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Lapp Group in mourning for Ursula Ida Lapp


Company founder passed away at the age of 90


She was an outstanding businesswoman and made business history: Ursula Ida Lapp, founder of LAPP, passed away last Sunday at the age of 90 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. "Our mother was the soul of the company. We will miss her very much – as a mother and a wise advisor," said Andreas Lapp, Chairman of the Board of Lapp Holding AG.

Ursula Ida Lapp was an entrepreneur with heart and drive. Together with her husband Oskar Lapp (1921-1987), she built up a company which is now the world market leader for integrated connection solutions. The success story began at the end of the 50s when Oskar Lapp developed the first rectangular connector for industry and the first industrially manufactured power and control cable. The invention revolutionised connection technology worldwide.

Ursula Ida Lapp *30 May 1930 †25. April 2021

This would not have been possible without Ursula Ida Lapp. In 1959, the Lapps founded their company, U.I. Lapp KG, whereby U.I. stands for Ursula Ida. In the beginning, business was conducted from the garage of the residential house in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Oskar Lapp took over the sales, Ursula Ida Lapp looked after the bookkeeping, advertising and the still young children at home. She often drove to the goods station with a handcart to receive the freshly delivered cables, which the entrepreneurial couple initially had manufactured to order, or to send them on immediately.


Together, the Lapp couple founded the first brand in the world of cables: ÖLFLEX® was the right product at the right time. The Lapps set quality standards that are still applicable around the world today in the field of cable production. Demand was huge. In 1963, the company opened the first factory of its own to produce ÖLFLEX® cables.


Following Oskar Lapp's death in 1987, Ursula Ida Lapp took over leadership of the company together with her sons Siegbert and Andreas. The company continued to increase its presence on the international stage.


Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, LAPP is now a leading supplier of integrated solutions and branded products in the field of cable and connection technology.


But also political, social and cultural commitment were always a matter of the heart for her. In addition to generous donations to establishments in India as well as institutions in and around Stuttgart, she founded the Oskar Lapp Foundation with her sons in 1992. Ursula Ida Lapp also spent four years in the regional parliament. Ursula Ida Lapp has won many awards for her achievements as a businesswoman and for her social engagement, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Business Medal of the State of Baden-Württemberg.


LAPP is still fully family-owned to this day. Ursula Ida Lapp leaves behind three sons, two of whom work in the company. The company founder's two grandchildren are also already active at LAPP. Matthias Lapp (38) is the CEO responsible for Europe as well as South America, Africa and the Middle East, while Alexander Lapp (36) is responsible for digitalisation and e-business. "To see that the grandchildren also take responsibility in the company was our mother's greatest wish. It was wonderful that she had the chance to experience this. We will continue to run our company in line with her values," said Chairman of the Supervisory Board Siegbert Lapp.


The funeral will be held among her closest family and friends.


In commemoration

The Lapp Family

Stuttgart, 27 April 2021