Volker Mott, Barbara Schmitt, and Bernd Volkert (4th, 5th, and 6th from left) celebrate their 40th company anniversaries and decades of loyalty to the family-owned company LAUDA together with President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser (right) and (from left to right) Sandra Braun (Director Human Resources), Chris Moschüring (Purchasing Manager), Elmar Mohr (Works Council Chairman), Dr. Jürgen Dirscherl (Director Research & Development) and Dr. Lukas Braun (Mayor of Lauda-Königshofen). © LAUDA
LAUDA honors three long-serving employees
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.
LAUDA President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser (center) is counting on his proven collaboration with Heinrich-Bignasse (left, Director Global Sales) and Bossart (right, Director Product Management & Service) to strengthen the company's market position. © LAUDA
LAUDA expands management responsibilities of Felix Heinrich-Bignasse and Enrico Bossart
LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG announces the expansion of the areas of responsibility of two executives. Effective July 1, 2025, Felix Heinrich-Bignasse will take over as the new Director Global Sales, assuming overall responsibility for the worldwide sales activities of the leading supplier of temperature control devices and systems. At the same time, Enrico Bossart will expand his responsibilities and, as Director Product Management & Service, will also be responsible for the central service division of the global market leader for precise temperature control.
The bundling of responsibilities will strengthen global customer-focused activities, further consolidate the market position and open new growth opportunities. In his new role, Felix Heinrich-Bignasse will be responsible for global sales activities for the entire range of services and will take over regional sales in addition to key account management. Enrico Bossart will be responsible for service in addition to his previous tasks in product management, including product marketing. This will achieve even closer integration between innovative services and service products and customer support. Digital service and sales via e-commerce solutions play a particularly important role here.
Dr. Gunther Wobser, the President & CEO who is responsible for customer activities, temporarily headed both departments himself. He praised the achievements of both executives: “In Felix Heinrich-Bignasse and Enrico Bossart, we have two proven leaders who have both demonstrated their skills over the past six years. The expansion of their areas of responsibility is recognition of their achievements to date and will further strengthen our market position.”
Felix Heinrich-Bignasse holds a degree in industrial engineering and studied at the University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt. He also holds a master's degree in International Business and Export Management from the University of Krems in Austria. Heinrich-Bignasse joined LAUDA in April 2019, initially working as Sales Specialist OEM. In February 2021, he became Acting Sales Manager OEM, and in March 2022, he was appointed as Director Key Account Management. His appointment to this management position marked his promotion to the executive board. His achievements to date include the successful establishment of key account management and sales responsibility for plant engineering. In his new role as Director Global Sales, Heinrich-Bignasse will drive forward international expansion and intensify cooperation with the regional sales teams.
Enrico Bossart studied International Technical Management at the Mosbach Cooperative State University. He then worked in product management at a leading German manufacturer of industrial measurement technology. The graduate engineer has been successfully strengthening the LAUDA team as Director Product Management since April 2019. On March 1, 2022, he was appointed Division Manager and joined the management team. His achievements to date include the implementation of the 5-year best-warranty and the successful launch of the new LAUDA Universa product line. With the assumption of responsibility for service, Bossart will use his extensive product knowledge to develop innovative service solutions and further increase customer satisfaction.
With this restructuring, LAUDA is bundling responsibilities in sales and service and expects to increase sales in the service area through new initiatives. With these personnel decisions, LAUDA is optimally positioned for future challenges in the market and underscores its confidence in its own management.
LAUDA received the EcoVadis Silver Medal in March 2025, placing it among the top 15 percent of all companies worldwide assessed in the field of sustainability. © LAUDA
LAUDA earns silver medal from EcoVadis
LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world's leading manufacturer of temperature control units and systems, has been awarded the silver medal by EcoVadis. With a score of 70 out of a possible 100 points, LAUDA ranks among the top 15 percent of all companies worldwide and thus underscores its commitment to sustainable business practices.
EcoVadis is considered the global market leader in sustainability ratings. The organization evaluates companies based on 21 detailed sustainability criteria covering four key areas: Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. To date, more than 85,000 companies worldwide have undergone the rigorous EcoVadis assessment process, which is based on international standards, including the ten principles of the UN Global Compact, International Labor Organization conventions, and the ISO 26000 standard.
