LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the global market leader for temperature control devices and systems, has officially opened its new Indian sales company, Degree LAUDA Precision Pvt. Ltd., in Pune. With this strategic expansion, the family-owned company is strengthening its position in the world's most populous country with over 1.4 billion people and tapping into new growth markets in South Asia. The tenth foreign subsidiary of LAUDA is operating as a joint venture with its long-standing partner, Sawant Process Solutions, and is serving customers in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

High-ranking guests from business and politics accepted the invitation to the opening ceremony, which was hosted by Indian actress and TV presenter Anushrii Bathla Oza. Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, traveled to India together with Felix Heinrich-Bignasse, Director Global Sales. Among the guests of honor were Kalpesh Saraf, Regional Director of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce in Pune, and representatives of Rödl & Partner, who supported LAUDA in the founding process.

“India is developing into one of the most important future markets for LAUDA,” explains Dr. Gunther Wobser. “The World Bank forecasts economic growth of 6.7 percent for the next two years. We want to make the most of these exceptional market opportunities with our local presence.” Pune in the state of Maharashtra offers excellent conditions as a location. The metropolitan region, with a population of around five million, is located 150 kilometers southeast of Mumbai. Major German companies such as Liebherr, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz India, as well as larger medium-sized companies such as Marquardt, have already settled in the region. The final location was chosen after Dr. Wobser participated in a successful delegation trip organized by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs in February 2025.

The structure of Degree LAUDA Precision is based on the successful cooperation with the Indian representative Sawant Process Solutions Pvt. Ltd., which has been a distributor for LAUDA for 17 years and will take a 25 percent stake in the new sales company. Devaki Sawant will join Managing Director Marco Hauser and Dr. Gunther Wobser as a member of the board of directors. The entire Sawant family, including Sandeep Sawant, Managing Director & CEO, his wife Gauri Sawant, Member of the Board of Directors, as well as Devaki and her sister Deveshree Sawant, attended the opening ceremony.

“We rely on proven partnerships and combine these with the advantages of our own company,” explains Dr. Wobser. “Sawant Process Solutions is much more than a successful distributor. As a partner in our joint venture, they have demonstrated trust, reliability, and competence over many years and opened the doors to the Indian market for us.”

In addition to the joint venture with Sawant Process Solutions, LAUDA has already gained three further sales partners for the region: S.V. Scientific and APP Systems, with whom LAUDA already works successfully in Singapore, will also be active in India. Nuventa Limited acts as a partner in Bangladesh. Further distributors are to follow. “With new sales partners, we are gaining access to additional customer groups such as automotive and semiconductors,” emphasizes Dr. Wobser.

LAUDA is sending experienced sales specialist Marco Hauser to Pune to set up and manage the new subsidiary. He has been living in the Indian metropolis with his family since the beginning of August 2025. “Having our own sales office enables us to improve intercultural exchange, obtain first-hand market information, and coordinate local sales activities much more closely,” emphasizes Dr. Wobser.

“We are not only bringing our products and technologies to India, but also our values such as quality, reliability, and innovation,” said Dr. Wobser in his opening speech. With Degree LAUDA Precision, the family-owned company is planning double-digit growth rates per year in the coming years. The investment in the Indian sales company underscores the long-term commitment of LAUDA to one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world and its conviction that local presence is the key to sustainable success in this promising market.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG honored two exceptional employees for their 45 years of service to the company in a ceremony. Jutta Mark and Gabriele Wobser were honored in the presence of the LAUDA management for their decades of loyalty and outstanding achievements for the family-owned company.

Both jubilarians began their professional careers at LAUDA in 1980 and have helped shape the company's development over the past 45 years. Jutta Mark began her training as an office clerk on September 8, 1980, and built her career from the Export department to OEM Sales to Key Account Management, where she now takes care of key national and international customers. Gabriele Wobser, daughter of former LAUDA President & CEO Karlheinz Wobser, began her training as a technical draftswoman on September 15, 1980, and progressed from the Research and Development department to the Manager of Design in the Plant Engineering department. Her expertise in CAD design and project coordination makes her an indispensable pillar of the company. Both Jutta Mark and Gabriele Wobser have kept their knowledge up to date through continuous training and are valuable employees in their respective departments.

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, praised the extraordinary achievements of both employees in his laudatory speech: “Jutta Mark and Gabriele Wobser embody the values of our family business in a special way. With their 45 years of loyalty and continuous professional development, they have played a decisive role in shaping LAUDA. Their expertise, commitment, and reliability make them indispensable pillars of our success.”

