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LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG recently celebrated an event that is rare in the modern working world: Rudolf Gräff's 50th anniversary with the company. At a ceremony attended by 35 guests, President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser acknowledged the anniversary celebrant's decades of commitment and loyalty to the family business.

Rudolf Gräff began his long, impressive career at LAUDA on August 26, 1974 with an apprenticeship as a power electronics technician. After successfully completing his training, he was hired into the electronics department, where he still works today. Over the course of his 50 years with the company, Gräff has distinguished himself through his versatile commitment, e.g. in plant engineering, and his meticulous working methods.

In his laudation, Dr. Gunther Wobser acknowledged the anniversary celebrant's special achievements: »With his reliability and adaptability, Rudolf Gräff stands for important values that have made LAUDA a global market leader. His willingness to face new challenges and technical developments and always deliver outstanding quality is remarkable.«

In recognition of his many years of service, Rudolf Gräff received the LAUDA certificate of honor and, as a special honor, the Dr.-Rudolf-Wobser-Medal in gold – an award from the family company that has only been given to 20 people to date. The honor was complemented by representatives from politics and business: The deputy general manager of the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Christof Geiger, presented the Chamber of Industry and Commerce certificate of honor and recognized the services of LAUDA and Gräff to the local economy. Dr. Lukas Braun, Mayor of Lauda-Königshofen, conveyed the city's congratulations and awarded the state's certificate of honor on behalf of the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg.

In his acceptance speech, Rudolf Gräff emphasized his deep connection with the company and expressed his pride in being part of the LAUDA success story. Gräff's career at LAUDA is also a reflection of the company's history: He personally experienced all three generations of managing directors of the Wobser family and began his career in the era of the company's founder, Dr. Rudolf Wobser.

Rudolf Gräff's extraordinary anniversary underlines the role of LAUDA as a responsible family business. It impressively shows how valuable many years of experience and loyal employees are for sustainable success in a constantly changing working world.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG announces that Dr. Ralf Hermann, Managing Director and Chief Sales Officer (CSO), will leave the company on August 31, 2024. Dr. Hermann looks back on a successful career at LAUDA, during which he has made a significant contribution to the growth and strategic realignment of the world market leader for temperature control units and systems.

Dr. Hermann joined the company in June 2017 as General Manager Constant Temperature Equipment. On February 1, 2018, he was appointed Authorized Signatory and on April 1, 2022, he was finally appointed Managing Director as part of the Drive250 strategy project. In his role as CSO, he was responsible for all of the company's customer-oriented activities, including international sales, key account management, project management in plant engineering, service and product management. He played a key role in the development and implementation of the Drive250 strategy, successfully introduced a new CRM system and further expanded the digitalization of sales.

“It was a pleasure to play an active role in shaping the success story of LAUDA. Together, we were able to increase sales by more than two thirds between 2017 and 2022 despite the difficult COVID years,” explains Dr. Hermann. He has particularly positive memories of working together at LAUDA: “I will always have fond memories of the good cooperation with all my colleagues, especially with our outstanding global sales team.”

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA, paid tribute to Dr. Hermann's achievements: “We are very grateful to Dr. Hermann for his work and commitment over the past years. His expertise and commitment have been important to the success of LAUDA.”

Following Dr. Hermann's departure, Dr. Gunther Wobser will take over the sales department and will continue to be supported by the two managing directors Dr. Mario Englert (CFO) and Dr. Marc Stricker (COO). LAUDA would like to thank Dr. Ralf Hermann for his commitment and wishes him all the best for the future. The family-owned company is confident that it will be able to continue its growth path in the future and expand its position as world market leader.

Dr. Gerhard Wobser, long-time President and CEO and formative head of the temperature control specialist LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, is celebrating his 85th birthday. The Doctor of Physics, who has led the family business for almost four decades, can look back on a life full of innovations, entrepreneurial challenges and social commitment.

In 1971, Dr. Wobser joined the company founded by his father and, after his father's death in 1977, took over the management of the company together with his brother Karlheinz. Under his aegis, LAUDA developed into a global technology leader for temperature control units and systems.

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO in the third generation since 2003, pays tribute to his father's life's work: “My father's calm leadership and expertise have made LAUDA what it is today. His ability to combine scientific precision with entrepreneurial flair was and is the basis of our long-term success.”

