Rational founder dies, Kurtz tapped as interim chairman
Siegfried Meister, founder of Germany-based Rational AG and its North American headquarters in Rolling Meadows, died on Friday of an undisclosed illness. He was 78.
Walter Kurtz, board member and shareholder since the founding of Rational AG in 2000, became the interim chairman, the company said Monday.
"The well-being of the 'entrepreneurs in the company,' as he viewed his employees, was very important to Mr. Meister. This makes us all the more grief-stricken about our great loss, and we are committed to continuing his lifetime's work in his spirit," said Rational AG CEO Peter Stadelmann.
Rational USA, which has a patented combination steam-convection oven used in the White House and at major hotels and companies nationwide, opened its local operation in 2014. Rational makes and sells a combination oven that uses both steam for moist heat and convection with dry heat at the same time. A patented technology also senses what is happening inside the oven by gauging the moisture content of the food. So it can adjust the heat and timing until the food is thoroughly cooked.
Besides the White House, Rational ovens are used at Walmart and Target grocery supercenters, as well as at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Chicago, among other places.
Further details about Meister's services and family were not immediately available.
When Meister started producing innovative convection ovens in Landsberg, Germany, about 40 years ago, he had a clear goal in sight: he wanted to make the work of people who prepare hot food in professional kitchens easier, the company said in a statement.
The combi-steamer was born in 1976 when he and his small team at the time added steam to the hot, dry air in the oven. This revolutionized the large and commercial kitchens of the world: production processes, organization and efficiency have changed significantly since then.
Since 1998, he has acted as the chairman of the supervisory board and in 2000 added Rational AG on the stock exchange.
Besides his role as chairman, he assisted the company with his extensive experience and expertise - and all the way up to the very end, he had a set table in the company restaurant, surrounded by his employees.
• Daily Herald Business writer Anna Marie Kukec contributed to this report.