Big stage for the so-called hidden champions: Dr. Gunther Wobser at his presentation of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG at the world market leader conference in Beijing. © LAUDA
Dr. Gunther Wobser represents LAUDA at the strategically important event
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.
- Fig. 1: LAUDA at the China-Germany Hidden Champions Forum 2024 (2 MB)
- Fig. 2: LAUDA at the China-Germany Hidden Champions Forum 2024 (2 MB)
- Fig. 3: LAUDA at the China-Germany Hidden Champions Forum 2024 (161 KB)
- Fig. 4: LAUDA at the China-Germany Hidden Champions Forum 2024 (2 MB)
- Doc: Press Release – World Market Leaders Summit China 2024 (587 KB)
Roy Lu, the new General Manager of the sales subsidiary LAUDA China (right), is greeted by Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO (center), is welcomed together with the Managing Director of the Chinese plant LAUDA Production China, Ernest Liu (left). © LAUDA
Strengthening the Chinese sales subsidiary and focus on growth strategy
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.
Group photo – Participants of the eighth Asia Sales Meeting 2024 © LAUDA
Presentation of innovative appliances and practical training for Asian partners
After a five-year pandemic-related interruption, an Asia Sales Meeting of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world market leader for precise temperature control, took place for the first time again from April 15 to 19, 2024 in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Personally welcomed by Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, representatives from across Asia came together for the eighth edition of the Asia Sales Meeting to take part in training, courses and workshops. A total of 50 participants from Vietnam, India, China, New Zealand and other countries attended this important event.
In his welcoming speech, Dr. Wobser gave an update on LAUDA's business development and emphasized the importance of further cooperation in the context of the Drive250 strategy project. Other highlights were the presentations on new products, regulatory requirements and sales techniques. The upcoming launch of the LAUDA Universa appliance line and the world's first mobile, battery-operated ultra-low temperature chest freezer, Mobifreeze, attracted particular interest.
The event also provided an opportunity to recognize new and long-standing partners on the Asian market. Dr. Wobser, together with CSO Dr. Ralf Hermann, Dr. Thorsten Ebel, Director Area Sales International, Felix Heinrich-Bignasse, Director Key Account Management and Marco Hauser, Area Sales Manager Asia, presented the awards to those honored. Hazim Dawood, Mustafa Hazim and Yasmin Ghazi from The Specialization Company from Iraq received the award as “New agency with outstanding sales success”. Sandeep Sawant and his daughter Devaki Sawant from Sawant Process Solutions from India were honored with the award as “Long-time agency with continuous increase in sales during the last five years”.
The participants praised the excellent organization and the venue in Da Nang. Numerous constructive discussions took place during and after the official program, demonstrating the partners' commitment to LAUDA and their enthusiasm for future cooperation. In conclusion, Dr. Ralf Hermann and Marco Hauser emphasized their expectation that the knowledge gained will have a positive impact on concrete deals and new business.
“The 8th Asia Sales Meeting marks a significant milestone for LAUDA in Asia. The positive response and the intensive discussions underline the strength of our partnerships and the common pursuit of success,” summarizes Dr. Gunther Wobser.
With the successful conclusion of the meeting, LAUDA is now concentrating on the further implementation of its global strategies and is looking forward to new business in the Asian market.
- Fig. 1: Group photo – Participants of the eighth Asia Sales Meeting 2024 (3 MB)
- Fig. 2: Honoring new and long-standing successful LAUDA partners at the Asia Sales Meeting. (2 MB)
- Fig. 3: Technical product presentation of the new LAUDA Mobifreeze during the Asia Sales Meeting 2024 in Vietnam. (2 MB)
- Fig. 4: The Asia Sales Meeting offered participants many opportunities to see products and innovations live and have them explained. (2 MB)
- Doc: Press release – Asia Sales Meeting 2024 (589 KB)
The LAUDA trade fair stand at analytica 2024 © Foto Besserer
The world market leader achieves contacts on par with pre-pandemic levels, thanks to innovative highlights
This year’s analytica 2024 broke all records – both in terms of visitor numbers and international participation, as well as the atmosphere on the trade fair grounds in Munich. The four-day trade fair was a big success for LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world market leader in precise temperature control.
From April 9 to 12, analytica 2024 – the world’s leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analytics and biotechnology – exceeded all the previous year's figures with an impressive 1,066 exhibitors from 42 countries and around 34,000 visitors from 117 countries. These figures were also reflected in LAUDA's positive trade fair result. The company’s impressive stand attracted numerous visitors and its customer contacts were 20 percent higher than the last analytica in 2022. The number of registered contacts was even 10 percent higher than the last pre-pandemic trade fair in 2018.
“We are proud and satisfied with the encouraging response that our new products, Universa and Mobifreeze, and digital services, such as our Command app, have received at analytica 2024,” summarizes Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA. “With numerous visitors and plenty of concrete inquiries, the highly anticipated analytica has delivered a vital impetus for us and the whole industry during economically challenging times.”