Even after retiring from active management in 2010, Dr. Gerhard Wobser has remained closely associated with the company as a shareholder and member of the Advisory Board. “We are delighted that we, as the management team, can still benefit from his experience and opinions today,” emphasizes Dr. Gunther Wobser.

In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Dr. Gerhard Wobser has always distinguished himself through his cultural and social activities. From 1998 until his retirement, he was Chairman of the industry association Spectaris for twelve years and is now its Honorary Chairman. The LAUDA FabrikGalerie, which he founded in 1995, has become an integral part in the regional art scene. From 2013 to 2019, he was Chairman of the Lauda-Königshofen Community Foundation, which he was instrumental in founding. Thanks to his donation, the Kilian Fountain at the Catholic Church in Lauda was put back into operation in 2020.

“My father's achievements go far beyond business,” explains Dr. Gunther Wobser. “His passion for art and culture and his commitment to the community have left a lasting mark not only on Lauda-Königshofen, but on the entire region.”

Dr. Gerhard Wobser has received several awards for his services, including the Staufer Medal (2006), the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon (2011) and the Citizen’s Medal of the City of Lauda-Königshofen (2019). Even in retirement, Dr. Wobser remains active. He devotes himself intensively to his cultural interests, attends art exhibitions and concerts and is a passionate golfer.

The birthday celebration will take place in Weimar, the city of Goethe, one of his favorite places. All employees as well as the shareholders and the LAUDA Seniors' Club wish Dr. Gerhard Wobser all the best for his 85th birthday, good health and thank him for his lifelong commitment far beyond the boundaries of the company.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world market leader in precise temperature control, has successfully completed the renovation and expansion of its training workshop. The project, which began in mid-May 2023, now offers optimal training opportunities for commercial apprentices and underscores LAUDA's commitment to the future of the company and its employees.

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA, emphasizes the importance of this investment: “As a world market leader, it is our responsibility to create optimal conditions for training our future skilled workers. By modernizing our training workshop, we are establishing new standards for ourselves in vocational training and enhancing our reputation as an attractive regional employer.”

The extensive modernization includes doubling the number of workstations from six to twelve with state-of-the-art standard workbenches. In addition, the number of soldering tables with solder fume extraction has also been increased from four to eight, enabling comprehensive soldering training for apprentices and skilled workers. A special highlight is the equipment of the workbenches with separate power supplies, which indicate various safety levels through signal lights.

Dr. Mario Englert, CFO of LAUDA, explains: “The investment in our training workshop is an investment in the future. We have spent a six-figure sum in renovation and modernization to provide our trainers and apprentices with the best teaching and learning conditions.”

Further improvements include the enclosure of the room for better noise protection, a trainer's office with two workstations, and a huge 86-inch digital flipchart for interactive presentations and training sessions. The project concept was developed internally by an experienced team of production planners and training managers. It is particularly noteworthy that the implementation was largely carried out in-house by the commercial apprentices. Under the expert guidance of experienced trainers and project managers, the apprentices were able to directly apply their theoretical knowledge to practice and gain valuable experience in project realization.

With the completion of the modernized training workshop, LAUDA once again underscores its commitment to training and developing young talent. The company offers a wide range of future-oriented apprenticeship occupations, including Electronics Technician for Devices and Systems (m/f/d), Warehouse Logistics Specialist (m/f/d), Mechatronics Technician (m/f/d), and Mechatronics Technician for Refrigeration Technology (m/f/d). The new workshop provides optimal conditions for practical, high-quality training in commercial occupations and simultaneously serves for the further education and training of existing personnel, thereby promoting knowledge exchange and continuous professional development within the company.

new.degree GmbH will cease its business operations on June 30, 2024. The wholly owned subsidiary of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the global market leader for precise temperature control, was founded in 2021 to drive forward the innovation and digitalization of the parent company. There was previously a similar company based in Silicon Valley, USA, but it ceased operations during the pandemic and transferred its tasks to the German company. After careful consideration, the liquidation of new.degree, »The LAUDA Digital Innovation Hub«, will now be completed.

