Martin Reisinger PhD

by Dr. Iain Corness

Martin Reisinger is a very affable German, who was a sometimes trumpet player in an oom-pa-pah brass band in the Red Square in Moscow, and today manufactures white powder. However, this is not THE white powder which would make you eligible for a protracted spell in the house of correction.
Martin is the MD of Thai Aerosil, with a factory in Ban Chang. Thai Aerosil is an off-shoot of the large German company Degussa, and I had to admit that I did not have one clue what “aerosil” was. This turns out to be his white powder, which can act as a filler, or a carrier or a catalyst, and when I did a little research, I found it is a part of the tablet form of my favorite antibiotic. You can learn something every day.
Martin was born in Mainz in Germany, and his father was an analytical chemist who worked for a German company that eventually became Degussa. His mother was an executive secretary, but was later to become one of the more dominant factors in Martin’s career.
He was a good student and enjoyed school. “Compared to working today, it was a great time,” said Martin, showing an innate sense of humor, something for which the German race is not well known. Chemistry and maths were his best subjects, and he knew he would eventually end up studying chemistry, but had no idea which branch of this very large subject would be his niche. “My father never forced me to do chemistry, it was actually my mother who discussed it with me. She pointed out the way.” Martin also went on to say, “She had an important part of my life – and still has!” all said with a laugh.
For pocket money he picked grapes on the summer vacations, and played flute and trumpet in local band gigs, including church on Sundays. It was during this time that his band was invited to Russia and he played in the Red Square. Incidentally, Martin’s father had also financed his studies playing music. Martin was a ‘chip off the old block’.
Finally he put down his brass instruments and got down to the brass realities of life, entering university for a five year M.Sc. course. However, in the middle of his studies he did a one year EU scholarship in the UK, after the university agreed to credit his studies, and his mother exhorted him, saying “Just do it!” (before the Nike Corporation got the idea).
After getting his Masters, he continued with his studies, entering the famous Max Planck Institute for the next two and a half years to gain his doctorate (PhD) working in esoteric studies of coal byproducts, including heterogeneous and homogenous catalysis. So if you think that coal is only used for steam engines and heating houses, think again!
Even with his PhD, Martin still was not ready, and went to Paris to study under a Nobel prizewinner (Yves Chauvin) at the Institute Francais du Petrole and carry out further research.
Now around eight years since leaving school, it was time to settle down, and he joined Degussa as a research chemist. However, he was not stuck in some dreary laboratory, and after six months there was promoted to lead his research group.
After four years in the research laboratories, Martin wanted to try “something else”, so Degussa suggested he might like to try chemical production, where he could learn the processes and products.
After 18 months in his new production position, an opportunity presented itself. Degussa was setting up a new plant in Thailand, and needed a GM. He knew nothing about Thailand, other than roughly its position in world geography. He had never been here, even for a holiday, and he was given two weeks to make up his mind, as to whether he wanted the job. After the fortnight, he said yes, was given a quick intercultural course by Degussa, and was on a plane to Bangkok.
His brief was to set up the project here to produce the white powder (Thai Aerosil) and for the first couple of years, Martin was a professional commuter. But not from Pattaya to Ban Chang. From Frankfurt to Ban Chang! After a couple of years of this, the company decided it would be cheaper to just send Martin here, and keep him here, and forget about the frequent flyer miles! So in June 2003 he moved here permanently, bringing his trumpet with him, but admitted, “I have only played it three times in the last three years.”
I asked Martin about the differences between working in Germany and working in Thailand. “In Germany we have rules for everything. In Thailand there are rules, but people ask ‘Why?’ (and ignore the rules).” He has found that he has had to personally relax some of the German rules he grew up with, and Thailand has made him think outside the German box. He does not think of this as ‘defeat’ but rather as a life broadening experience.
When I asked him about his hobbies, his first reply was “the company”. “At the moment I am ‘married’ to Degussa. The company takes almost all of my time.” He went on to say, “Nobody ever told me about the time and the effort it would take.”
His other interests are sport, to which end he has joined a fitness club, and playing soccer, which he managed to do until last year.
He does have aims and ambitions outside the company framework too, such as flying on the Concord, “but they stopped it,” he said ruefully. “There are many things I want to do. I’d like to take a trip to Australia, as I’ve been to lots of other places.”
Martin Reisinger is one of the new ‘young’ professional Germans. He can contribute to the world, not just Germany, and has the necessary flexibility to do this. You will hear more about this man in the future.