New bath thermostats, portable ultra-low-temperature chest freezers and digital products from LAUDA
The specialist audience was impressed by LAUDA’s innovations for the digital and sustainable laboratory of the future. Alongside the world’s first battery-powered Mobifreeze ultra-low-temperature chest freezer, which revolutionizes the transport of active medical substances – such as temperature-sensitive vaccines – the family company also presented new bath thermostats from the LAUDA Universa series of networked devices, which represent flexibility and efficiency in laboratory settings. They feature a modular construction and are highly sustainable, thanks to the use of natural refrigerants. Visitors also showed a great deal of interest in the highlight podiums for the Integral and Variocool bestsellers, where they could control the devices using the Professional version of the LAUDA Command app and discover the benefits of remote maintenance and monitoring first-hand.
For trade media representatives, a separate press conference was held at the LAUDA stand, during which the company management and product marketing introduced the company’s new solutions and highlights and answered any questions.
LAUDA is already eagerly anticipating ACHEMA, which will take place in Frankfurt am Main from June 10 to 14, 2024, and where LAUDA will one again present itself at the world’s biggest trade fair in the process manufacturing industry for chemical technology, process engineering and biotechnology.
- Fig. 1: The LAUDA trade fair stall with the analytica 2024 team © Foto Besserer (825 KB)
- Fig. 2: The LAUDA trade fair stand at analytica 2024 © Foto Besserer (503 KB)
- Fig. 3: LAUDA Universa bath thermostats at analytica 2024 © Foto Besserer (405 KB)
- Fig. 4: The LAUDA trade fair stall with visitors at analytica 2024 © Foto Besserer (728 KB)
- Doc: press release analytica 2024 – LAUDA achieves positive result (311 KB)
There were satisfied faces all round at the official inauguration of the Laudaplatz bus stop, from left to right: Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, Thorsten Haas, Managing Director of the Verkehrsgesellschaft Main-Tauber mbH, Hubert Segeritz, Deputy Mayor of Lauda-Königshofen, Christoph Kraus, Head of Business Development for Lauda-Königshofen, and Dr. Mario Englert, Managing Director of LAUDA. © LAUDA
New Laudaplatz bus stop officially inaugurated
In a trailblazing step towards promoting sustainable modes of transport and commuting, LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world market leader in precise temperature control, has officially inaugurated the new Laudaplatz bus stop, together with local partners.
The ceremony marked a milestone in the company’s efforts to enable climate-conscious commuting by public transport for its employees and to underscore its commitment to protecting the climate. Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, emphasized the importance of the initiative: “Our mission to integrate sustainability in every aspect of our business activities has reached a new high point. The new bus stop directly on the doorstep of our company is more than just infrastructure. It is a symbol of our commitment to the future and proof that we are actively putting climate protection into practice.”
The bus stop connects LAUDA directly to the local public transport network, run by the Verkehrsgesellschaft Main-Tauber mbH (VGMT), which significantly improves the accessibility of the company headquarters for employees who don’t have their own vehicle. As a result, commuters and visitors from the Main-Tauber district and the neighboring city of Würzburg can conveniently reach the company by public transport in an eco-friendly way. The buses on lines 942, 943 and 945 serve the Laudaplatz bus stop at intervals that are optimally coordinated with the company’s work schedule. For spontaneous trips outside these times, it’s possible to call a taxi. The Laudaplatz bus stop and the connection to the public transport network is yet another building block in LAUDA’s comprehensive sustainability strategy. This commitment is evident in the company’s certification in accordance with the ISO 14001 environmental management system and its ambitious goal to be fully carbon-neutral by 2030, among other things.
“At a time in which overcoming climate change requires us all to act, we are delighted by the construction and launch of the Laudaplatz bus stop,” says Dr. Mario Englert, Managing Director of LAUDA, highlighting its significance. “It is another small but important step towards minimizing our ecological footprint and rethinking mobility in our promising local area. The bus stop is also a plus point for us in terms of attracting skilled workers from the wider surroundings and the neighboring metropolitan region.”
In 2023, LAUDA already took on a pioneering role in the promotion of sustainable modes of transport with the introduction of a carsharing service for employees using electric company and, as well as the JobRad bicycle leasing service, now offers yet another environmentally friendly means of traveling to work. What’s more, the new bus stop is a visible testimony of the successful collaboration between LAUDA, the Lauda-Königshofen city administration and the VGMT. The integrative approach that led to its realization shows what can be achieved through collective effort and the willingness to innovate. Thorsten Haas, Managing Director of the VGMT, Hubert Segeritz, Deputy Mayor of Lauda-Königshofen and Christoph Kraus, Head of Business Development for Lauda-Königshofen, participated in the inauguration ceremony.