»The closure of new.degree is a decision that was very difficult for me personally. After all, it was my initiative, which I launched full of energy during my stay in Silicon Valley,« explains Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO at LAUDA. »Agile innovation management is still very important to me. However, the last three and a half years have shown that integrating these tasks into the parent company is more efficient.«

Bringing the innovation and digitalization topics back to LAUDA should improve the direct product reference and enable greater economic success in the long term. Only around a year ago, new.degree moved into new offices in the InnoHubs on Skyline Hill in Würzburg, which are now also being vacated. By bundling expertise under the umbrella of the parent company LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, digital activities will be more closely aligned with the core business and existing customer relationships.

Dr. Mario Englert, CFO at LAUDA and also Managing Director of new.degree GmbH since the beginning of 2024, explains: »Despite numerous ideas each year, only a few have made the leap to concrete business cases. In the current overall economic situation, it makes more sense for LAUDA to focus on its core competencies and drive digitalization forward by additional hired employees at the company headquarters.« 

The closure of new.degree GmbH does not mean the end of comprehensive innovation efforts, but rather represents a strategic step towards a more focused approach at LAUDA. »We would like to thank all former employees of new.degree GmbH for their dedicated work over the past few years,« emphasizes Dr. Gunther Wobser. »The experience and knowledge gained is of great value and will enable us to continue to drive forward the digital transformation at LAUDA in the future and be successful in the long term.«

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG has awarded Itzik Avni, owner and Managing Director of the Israeli LAUDA representative Meshulam Avni & Son Ltd. with the Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medal. The world market leader for temperature control technology thus honored the outstanding achievements, tireless commitment and many years of successful cooperation with the Israeli partner from Nescher, southeast of Haifa. The award ceremony took place during the festive gala dinner, which was part of the LAUDA supporting program at the world's leading trade fair ACHEMA in Frankfurt am Main and was attended by numerous LAUDA dealers and international representatives.

The Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medal is the highest award given by the family business in recognition of an individual's outstanding achievements. The award ceremony was a moment of surprise and joy for the recipient: Itzik Avni is only the second recipient from outside the company. Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, who presented the medal together with his father and former Managing Director, Dr. Gerhard Wobser, emphasized the significance of the award: “The award is a sign of our deep appreciation for Mr. Avni's extraordinary achievements - especially in difficult times such as since the terrible events of October 7, 2023.”

The agency, which has been in business since 1970, tripled its turnover from 2022 to 2023 to over one million euros and was able to not only continue its business activities but also maintain a high turnover level. The personal connection between Meshulam Avni & Son and LAUDA was also highlighted. “The strong relationship between the Avni and Wobser families, which has grown over more than 50 years and generations, reflects our commitment to long-term and successful partnerships. It is our pleasure and privilege to maintain and strengthen these German-Israeli ties,” added Dr. Gunther Wobser. A special highlight will be Itzik Avni's 50th anniversary with the company next year. Health and enjoyment of work run in the family. The company founder, his father Meshulam, worked until the age of 90 and died in April 2010 at the age of 95.

LAUDA acknowledges the achievements of Meshulam Avni & Son and looks forward to future joint projects.

LAUDA Technology Ltd, the British sales company of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, has once again been honored for its outstanding performance with the “Best Agency for Plant Engineering” award. The award ceremony took place on June 11 at the LAUDA stand during the ACHEMA trade fair in Frankfurt am Main. This is the fifth time that LAUDA Technology Ltd. has received this award; the company was last honored in 2022. Special mention was made of the achievements of Paul King and John Telford, Sales Manager Industrial Units, who once again demonstrated their outstanding performance.

In the presence of Dr. Ralf Hermann, CSO of LAUDA and responsible for sales, service and product management, and Dr. Thorsten Ebel, Director Area Sales International at LAUDA, the President & CEO of LAUDA, Dr. Gunther Wobser, presented the award and expressed his appreciation: “It is a remarkable achievement to be so successful in these challenging times. LAUDA Technology, with John Telford as a specialist in plant engineering, has once again demonstrated a high level of technical competence”.

Dr. Hermann praised the performance of the British subsidiary: “The sales growth of LAUDA Technology is impressive every year. It surpasses itself again and again. We are very pleased with this positive development and would like to thank the entire LAUDA Technology team for their commitment.”