LAUDA receives this award in recognition of its comprehensive sustainability management efforts and strategic sustainability initiatives. “This recognition confirms our long-standing conviction that sustainable business practices and entrepreneurial success go hand in hand,” emphasizes Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA. “Receiving the EcoVadis Silver Medal is an important milestone in our journey to becoming a more sustainable company.”
A key component of this success was the publication of the 2023 sustainability report, which was released at the end of 2024. This transparent reporting allowed LAUDA to document and demonstrate the quality and scope of its sustainability activities to EcoVadis. “The systematic documentation of ESG activities in our first sustainability report was a decisive factor in this assessment,” explains Dr. Marc Stricker, Managing Director of LAUDA and responsible for quality and environmental management. “We demonstrated to EcoVadis that we implement concrete actions that we measure and communicate transparently.”
The improvement in the EcoVadis rating was made possible by several measures that LAUDA systematically implemented. The company developed more detailed sustainability policies and significantly expanded the collection and publication of key figures relevant to EcoVadis. For the first time, the company published comprehensive reports on environmental and social aspects. In addition, a CSRD report was prepared in accordance with the new European reporting standards. This systematic approach enabled LAUDA to optimize its internal processes and significantly increase its external transparency.
“We are particularly proud that the more detailed specifications from LAUDA and the extended recording of key figures have led to measurable improvements”, adds Dr. Stricker. “This demonstrates the efficacy of our comprehensive approach to sustainability management and validates our strategic direction.”
For the future, LAUDA plans to make targeted use of the insights gained from the EcoVadis assessment process in customer discussions. The family-owned company will further refine its sustainability strategy and continue its ESG reporting.
Dr. Gunther Wobser (2nd from right), CEO & President of LAUDA, honored Norbert Hönninger (center) for 40 years of service. Further congratulations and greetings were offered by (from left to right): Dr. Lukas Braun (Mayor of the town of Lauda-Königshofen), Works Council Chairman Elmar Mohr and Christoph Baumann (Director Global Production). © LAUDA
Reliable Work Honored
LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG honored Norbert Hönninger for his impressive 40-year anniversary with the company. During a ceremony, the managing directors, the management team, the works council, and the mayor of Lauda-Königshofen honored the extraordinary performance of the long-serving employee, who has helped shape the company for four decades.
Norbert Hönninger began his career at LAUDA on June 1, 1985, where he initially worked in the pre-assembly of customer-specific refrigerated thermostats. Following a period of refrigeration pre-assembly, he transitioned to operational logistics in November 1987, where he remained for over 35 years. From 1986 to 1989, he attended the master school for mechanical engineering and toolmaking while working. In his role as production controller, he was responsible for the creation and optimization of production plans and the comprehensive management of production orders. Particularly during the coronavirus pandemic, he mastered the demanding challenge of parts supply with great commitment.
In his laudatory speech, Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, paid tribute to the special achievements of the jubilarian: “Norbert Hönninger has shaped LAUDA for over four decades with his thoughtful approach and foresight. We celebrate his anniversary, which demonstrates the value of long-term employees to our family business. His continuous development and commitment make him a role model.” Dr. Wobser presented Hönninger with the LAUDA Certificate of Honor and the Certificate of Honor from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Dr. Lukas Braun, Mayor of the town of Lauda-Königshofen, emphasized the social significance of such work and life achievements and praised the anniversary as a sign of reliability. He emphasized that mutual trust between employers and employees is particularly important in difficult times. Norbert Hönninger had radiated stability and professional competence for over four decades and embodied the loyal core staff that was invaluable then as now. Dr. Braun conveyed his congratulations and the certificate of honor from the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann.
Christoph Baumann, Director Global Production, emphasized the lasting impact of the jubilarian on the company: “Norbert Hönninger has achieved an impressive performance and played a decisive role in shaping LAUDA. He has always acted with composure and forward thinking and has been a central pillar for many years.”
Works Council Chairman Elmar Mohr referred to the significant social events of 1985 and paid tribute to the employee's continuous development from his beginnings at the production control station throughout his entire career. Mohr emphasized Norbert Hönninger's prudent approach and structured way of working and conveyed the greetings of IG Metall and the entire workforce.
