Theme series: People at Loibl

Category: Career | 19.08.2021 - 08:06 Uhr | Created by Redaktion

Graduate engineer Frank Dietrich (57), senior sales engineer at Loibl Förderanlagen GmbH:

"In my studies, I was involved with processing and conveying technology, and later, as a design engineer, I constructed the machines myself, progressed from small to large projects, and gained good and bad experience with each project. Since then, I've been guided by the saying, "Experience is the sum of the mistakes you make."

From underdog to Ironman World Championship

Frank Dietrich found his way into the bulk materials industry by chance. Frank became involved with the bulk solids industry while he was still studying mechanical engineering. However, the decision to work in this industry came spontaneously. "I've just always had great fun developing things. It's great to see a finished result at the end." In the debris industry, you don't just design individual products, but complete plants. In hardly any other field can career starters as well as professionals test and expand their skills so extensively.

Seven years at Loibl. Technical sales has always been one of Frank's hobbies. Since Loibl has been a well-known name in the bulk solids industry for decades, he decided to move into the company's sales department in 2014. He has since become a senior sales engineer and is one of our most experienced employees. "I like the working atmosphere at Loibl. All colleagues are very dedicated and knowledgeable. Everyone works with a focus on success and goals."

In search of athletic challenges. Almost 20 years ago, Frank started doing sports in his free time. Initially for the sake of his health. "But then I was bitten by the sporting ambition." Frank began to train for competitions, at first only long-distance runs, later triathlon.

Triathlon is an individual sport. Candidates compete either man against man or woman against woman. "You're out for 11 hours in some cases," Frank says. "That's a long time to be by yourself. That's when you get to think."

A passion for extreme sports. His enthusiasm for triathlons opened up the world of Ironman competitions to Frank. "Every Ironman is an absolute extreme situation," he explains. "It depends on how you handle the strain and the pain. That determines how far you make it." Frank prepares for each triathlon with a lot of training: Swimming, cycling, running and very often belt training, a combination of cycling and running. At his best times, Frank trained up to 20 hours a week - alongside work. A balancing act that he managed effortlessly due to his enjoyment of the sport.

Ironman triathlons are judged by age group. "In my age group, you have to be able to swim 3.8 km, bike 180 km and run 42 km." His best time is 9:41 hours. "But the real pros need a maximum of 8 hours for that," he says with a grin. His athletic ambition drives him. Frank is always in the top twenty.

Cycling, swimming and running - sometimes up to 11 hours at a stretch

Where the best of the best come together. The Ironman World Championship is held regularly in Hawaii. It is one of the toughest competitions in the world. "Participating in it every time is a gigantic experience and an absolute must for every triathlete." Frank has already been allowed to participate four times. The selection process is strict and is sometimes one of the biggest hurdles. "To participate, you have to qualify as one of the best in the Ironmans that take place around the world beforehand." In Frank's age group, that only happens if you make it into the top five.

Frank remembers his last Ironman World Cup fondly: "It was exhilarating. A super atmosphere, totally family-like. It's not about winning, it's about the feeling. Although you don't know each other, you immediately feel a connection to the other athletes. However," he admits, "you do feel pretty untrained among all the washboard abs."

Well-traveled and been around. Frank covered his most successful race in 2019. A half-distance Ironman in Mallorca, covering half the distance of a normal Ironman. In the process, he took 2nd place in his age group. A huge success. "Making it to the podium was an indescribable feeling." The hard training and agony paid off. But the best part was the celebration afterwards. "Ironman victory ceremonies are always well celebrated," Frank says with a twinkle in his eye.

For the future, he would like to see international competitions get underway again soon. Because of Corona, many Ironman have been cancelled or postponed, so Frank now trains a lot from home. "It's not the same, but it helps to stay reasonssably fit and not gain too much weight," he admits. "Sure, you get lazy. But that's nice, too. It makes you all the more excited again to finally get going."

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