The development of LAUDA Technology since its founding in 2012 has been remarkable: after steady growth in recent years, the company has more than doubled its sales in the plant engineering sector to around six million euros. With two major customers from Ireland and another from the UK, LAUDA Technology has a strong customer base in plant engineering that is set to expand further in the coming years.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER, the world's leading provider of precise temperature solutions, draws an extremely positive conclusion from ACHEMA 2024, the world's leading trade fair for the process industry. From June 10 to 14, the exhibition center in Frankfurt am Main was once again the meeting place for the chemical and pharmaceutical technology, biotechnology and industrial environmental technology sectors. Over the five days of the trade fair, 106,000 visitors from 141 nations found out about the products and services of the 2,842 exhibitors from 56 countries.

With a modern, bright and inviting exhibition stand, LAUDA presented itself to the international trade audience from its best side. The presentation of two new product lines, the LAUDA Ultratemp process thermostats and the Universa bath thermostats, as well as a strong focus on sustainability, energy efficiency and digital products such as the LAUDA Command App characterized the world market leader's trade fair appearance. In numerous discussions with process engineers, biotechnologists, engineers, chemists and other industry experts, LAUDA's groundbreaking refrigeration innovations were convincing across the board.

Product innovations: Ultratemp process thermostats and Universa bath thermostats
At ACHEMA 2024, LAUDA presented the Ultratemp process thermostats to the public for the first time: These impress with their performance and precision and meet the highest requirements for demanding applications in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

As an innovative solution that is characterized by its modular design and the flexible combinability of control heads and baths, LAUDA presented the new Universa product line. The devices work with natural refrigerants and frequency-controlled compressors, which enable energy-saving operation, especially in partial load operation. With the Universa U 8 PRO, the Universa U 1645 MAX and the Universa U 845 MAX, LAUDA is presenting tailor-made and high-performance solutions for a wide range of applications in the laboratory sector at the trade fair.

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA, was satisfied with the course of the trade fair: “We are proud of how our innovations were received at ACHEMA 2024. The positive response and the continued high level of interest confirm our position as global market leader. Compared to the last ACHEMA, which was significantly weaker in 2022 due to the pandemic, we were able to increase the number of registered contacts by 154 percent. We see this as a positive signal for the challenging financial year.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world leader in precise temperature control, has presented Mieth GmbH Labor- und Messtechnik with the LAUDA Honor Award as the »Most successful regional representative in 2023« for its consistent sales success and resilient growth over the past year.

Mieth has made remarkable progress since its foundation by Klaus-Peter Mieth in 1990. The sales agent was transformed into a GmbH with a total of three employees in 2001. The company was successively developed both geographically and organizationally in the years that followed. Despite the premature death of Klaus-Peter Mieth in 2010 at the age of only 53, the company has continued on its successful course under the management of his son Johannes Mieth and has grown even under difficult market conditions. Today Mieth GmbH is an established and professional sales partner of LAUDA with nine employees.

Started as a sales agent for Saxony, the company has developed into a permanent and reliable fixture in the LAUDA sales strategy and also looks after the territories of Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the meantime. Mieth GmbH was honored by LAUDA as the most successful sales agent in Germany in 2006 and 2017– a confirmation of the constant adaptation to market changes and the pursuit of improved customer service. Mieth GmbH generated impressive sales of more than two million euro in 2023, which is attributable to a healthy trading business as well as comprehensive services such as the repair, maintenance and testing of laboratory and measuring technology. The company also follows carefully directed long-term strategies with a view to sustaining its success.

»This new award is a confirmation of our work. It's the result of our systematic customer-oriented approach and our professional team, which I'm extremely proud of. The support and know-how of Stefan Kühn in the back office are indispensable and the performance of all the employees is a key success factor. Together, we will also do our best to offer our customers the best possible service in the future«, said the delighted managing director, Johannes Mieth, who accepted the Award in the presence of Andreas Aiblinger, Head of DACH Sales and Service, and the President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser.

The business relationship between LAUDA and Mieth GmbH has developed into a real partnership over the years. Mutual respect and the shared goals of long-term cooperation and continuous improvement are at the forefront here. Dr. Wobser also confirmed this development: »Mieth GmbH has established itself as a reliable partner of LAUDA which shares our values and actively contributes to the further development of our company. I would like to congratulate Johannes Mieth and the entire team on this outstanding achievement and would particularly like to thank them for their long-standing and loyal partnership. It's a pleasure to work together with such a dedicated and resourceful partner like Mieth GmbH, and we look forward to continuing our shared success story.«

analytica, the world's leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis and biotechnology, has been a fixture for LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG. This year, the world market leader for temperature control devices and systems will be presenting its product portfolio in six thematic application areas and demonstrating technologies for the present - equipped for the future.

