Our industry, along with the Bitzer organisation, mourns the loss of Christiane Schaufler. She assumed the roles of Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Bitzer SE and Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of The Schaufler Foundation following the passing of her husband, Peter Schaufler, in 2015.

While public records meticulously detail the achievements of this renowned couple, on this somber day, everyone at Unicla wishes to recognize the profound impact they had on our industry, enhancing it for the benefit of all. Their dedication and vision motivated all of us to believe our field is not just one focused on mere personal gain and wealth.

Bitzer’s contribution to the global HVAC/R industry is truly remarkable. This is not only due to its presence in 75 locations across 41 countries, but also because of its unwavering commitment to the science of refrigeration and substantial investment in research and development, which amounted to €67 million last year.

Christiane was steadfast in her commitment to maintaining entrepreneurial independence for Bitzer, its employees, partners, and customers. Additionally, she was devoted to numerous social and community initiatives. Her absence will be deeply felt.

Christiane Schaufler-Münch (1934-2025)