LAUDA, the world's leading supplier of precise temperature solutions, will present a wide range of innovations at this year's ACHEMA in Frankfurt am Main. Two new product lines and a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and natural refrigerants will characterize the LAUDA presentation this year. In addition, a cross-section of the extensive portfolio of process thermostats, circulation chillers, and plant engineering will be on display.

Ultratemp Process Thermostats - High-performance Temperature Control for Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Technology

LAUDA Ultratemp represents a new generation of process thermostats - powerful and precise, designed for demanding applications in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. With impressive heating and cooling capacities of up to 50 kW, a temperature stability of ±0.5 K, and an operating range of -5 °C - 60 °C, Ultratemp process thermostats meet the highest demands. Their robust, easy-to-clean stainless-steel construction and intuitive operation via buttons and LCD allow efficient and precise use. Their bi-frequency power supply and the wide ambient temperature range of -15 °C - 50 °C make them fit for global use. Conceived for biopharmaceutical applications, they can effectively control large volumes of up to 5,000 liters. LAUDA Ultratemp process thermostats will be presented to the public for the first time at ACHEMA.

Universa bath thermostats - modular, sustainable, digital, and powerful

The new LAUDA Universa range of devices comprises three primary performance classes: Universa ECO, Universa PRO, and Universa MAX, which cover all laboratory and pilot plant requirements, from cost-effective entry-level units to powerful professional thermostats. LAUDA Universa has a completely modular design. The control heads and baths can be flexibly combined. With bath volumes of 4 - 42 L and bath depths of 160 - 320 mm as well as cooling capacities of up to 1.5 kW and heating capacities of up to 3.6 kW, the ideal technical solution can be configured for every application and an optimum price/performance ratio ensured. All units in the range use natural refrigerants and frequency-controlled compressors. The latter allows energy-saving operation, especially at partial load. Examples of the Universa U 8 PRO, Universa U 1645 MAX, and Universa U 845 MAX will be on display at the trade fair.

Focus on natural refrigerants and efficiency

In addition to the new product lines, numerous innovative refrigeration solutions for the process industry will be presented, which cover different performance classes and requirements and can be flexibly integrated into complex process structures. A selection from the extensive portfolio of process thermostats and circulation chillers will be on display - with a focus on energy efficiency, sustainability, and natural refrigerants. From propane- and CO2-based process thermostats with a single-digit GWP (Global Warming Potential) value to the current generation of circulation chillers, which enable energy savings of up to 50 percent compared to older, still widely used models, LAUDA underlines its commitment to sustainable development. "Empowering Excellence. For a better future" is both a vision and a commitment, manifested in a comprehensive sustainability strategy that combines technical feasibility, visionary thinking, and a sense of purpose.

A summit for world market leaders with around 400 participants took place in Beijing for the first time. The initiators were the Academy of World Market Leaders, which was founded by the former Economics Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Walter Döring, and the German-European Center for SME Cooperation DEZ in China. The venue was the impressive “Beijing-China-Germany International Convention and Exhibition Center” building complex in the middle of the Shunyi district, in the immediate vicinity of the Chinese capital’s airport. There is a large industrial area in which predominantly German companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Bosch and the medium-sized company Wilo have settled.

China is very impressed by the success strategies of the so-called hidden champions, leading global companies, of which there are around 1,700 in Germany. Above all, the big names are known abroad. A similar phenomenon exists in China, whose economic structure largely consists of small and medium-sized privately owned companies, although most of them do not yet have global sales structures.

The German world market leaders included ebm-papst, represented by the managing director responsible for sales, Thomas Nürnberger, Würth, represented by the foundation's former chairman of the board, Harald Unkelbach, and LAUDA, represented by President & CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, attended the summit.

The delegation of around 100 German company representatives was accompanied, among others, by the former German Economics Minister, Peter Altmaier, as well as the long-time member of the Bundestag, former minister and current chairman of the German-Chinese parliamentary group and the China Bridge dialogue platform, Dr. Hans Peter Friedrich.

Dr. Gunther Wobser took part in a panel discussion about the opportunities for German-Chinese cooperation and presented the family business LAUDA in the large plenary session. He focused on the important collaboration in the growth industries of electromobility and hydrogen drives, for example for trucks, and LAUDA's powerful product range as the world market leader for precise temperatures. He referred to the Chinese sales company, which has existed since 2008 and the production set up in 2023, which develops and produces first-class LAUDA devices from China worldwide.

The highlight was the reception of a small delegation by the Vice Minister for Trade and International Economic Relations, Ling Ji. Minister Ling Ji explicitly asked the company representatives about opportunities for improvement and took intensive notes. The protection of intellectual property, which is particularly important for German companies, was mentioned several times. Dr. Gunther Wobser asked for support with the required CCC certification and cited difficulties for his two Chinese subsidiaries in accessing digital information from the German headquarters. Minister Ling Ji then commented in detail on the individual points and generally pledged his support.

The Chinese government is showing increasing interest in creating investment-promoting conditions for German medium-sized businesses and thus attracting investments into the country. German world market leaders, in turn, want to continue to play an active role in Chinese economic life and expand their market position in the important sales market. As the conference showed, they are open to targeted cooperation with Chinese customers and family businesses.

Roy Lu is the new general manager of the sales subsidiary LAUDA China, which manages the global product range of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the leading manufacturer of temperature control devices and systems. The 41-year-old electrical engineer has many years of experience in technical sales and has, among other things, worked for German branches in China such as Siemens and medium-sized companies such as Lenze. Most recently, he was responsible for the Chinese branch of a German manufacturer of connection systems and successfully expanded the business there.

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, was together with the Director Area Sales International, Dr. Thorsten Ebel, on site in Shanghai to welcome the new employee. Convinced of the market opportunities in China, Dr. Wobser on the successful filling of the position: “The dynamics in China are unbroken in the medium and long term. In addition to our core markets in chemistry and biotechnology, we want to exploit opportunities in electromobility and hydrogen technology. Globally leading companies in particular rely on globally valid quality standards, which we, as the recognized world market leader for precise temperature control, offer with our own presence in all important markets.”

By filling this key position, LAUDA China is ideally prepared for the future and will concentrate on implementing the Drive250 growth strategy with Roy Lu. Dr. Ebel, who has been intensively supporting the team himself for several months, adds: “With Roy Lu, we have been able to gain an experienced manager who will further develop the market with the competent team. We will continue to expand our sales in the short term.”

LAUDA China was founded in 2008 and supports local dealers and end customers. Since the beginning of 2024, the Shanghai-based company has acted as a logistics hub and sells the entire LAUDA device portfolio in the strategically important region. The business has expanded significantly in recent years in particular.