Sample safety and exact temperatures down to -86 °C - also in cold chain logistics

In the field of (ultra) deep-freezing, LAUDA is presenting two solutions, one for storing and one for transporting sensitive samples. With the tried-and-tested Versafreeze range of devices, LAUDA provides freezers and chest freezers of various sizes that enable safe and validated storage at temperatures down to -86 °C. High-quality components and finely tuned technology ensure excellent temperature homogeneity and consistency, outstanding insulation properties, and constant sample safety.

With Mobifreeze, LAUDA presents the world's first mobile, battery-operated ultra-low temperature chest freezer. The actively cooled freezer has a powerful lithium iron phosphate ion battery that enables operation for up to four hours at -80 °C and up to 7 hours at -50 °C, independent of the mains. Delicate and temperature-sensitive substances can be transported safely and under validated conditions between -86 and -50 °C. The Mobifreeze is the reliable solution for intra- and road logistics without the need for dry ice or phase change materials and therefore without the usual challenges of safety and complex logistics planning. By simply switching between mains and battery operation, it can also be used as a hybrid solution, eliminating the need for risky relocations. LAUDA Mobifreeze revolutionizes cold chain logistics and makes frozen sample transport simple and safe.

Modular, sustainable, digital, and powerful: the universal bath thermostats

At analytica 2024, LAUDA is presenting an innovative, comprehensively digitalized, and reinvented portfolio of bath and circulation thermostats for the first time. The new LAUDA Universa device line includes three primary performance classes: Universa ECO, Universa PRO, and Universa MAX, which meet all requirements from low-cost entry-level devices to high-performance professional thermostats. The new range of appliances has a fully modular design; the control heads and baths can be flexibly combined. With bath volumes from 4 to 42 L and bath depths from 160 to 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.

Sustainability was a premise in the design of the new appliance line. This is reflected in the high energy efficiency thanks to the speed-controlled compressor and modern refrigeration control, as well as in the natural refrigerants used across all appliance variants.

As with the LAUDA Integral and Variocool process thermostats, the Universa units will be fully digital. They have an integrated web server for monitoring and control via PC or mobile device, feature a wide range of factory interfaces and a modular interface concept for extended connectivity requirements, and can be used with digital LAUDA solutions such as LAUDA.LIVE and the LAUDA Command app. At the Universa highlight podium, analytica visitors can also gain insight into cloud-based monitoring and remote maintenance with LAUDA.LIVE, which offers numerous analysis and control functions. The LAUDA Command app can also be tried out in detail on other exhibits.

From sample preparation to consumer temperature control - LAUDA solutions for research and development

Reliable and precise temperature control solutions have been LAUDA's core competence for almost 70 years. In the area of research and development, a cross-section of the extensive portfolio will therefore be presented on two podiums at the trade fair. In the temperature control application area, cooling, heating, and calibration thermostats from the Alpha, ECO, and PRO lines will be on display, as well as the Microcool circulation chiller and the LOOP circulation thermostat with Peltier technology. Temperature ranges from -100 to 250 °C are covered here.

Water baths and shakers from the proven Hydro and Varioshake lines will be on display, especially for sample preparation. The Hydro H 20 SW shaking water bath, which is characterized by a load-independent, infinitely adjustable shaking movement with gentle start-up and a cooling coil installed as standard, will be shown as a representative of the wide range of water baths. Two variants of the Varioshake will be exhibited, underlining the versatility and variability of the line. Whether linear, orbital, or overhead shaking, the equipment line offers the right shaking motion for the application. This year, LAUDA will also be exhibiting the Proline PVL 15 see-through thermostat, a device that can be extended with measuring stands and cleaning units from LAUDA Scientific for precise viscosity measurement.

