheim and what it takes to successfully prepare a long-established industrial site for the future.
The engine in focus
Mr. Tropper, you have now been Site Manager for Powersystems at the long-established Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant for more than two months. If we walk through engine production with you today, what do you see first? Numbers, processes or engines?
Gerald Tropper:
Engines. Always engines first. And right behind them, you see the people and the team effort that make them possible. You can sense the high standards everyone here sets for themselves. This is not simply production – a Mercedes-Benz engine is the result of experience, state-of-the-art technology, outstanding technical expertise and a genuine passion for the product and the brand.
Tradition meets high tech
The move from headquarters in Leinfelden-Echterdingen to the birthplace of the automobile could hardly be more exciting. Was there a moment over the past few weeks when you thought: “I didn’t expect that”?
Gerald Tropper:
Yes, many moments, actually. Every day, I am impressed by how professionally everything runs, how technologically advanced the production is and how well organised the operation is. We are often labelled as “old technology”. But what I see in Mannheim has absolutely nothing to do with that. We have state-of-the-art production methods here, with an exceptionally high degree of automation in some areas, for example in machining.
What I find particularly fascinating is how much has been achieved here over the past few years under the leadership of Andreas Moch. This is a plant with more than 120 years of history, and there are both structural and historical constraints. The way he has navigated that tension while continuing to move the site forward is truly impressive. I have great respect for what he has achieved.
Mannheim is already well prepared for the future – even in challenging times.
A place with its own character
The Mannheim plant has more than 120 years of history in engine manufacturing. What makes this site and its people special?
Gerald Tropper:
This site has a soul. Many employees have been here for decades, some in their second or even third generation. The knowledge that exists here cannot simply be written down – it lives in the people. Our team is one of our greatest success factors. Our employees are highly committed and deeply connected to the site.
And there is something else I really appreciate: people here are down-to-earth and focused on finding solutions. No fuss, no grandstanding – just solve the problem and move on. I really like that “get-it-done” mindset.
From audit to production
You are coming from headquarters and most recently worked in Audit. Now you are right at the heart of production. How does this change feel?
Gerald Tropper:
It feels very good. It is a change, but certainly not a break. In Audit, you learn to look closely, understand how things are connected and identify ways to make things better. Ultimately, the goal there was also to make our company a little better every day. And that is exactly the ambition we have in Mannheim, just as we do across all other areas of our Group.
The difference is that here, I can see the impact immediately. An engine either runs – or it doesn’t.
Understand first, then change
You are taking responsibility for a site with a strong culture and a highly experienced team. What would you like to do differently?
Gerald Tropper:
Entrepreneurial thinking and action are extremely important to me – at every level. Every employee takes responsibility for what they do and, in doing so, takes responsibility for a part of the company itself.
Trust is at least as important. When you step into a new role at a high-performing plant like this, you have to trust the people who work here. And I do.
My goal is to support the team in making sure Mannheim remains fit for the future.
The order is important: understand first, then change things together – if necessary. Mannheim is not a site in need of fixing – quite the opposite. Andreas Moch has done an outstanding job leading the plant in recent years. I also felt that very clearly during the handover. It matters deeply to him that the plant continues to be successful. I find that very impressive, both personally and professionally.
A measured approach to transformation
Mannheim combines conventional engine manufacturing with battery systems, alternative powertrains and remanufacturing. How do you see the future of the site as part of this transformation?
Gerald Tropper:
I am very pleased that we have both in Mannheim. I am convinced that the future will include battery-electric, fuel-cell and other powertrain technologies. How quickly each technology will gain ground remains to be seen. Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG, talks about “Speed of Right” – and I think that captures it very well. What matters is offering the right technology at the right time. Mannheim is ideally positioned for that. Alongside our strong expertise in heavy-duty engines, we have expertise in alternative powertrains, battery systems and zero-emission mobility. With the Battery Technology Center, we have deliberately expanded these capabilities even further.
At the same time, Mannheim stands for more than production and new technologies. Through our remanufacturing business, we have been making an important contribution to the sustainable use of resources and to the circular economy for many years. That, too, is an essential part of our future. For me, transformation does not mean that passion disappears – it evolves. New powertrain technologies also require the highest levels of precision, innovative thinking and enthusiasm for technology. At the same time, the fascination with what we have built here over decades remains. The two go hand in hand.
The Mannheim site in global competition
What role should the Mannheim site play in Daimler Truck’s global production network in the future – and what needs to be done to remain competitive?
Gerald Tropper:
The engine is the heart of the powertrain – and that heart comes from Mannheim. That is why I believe this heart will remain here. I will do everything in my power to make that happen. Of course, there are many factors that influence this. But we have to stand up for our existing sites. That is incredibly important – not least for Germany’s future as an industrial powerhouse.
At the same time, I believe in the “Circle of Control”: What can we influence ourselves? That is where we need to focus our efforts and get our own house in order. If we consistently play to our strengths while systematically addressing our weaknesses, I am convinced that we will continue to be successful.
A good and successful chapter – how will you recognise it?
If you look back ten years from now, what would tell you that it has been a good and successful chapter?
Gerald Tropper:
For me, it would be a great success if the team could then say: We made a difference together. We strengthened the site and kept it internationally competitive – and we never forgot what we stand for. Because we made the right decisions as a team, took responsibility and continued to develop the Mannheim site. Ten years from now, I want to be able to look back together with my team and say:
We did it together.
Thank you very much, Mr. Tropper, for the open conversation, your personal insights and your perspective on what makes the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant what it is today – and what it can become tomorrow. We wish you and your team every success in your new role.
Interview by Sybille Schütze, Marketing Mercedes-Benz Powertrain