Since November 1, 2024, the jubilarian has been in the release phase of partial retirement. The passionate fisherman and hiker will officially retire on October 31, 2026, at which point he will have more time for his hobbies.
Dr. Gunther Wobser welcomed around 60 participants who followed the presentations and discussions at the UBW conference ‘SMEs meet AI’ on 22 May 2025 at the LAUDA headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen with interest. © LAUDA
Successful Events on Artificial Intelligence
LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG successfully presented its expertise in the field of artificial intelligence at two major events in May 2025. Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO, and Florian Grunwald, Director IT, provided valuable insights into the practical application of AI technologies in SMEs at specialist events in Heilbronn and at the LAUDA headquarters. More than 120 participants from the region benefited from the practical experience of the world market leader for precise temperature control.
The event kicked off on May 20, 2025 with a joint event organized by the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the appliedAI Institute gGmbH at the IPAI Spaces in Heilbronn. Dr. Gunther Wobser gave the keynote speech on AI strategies from an entrepreneurial perspective. Florian Grunwald added practical insights into the implementation of LAUDA.GPT, which was set up in collaboration with the Munich start-up meinGPT, and presented the procedure for the successful introduction of AI systems. In front of more than 90 managers from medium-sized companies, he explained how the company's own AI platform is driving the family business's digitalization strategy forward.
This was followed on May 22, 2025 by the ‘SMEs meet AI’ conference at LAUDA in Lauda-Königshofen. Organized by Unternehmer Baden-Württemberg e.V. (UBW) in cooperation with appliedAI and D11Z. Ventures GmbH & Co. KG, the event offered over 60 participants a platform for intensive discussions about AI applications. Five innovative start-ups – become.1, Semorai, S2 Data, Unchained Robotics and Resourcly – presented their AI solutions and promoted dialog between established companies and innovators.
“The rapid use of AI is crucial for the competitiveness of SMEs,” emphasized Dr. Gunther Wobser during the panel discussion in Lauda-Königshofen. “We must not allow ourselves to be held back by regulatory provisions such as the EU AI Act but must drive innovation forward with entrepreneurial courage. AI not only helps us with process efficiency but also opens new business areas and improves our customer solutions.”
At both events, LAUDA presented its proprietary AI platform LAUDA.GPT, which works with generative artificial intelligence and relieves employees of a wide range of tasks: It creates and translates texts, analyzes large amounts of data and supports the programming and automation of workflows. The modern, model-flexible architecture allows for the use of various AI models, with full compliance with all data protection regulations. This provides employees with the opportunity to focus on value-adding activities, leading to a substantial increase in productivity.
Florian Grunwald emphasized the central importance of a structured introduction: “The success of our AI implementation is largely based on the concept of key users. These employees act as multipliers and make a significant contribution to acceptance and successful integration. Thanks to an agile approach, we were able to achieve impressive efficiency gains in various areas of the company in a short space of time.”
At LAUDA, AI is not only used in the form of generative systems such as LAUDA.GPT, but also in the cybersecurity sector with AI-supported security solutions for the prevention, detection and defense against cyber threats. In addition, LAUDA is developing AI-based systems for predictive condition monitoring of temperature control units on automotive test benches in the joint research project ‘ProTemp’ with Aalen University.
The two specialist conferences highlighted the high level of interest shown by SMEs in practical AI solutions. In Lauda-Königshofen, Dr. Andreas Liebl from appliedAI gave the keynote speech ‘AI for SMEs’, before a moderated panel discussion explored specific strategies for the correct use of AI. Finally, Prof. Dr. Patrick Glauner shed light on the legal aspects of using AI. Tim Wenniges, Deputy Managing Director of Unternehmer Baden-Württemberg, and Tom Villinger, Managing Director of D11Z. Ventures, emphasized the innovative power of the approaches presented.
With both events, LAUDA is underlining its position as an innovative player in the integration of AI technologies in the SME sector. The company not only focuses on optimizing internal processes but also pursues the goal of integrating AI technologies into products and services in order to better meet customer needs and open up additional sources of revenue.
“The lively participation of many interested parties shows the hunger for knowledge of practical AI applications in SMEs,” summed up Dr. Gunther Wobser. “The exchange of experiences and the networking of different stakeholders are crucial to fully leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence. As an innovative family-owned business, LAUDA will continue to break new ground and share experiences with other companies and institutions.”
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