Dieter Brucklacher, former CEO and longstanding chairman of the Leitz Group’s management board, died Sept. 27 after a short illness. He was 77.

“Dr. Brucklacher is known for making Leitz the organization it is today,” the company said in a statement “He was the engineer of many advanced woodworking technologies as well as being instrumental in showing the organization how to utilize existing capabilities to succeed in other markets.”

He began his career with Leitz in 1975 and became CEO in 1982.

Leitz manufactures precision tooling and systems for machining wood, plastics and advanced composites.

For more, visit www.leitztooling.com.