On October 2nd, 1995, our story began with the foundation of the 8. 2 Engineering Office in Süderdeich by Manfred Lührs. The company’s name came from the numbers on the hexagonal bolts of wind turbines which have the data of their respective material imprinted on top. The most common bolts are  8.8, 10.9 and 12.9.

"Actually, 8.2 does not exist but 8 and 2 are my favourite numbers“, Manfred Lührs revealed when discussing the secret of finding the name "At that time, I did not want to found just another office for wind energy technology.“

Therefore, for the very first expert office he chose deliberately a logo which was unique and memorable. Since then, 8.2 characterizes a group of engineering offices the first of which was founded [by Manfred Lührs] in 1995.

_{(Author: Detlef Koenemann)}

Thus, 8.2's growth is not the result of an ever increasing structure restricted to one place but the dividing and spreading of new cells throughout regions or in Germany and internationally. This is logical because a decentralized energy supply is accompanied by a decentralized service structure.

The founding of the 8.2 network was the beginning of a process which started in 1995 and still continues today. Manfred Lührs and Jürgen Holzmüller, who are still representing and developing the original idea, have become role models for other wind energy experts who wanted to work as independent consultants and relied on the safety of the 8.2 trademark. For many experts, 8.2 provides a good opportunity to venture intoe eindpendence, because the group provides "newcomers" work opportunities.

In the following years, further 8.2 engineering offices were founded throughout Germany. In the first decade, a network was developed with 14 engineering and consultancy offices as well as two publicly appointed and authorized consultants.

_{(Author: Detlef Koenemann)}

However, it soon became evident that the structure of this network had to become strengthened to keep up with demand.

According to the idea of Manfred Lührs (developed during 1.5 years of parental leave), 14 consultants founded the 8.2 Consulting AG in November 2006. As the umbrella organization of the group, it provided contractual relations between single engineering offices which in the past were related only by contracts to Manfred Lührs and Jürgen Holzmüller.

Moreover, the 8.2 Consulting AG can do business with key accounts, develop of the area of offshore wind energy and strengthen international activities.

Since then, the 8.2 Consulting AG located in Hamburg developed into a stronghold. This joint-stock company does not collect money at the stock exchange but instead sells shares to the employees of 8.2 consulting offices. Thus, the share capital is increased step by step and, what’s more, the employees are bound to the 8.2 Group for the long term – a perfect concept for staff loyalty.

_{(Author: Detlef Koenemann)}

However, it soon became evident that the 8.2 AG was not suitable as umbrella organization. The obligation of the 8.2 AG to generate yield often contradicted the activities of the 8.2 Group as the “administration” of the separate engineering offices took more and more time.

Therefore, in November 2014 the 8.2 offices decided to found the 8.2 Group as registered association (e.V.) with the 8.2 Consulting AG as one of its members. The association in its function as new umbrella organization consists of the individual 8.2 business units and currently has more than 40 members ranging in size from one-person offices up fifty-person offices.

According to the opinion of the 8.2 group, the contradiction of having enough leeway for the independent minds of the experts on the one side and the necessity for a comprehensive structure which unavoidably restricts the liberties on the other side can only be solved by the structure of an association.  

Jürgen Holzmüller is President of the 8.2 Group e.V. His main task is to recognize unavoidable contradictions within the network of independent companies and to moderate any resulting conflicts to create a balance of interests.

The General Members' Meeting is the highest and ultimately decisive body of 8.2 Group e.V. It makes the 8.2 network visible to the industry and the interested public as a whole.

The Association itself is not economically active. It owns the trademark rights, represents the 8.2 members in several expert committees, offers workshops within the framework of the 8.2 Academy and organizes the New Year’s Reception with its accompanying conference.  

_{(Author: Detlef Koenemann)} 

The 8.2 Group has decided to grow organically. Growth occurs both when current members expand and when new members join the network.

One big advantage of the 8.2 Group is that it is immune to takeovers and purchase offers. Its know-how and expertise is spread out throughout each of its members, and it is not possible to purchase all of them.

Moreover, the division of work within the network prevents a single member from being forced into rapid growth and thus, becoming victim of its own success.

In case of a sudden increase in work load, there is always the possibility of passing on orders to other members of the network. This applies to all the services that individual engineering firms have specialized in.

For example, within the network all vibration analyses are carried out by the 8.2 Monitoring GmbH founded by Bernd Höring in May 2010. And Manfred Lührs and Jürgen Holzmüller focused on the important topic “Operating life and continued operation”. With the help of this structure, the network can react flexibly as well as dynamically and can grow organically. 

Independence is the Principle

This principle once stated by Manfred Lührs and Jürgen Holzmüller still applies: „We want to be a group of experts who are independent and each carry our own know-how. “ Thus, it is necessary to have a flat hierarchy reflected in the structure of the association.

Independence is the most important principle and must not be touched as it ensures a long life for the individual experts as well as for the expert offices.

_{(Author: Detlef Koenemann)}