09. October 2020

We mourn the loss of our founder Dr. Heinz B. P. Gupta

On September 30, 2020, Dr. Heinz Bijoy Prosad Gupta (*1932 in Calcutta, India) passed away in Ratingen, Germany, at the impressive age of 88. He founded this publishing house in 1993. For many years he was editor-in-chief of GAK Gummi Fasern Kunststoffe and until 2019 publisher of various national and international specialist journals for the rubber, polyurethane and TPE industries.

Heinz Gupta studied chemistry at the University of Bonn, Germany, where he also received his doctorate. After graduating, he worked for Kabelwerke Duisburg and Paguag (Pahlsche Gummi- und Asbest-Gesellschaft) in Düsseldorf. From 1970 he was consultant to various manufacturers of tires, molded articles and sponge rubber products. In 1972, he assumed additional responsibilities as editor-in-chief of GAK, which had been published since 1948 by Gentner Verlag, then still under the name of Gummi-Asbest-Kunststoffe. His work in industry and as a consultant provided an excellent basis for this journalistic role and encouraged him to found Dr. Gupta Verlag in 1993 and to continue to run GAK himself.

He remained true to GAK’s declared goal of providing technical information that is both scientifically sound and comprehensible to the practitioner. Raw materials, machines, products, processes and their scientific backgrounds were the focus of this important source of information for technicians, engineers and chemists in the rubber industry. However, relevant economic and legal news were not ignored either. The magazine was given a special note by its unique editorials, in which Heinz Gupta questioned current events, sometimes critically, sometimes benevolently, sometimes argumentatively, but always humorously and thoughtfully. He spoke his mind, and he did not care whether it was appropriate.

Over the years Heinz Gupta broadened the portfolio of his publishing house. At K 2001, he launched PU Magazin, a new trade journal for the polyurethane industry. PU Magazine International followed in 2004 as an English-language edition. In 2006, GAK was expanded to include an English edition, RFP Rubber Fibres Plastics, and in 2009 the English-language TPE Magazine International was launched.

In 2006 his lifetime of service to the field was awarded with the plaque of the German Rubber Society for special achievements in research, technology and business as a mark of gratitude for his great commitment.

Most importantly, Dr. Gupta has worked tirelessly to maintain and improve the image of the industry, whose well-being was so close to his heart. His passion was the rubber industry. For decades, he was regarded as the “Gummi-Mann” who was a sought-after discussion partner at all important trade fairs, conferences and industry meetings. Often it was he who asked the first – usually well-intentioned – question after a lecture, just to break the ice.

Heinz Gupta leaves a big void not only in our publishing house. He will be greatly missed!

https://www.gupta-verlag.com/news/personnel/24577/we-mourn-the-loss-of-our-founder-dr-heinz-b-p-gupta