Like the iPhone maker, the German turbine manufacturer was founded by a single-minded visionary, a genius whose energy and self-belief propelled the company from scratch to greatness, but then had to stand down for health reasons, hand-picking a trusted successor on his way out.

And like Apple, Enercon has taken its own idiosyncratic path, eschewing conventional business wisdom and producing high-quality, innovative products that are adored and envied in equal measure.