A pioneer of construction chemistry

Karl Strehle

Engineer and entrepreneur

Co-founder and associate of “Poly-Chemie Ingenieur GmbH“, which is today “PCI Augsburg GmbH“, a 100% subsidiary of Degussa AG.

* 08.03.1905, Augsburg
† 07.09.1979, Aystetten near Augsburg

Karl Strehle was born and grew up in Augsburg. As an engineer, he had already become familiar with many interesting fields of activity and had worked, among others, for the building protection company Keramchemie GmbH in Siershahn. He acquired experience in construction chemistry mainly in the areas of acidic and corrosive building protection. At the age of 45, he decided to becomeindependent. Together with the Frankfurt businessman Hanns W. Schulz, he founded Poly-Chemie Ingenieur GmbH (Poly-Chemicals Engineering) (PCI), Frankfurt am Main with a factory in Augsburg and an office in Frankfurt am Main on July 25, 1950. As the company name indicates, Strehle and Schulz offered their market partners not only new chemical substances, but also consultancy on applications technology and solutions to construction problems.

The key product responsible for the ascent of the young company was a new bonding primer that Karl Strehle had developed in a barracks on the outskirts of Augsburg. This mortar additive, which is used for efficient and long-lasting repairs to concrete, later became known as PCI-Emulsion and still bears this name today.

In the beginning, it was difficult to persuade the adherents of traditional concrete technologies to use the new construction chemical products. Strehle submitted official test certificates and organized lectures and demonstrations to authorities, builders and other experts in the field. He also wrote technical papers and made use of professional advertising to acquire customers.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Karl Strehle developed numerous products which were registered for patents. He also wrote technical papers on subjects such as “New properties for concrete floors with artificial resin seals” and “Resin-based mortar – the properties and areas of application of concrete with artificial additives.”

Under Karl Strehle as managing director and stockholder, PCI enjoyed methodical, organic growth. Although Strehle employed a small staff at the beginning, the number of employees grew gradually to around 400.

Karl Strehle relaxed by regular participation in sports activitites. Up until he founded PCI, he had been an enthusiastic long-distance runner. After that, he became a passionate tennis player, which continued until shortly before he died.

After the death of his co-shareholder, Hanns W. Schulz, in 1966, Karl Strehle managed the company alone until 1974. In 1973 Süddeutsche Kalkstickstoff-Werke AG (SKW) acquired the Schulz family shares and consequently a 50% stake in PCI. Until 1976 Strehle ran the business together with Dr. Heinrich Röck, a long-standing member of the SKW board.

After Karl Strehle’s death in September 1979, SKW also took over his shares, making PCI a 100% subsidiary of SKW Trostberg AG.

Thanks to Karl Strehle’s efforts, after whom a street is named in Augsburg, construction chemicals are today a recognized area in applied chemistry. This upturn is mainly due to the work of successful practitioners and practice-oriented scientists – and one of these pioneers is undoubtedly Karl Strehle.