Scale-up and production scales - LAUDA process thermostats

LAUDA also offers the right solutions for production scales and high-performance classes. The Variocool and Integral line of process thermostats will be presented at analytica. The former are the tried and tested solutions for a moderate temperature range. Available in both air-cooled and water-cooled versions, they cover a temperature range from -20 to 80 °C and a cooling capacity of up to 10 kW. The expansion with different pumps and interface modules enables optimum adaptation to variable requirements in the process environment. They are suitable for the temperature control of single-use reactors or for the temperature control of buffer and nutrient solutions.

Process circulators from the Integral range cover a wide temperature range from -90 to 320 °C and are extremely powerful with a cooling capacity of up to 28 kW and a heating capacity of up to 24 kW. They are used in particular in laboratories and pilot plants for reaction control of chemical reactions and syntheses as well as for controlling scale-up processes. They are also highly future-proof with an intelligent interface concept and LAUDA.LIVE connectivity. An Integral IN750 XT will be exhibited, which is ideal for dynamic temperature control tasks and can be used for both pressure-sensitive consumers and applications with high hydraulic resistance thanks to its electronically controlled, magnetically coupled pump.

Remote monitoring and analysis - LAUDA Command (Professional) app

At the Integral and Variocool highlight podium, analytica visitors can get an insight into the LAUDA Command app (free of charge) and the extension to the LAUDA Command Professional app. The app offers numerous control, configuration, and analysis functions and can be used across all device lines. It can currently be used with Integral, Variocool, and Universa appliances, with other lines to follow. The LAUDA Command (Professional) app can be combined with any common operating system and can be used on both desktop and mobile devices, making working with temperature control units more flexible than ever.

LAUDA will be presenting its proven solutions and innovative highlights in Hall B1, Stand 504.

In February 2024, the Israeli LAUDA agency Meshulam Avni & Son Ltd. was honored with the prestigious LAUDA Award »Important agency with highest sales increase« for its unprecedented sales success. This marks the fourth time the company has received this honor, having previously been recognized in 2000 and 2006 for significant sales increases, and in 2007 for its long-standing partnership.

The current award recognizes the company's exceptional sales development compared to the previous year. It is noteworthy that the company has diversified its business under the leadership of Itzik Avni, son of the company founder. Outstanding growth was achieved in the industrial sector, with a particular increase in demand for testing and measurement technology for high-tech applications.

»Our long-standing, trusting partnership with Meshulam Avni & Son Ltd. has been the foundation of our success since 1970, the year I was born,« acknowledges Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA. »The ability to strengthen existing customer relationships and at the same time open up new markets demonstrates the excellence and commitment of Itzik Avni and his team.«

An important milestone in the past year was the acquisition of Mobileye, a leading global provider of camera systems for autonomous driving, as a new customer. With this step, Meshulam Avni & Son has strengthened its position in the emerging market for autonomous vehicles. In addition to high customer satisfaction through first-class service, Itzik Avni places great importance on continuously developing the sales strategy. As part of the LAUDA strategy project 'Drive250', an experienced pharmaceutical expert, Ms. Gallit Melamed, was recently recruited as an additional sales representative. Despite the unforeseen challenges of recent months, Itzik Avni's team remains determined to continue and intensify its sales activities.

LAUDA congratulates Itzik Avni and Meshulam Avni & Son Ltd. on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to a continued successful partnership.

LAUDA is pleased to congratulate Dr. Ulf Reinhardt on his ten-year work anniversary. As Managing Director of the subsidiary LAUDA Scientific, which was only founded in 2015, Dr. Reinhardt has made a significant contribution to the development of the measuring devices since joining the company on January 1, 2014 and has had a lasting impact on their visibility on the market.

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, recalled their first meeting during a factory tour in the region in May 2011 and their first clash in a tennis match in the middle of July 2011 in his entertaining address. “A decade of service at management level is a special occasion, on which I offer my personal congratulations. Together with your dedicated team, you have established LAUDA Scientific on the market and given the company a face, personality and visibility“, said Dr. Wobser. He highlighted the numerous milestones that Dr. Reinhardt has achieved - from a new brand image with its own corporate design to an independent trade fair stand and further development in the areas of production and marketing. “You combine the best of both worlds, as you embody key functions covering all aspects of scientific methodology, development and sales and link them seamlessly with the structures of LAUDA as the parent company”, Dr. Wobser continued.

