04.08.2023

Harry Wittendorff Lorentsen 1953-2023

We just received the sad news that Harry Lorentsen of Danish aerial lift manufacturer Ommelift has died, he was 69. He passed away on Wednesday after a short illness.

Harry Lorentsen was born on 4th of November 1953 in the southern Danish town of Sønder Omme. He was the eldest son of Frode and Mariane Wittendorf Lorentsen, who at the time ran the compan, then called Sønder Omme Maskinfabrik.
From a young age he spent a great deal of time at the factory and was later apprenticed as a machinist. He subsequently studied mechanical engineering and in 1979 he settled down in Sønder Omme with his wife Birgit.

The Lorentsens - Harry, Torben and Frederik - took over from their father's Frode and Kristian in 1983 shortly after the company had started manufacturing aerial work platforms. Under Harry’s leadership the company became a pioneer and leading player in the spider and trailer lift market. In 2018 the brothers appointed a new managing director - the first non Lorentsen in 112 years - in 2018 as part of a succession strategy.

He leaves behind his wife Birgit along with their four sons Henrik, Thomas Jacob and Kasper along with nine grandchildren.

Harry Lorentsen was certainly a character, if you bumped into him at a trade show for example he could seem like a very disagreeable old grump as you approached, but by the time you reached him he would smile with a glint in his eye and be so aimable and funny - Initial impressions were useless. He had a lot of depth and a wicked, and often subtle sense of humour. He appeared to love life and all the things it offered. He was a man with great depths, who could be difficult to read at times - one of his many assets. He will be missed by many.

A message from his colleagues
"Harry had insight into the technical aspects of the business and was solution oriented in everything he worked with. For many years, he travelled the world cultivating export markets, and participated in countless trade fairs to help raise the profile of Ommelift. Being a social soul, Harry was often the focal point for dealers, customers and colleagues in the industry, when he was out and about."

"Under Harry’s leadership the company became a pioneer and leading player in the spider and trailer lift market. In 2018 the brothers appointed a new managing director, but Harry continued his involvement as a member of the Ommelift board. Harry was an owner manager, who showed a high degree of strength and courage in his work, just as he had a strong value base, where words such as credibility, responsibility and commitment were of great importance to him. Part of the value base of Ommelift is to be a socially responsible company, also in the local community, which Harry has also helped to make his mark."

The funeral will take place on Wednesday 9th of August at Sønder Omme Church at 11:00.