Wilhelm Schuler:WILHELM SCHULER, who has died aged 95, was a chemist, inventor and entrepreneur who was instrumental in the start-up of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland.
He was educated at the technical university of Danzig (Gdansk), where he studied chemistry.
His doctorate, awarded in 1941, was in the field of pharmaceutical research.
Following his post-doctoral research into alkaloids, he joined the University of Hamburg where he worked on the analysis of natural products, especially alkaloids from medicinal plants.
His research was widely used in the food and cosmetics industries.
He licensed the process he developed to a food company and, using the royalties from this invention, he founded, together with a partner, the Schuler and Lange chemical and pharmaceutical laboratory in Hamburg.
Several new pharmaceutical products were developed, including the anti-psychotic Pacatal and the anti-histamine Kolton.
In 1953, Schuler became head of pharmaceutical research at the large company Degussa AG but was allowed to continue his private entrepreneurial activities.
With his flair for innovation and ability to recognise talent, Schuler laid the foundation for technological leadership in various areas of the company.
Today the centre he developed at Wolfgang, Hanau near Frankfurt is an advanced centre for applied materials technology and speciality chemicals research.
In 1960, Schuler read an advertisement in the German media by the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) offering incentives for investment in Ireland.
He was impressed by the attitude of the IDA and with their assistance he started a small manufacturing plant in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.
The company was known as Loftus Bryan Chemicals (LBC) and was the first synthetic pharmaceuticals production plant in Ireland.
LBC was very successful due to its investment in research and development, supported by the proactive approach of the IDA and developed several products which attracted the attention of the major US pharmaceutical giant Schering Plough, which subsequently purchased LBC in 1980.
Schuler’s interest in Ireland did not end with the sale of LBC.
In 1982, together with his daughter, Dr Beate Schuler, he founded a new bulk manufacturing pharmaceutical company in Arklow, Co Wicklow.
This company, Iropharm, was engaged in the chemical synthesis of off-patent substances known in the industry as generics.
The success of Iropharm once again attracted the attention of a US multinational.
In 1996 it was sold to AlliedSignal Inc and Schuler retired from active involvement with Ireland.
However, he did not fully retire from an interest in chemistry until the age of 90, when deteriorating eyesight restricted his ability to read.
Schuler took great personal interest in his staff. He was especially interested in farming and he enjoyed discussing farming issues with many of his Rathdrum employees who were part-time farmers.
From his home in Bad Homburg, he continued to maintain contact with his former employees until his death.
He was a gentleman, always courteous and fair-minded to those he met and was held in high esteem by his many colleagues and friends.
Scientific papers in his honour were published on the occasions of his birthdays each decade.
From a small start in 1961 in Rathdrum, Schuler’s old companies are now the providers of over 400 highly skilled jobs which support several hundred more jobs in the wider economy.
For 40 years he assisted the Irish pharmaceutical industry to grow.
He was always available to assist the IDA with visiting European and US pharma executives interested in locating in Ireland.
He was also an excellent ambassador for Irish tourism, bringing his many friends from Germany to enjoy Irish hospitality.
Although he was fond of a glass of Guinness his preference was a glass of Franken wine.
A large group of friends and former colleagues attended his funeral service in Bad Homburg. To his friends, he was known as Fips.
We can be sure that Fips is finally unravelling the secrets of chemical life with the Supreme Chemist.
Wilhelm (Fips) Schuler was predeceased by his wife Anneliese.
He is survived by his daughter Beate, of whom he was intensely proud.
Wilhelm Schuler: born December 27th, 1914 in Ulm, died June 5th, 2010 in Bad Homburg, Germany