Dr. Wobser particularly highlighted Jutta Mark's international expertise, who cultivates global customer relationships through her language skills and many years of export experience, as well as Gabriele Wobser's technical expertise in CAD design and project coordination in plant engineering.

In recognition of their outstanding achievements, Jutta Mark and Gabriele Wobser received both the LAUDA certificate and the certificate of honor from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Dr. Wobser concluded by emphasizing: “Employees such as Jutta Mark and Gabriele Wobser demonstrate that loyalty, competence, and continuous development are the cornerstones of our family business. Their 45 years of service are impressive proof of the special bond between our employees and LAUDA.”

The double anniversary underscores the importance of long-standing employees for the continuity and success of the family-owned company LAUDA. Such extraordinary careers demonstrate the appreciation and trust that has grown between the company and its employees over decades. They also illustrate the stability and family atmosphere that characterizes LAUDA as an employer and forms the basis for sustainable corporate success.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG honored three employees for their extraordinary 40-year company anniversaries in a special ceremony. Barbara Schmitt, Volker Mott, and Bernd Volkert began their careers at the family-owned company on September 9, 1985, and have played a key role in shaping the development of the global market leader for temperature control devices and systems over four decades.

In his laudatory speech, Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO, praised the impressive career paths of all three jubilarians. Barbara Schmitt completed her training as an industrial clerk at LAUDA and initially worked in the switchboard and financial accounting departments before moving to human resources and payroll accounting in 2018. “Barbara Schmitt is characterized by great precision and a sense of responsibility. Her expertise in payroll accounting is invaluable to our company. With around 50 internal training courses, she always keeps her finger on the pulse,” emphasized Dr. Wobser. Sandra Braun, Director Human Resources, praised her willingness to learn and her reliability: “Barbara's work is characterized by a high degree of reliability – she is conscientious, calm, and precise, and has an eye on both the company and its employees.”

Volker Mott has undergone remarkable development within the company. After training as an industrial mechanic and later completing further training as a master craftsman and quality management technician, he worked in various areas – from assembly and quality management to marketing. For twelve years now, he has been at home in purchasing, where he contributes his high level of technical expertise. “Mr. Mott has always dared to think outside the box and has continuously acquired new skills. His versatile development within the company demonstrates his willingness to take on responsibility and face new challenges,” accentuated Dr. Wobser. Chris Moschüring, Purchasing Manager, added: “Purchasing benefits immensely from Volker's technical knowledge. Particularly noteworthy are his responsibility for first-class trainee support and his enthusiasm for change.”

Bernd Volkert has proven himself to be a real top performer with a passion for plant engineering. After completing his training as an energy equipment electronics technician and subsequently studying part-time to become a state-certified electrical engineer at the DAG Technical College in Würzburg, he gained extensive experience in research and development. He has been working in plant engineering since 1990 and has held a management position since 2009. “Mr. Volkert has pursued his career with determination and developed impressive technical expertise in the process. His various further training courses and his many years of commitment make him an indispensable employee. His enormous expertise across all types of systems and his analytical thinking in project planning are exceptional,” praised Dr. Wobser. Dr. Jürgen Dirscherl, Director Research & Development, emphasized: “Bernd Volkert has spent more than two-thirds of his life at LAUDA. His positive charisma, helpfulness, and high level of technical understanding in project planning are impressive.”

Dr. Lukas Braun, mayor of the city of Lauda-Königshofen, highlighted the special significance of high employee loyalty at LAUDA in his welcoming speech. He explained that the three anniversaries represent mutual recognition between the company and its employees. The high number of honors at LAUDA demonstrates a strong sense of community and significant team spirit. The family-owned company is characterized by loyalty and responsibility towards its employees and is an important employer for the city. In recognition of their achievements, the mayor presented the jubilarians with a certificate of honor from the state of Baden-Württemberg from Minister President Winfried Kretschmann and a gift of wine.

Works council chairman Elmar Mohr conveyed the greetings of the workforce and emphasized the similarities between the honorees: “All three completed their training at LAUDA and have remained loyal to the company for 40 years – despite taking different individual paths within the company.”

The three anniversaries impressively underscore the special culture of the family-owned company LAUDA, where long-term employee loyalty and mutual appreciation have been practiced for generations. Dr. Wobser presented all the jubilarians with LAUDA certificates as a token of appreciation for their decades of loyalty and exceptional achievements and wished them continued health, happiness, and many more successful years.