Dr. Reinhardt not only contributes the expertise gained from his chemistry studies and doctorate at Hamburg University but also his many years of experience as a sales manager, team leader for research & development and former managing director of a manufacturer for laboratory analytics and laboratory measurement instrumentation. This combination of scientific background and entrepreneurial vision characterizes LAUDA Scientific, where Dr. Reinhardt plays an important role as an absolute professional and visionary leader.

In his speech of thanks, Dr. Reinhardt looked back on the beginning of his time at LAUDA in 2014, when he not only registered the new company but concentrated on raising the profile of both the brand and the products of LAUDA Scientific with an inquisitive mind and great perseverance. “With an agile approach – from fresh marketing ideas to the introduction of product webinars – and a dynamic mindset in the team, we have been able to achieve a great deal in recent years and raise our profile. The current market situation remains challenging, but we are optimistic about the future thanks to the high level of incoming orders“, said Dr. Reinhardt. He thanked his entire team for their efforts and said that he was eagerly looking forward to the next ten years.

He was congratulated by the LAUDA management team and all the employees of LAUDA Scientific during a special ceremony. The President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, presented Dr. Ulf Reinhardt with the LAUDA certificate of honor as well as a certificate of honor of behalf of the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce in recognition of his ten-year work anniversary at LAUDA Scientific and his commitment to the regional economy.

LAUDA, the world market leader in constant temperature equipment, presents its latest product line – the Ultratemp process thermostats. They have been tailored to meet the high demands of biotechnological, biopharmaceutical and industrial applications.

High performance for a wide range of requirements

With heating and cooling outputs of 25 kW, 35 kW or 50 kW, the Ultratemp devices are designed to quickly heat up or cool down large volumes. This is particularly useful for typical biotechnological, biopharmaceutical and other industrial applications with a wide range of temperature and performance requirements.

Application-optimized equipment for precise results

The Ultratemp thermostats can precisely control external consuming units within a range of -5 °C to 60 °C with a high temperature stability of ±0.5 K, which enables accurate temperature control in the application. The water-cooled refrigeration technology minimizes heat discharge to the environment, and the use of non-flammable media such as water or water-glycol guarantees easy handling and low running costs.

Robust, easy to clean and intuitive to use

The new Ultratemp process thermostats combine robustness with simple operation. Designed with protection level IP 54 as standard, they are protected against splash water and are easy to clean, thanks to the high-quality stainless steel housing. They can be operated with non-flammable temperature control media. The device is operated via function buttons and a clear LCD, while the integrated Ethernet interface allows remote monitoring and control via a control station or PC. Furthermore, external components such as sensors (e.g. a Pt100 temperature probe) or signal transmitters can be connected.

Suitable for use worldwide thanks to bi-frequency power supply

The bi-frequency power supply (400 V; 3/PE; 50 Hz & 460 V; 3/PE; 60 Hz) means that the Ultratemp process thermostats are equipped for worldwide use. In addition, they are available in an optimized design exclusively for 50 Hz. All variants can be operated within an ambient temperature range of -15 °C to 50 °C.

The Ultratemp process thermostats extend the LAUDA product range and provide optimum solutions for biotechnological applications with reactor volumes of up to 5,000 liters. The devices have been specially designed to meet the requirements of the biopharmaceutical industry and its processes. As a result, they provide e.g. the requisite high heating and cooling capacities for long process times with constant temperatures of 37 °C and can subsequently cool down the reactor content very quickly.

With the launch of the cutting-edge Ultratemp process thermostats, LAUDA has significantly enhanced its range of products and confirmed its commitment to innovative temperature control solutions which drive forward productivity and efficiency in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and industry worldwide.

LAUDA Singapore PTE. LTD., a subsidiary of the world market leader in precise temperature control, LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, celebrated the opening of its new office in Singapore at the end of last year. The event was attended by LAUDA President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser and CSO Dr. Ralf Hermann, who is responsible for sales, product management and service, as well as high-ranking guests including the Executive Director of the Singaporean-German Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Tim Philippi.

Dr. Wobser’s welcoming address ran the gamut from the origins of the company as a regional holding in 2007 and its conversion into a sales company in 2015, all the way through to its latest achievements and exciting vision for the promising region. LAUDA Singapore has been certified in accordance with ISO 14001 since July 1st, 2022 and has achieved major successes in Singapore, the ASEAN states, South Korea and Taiwan. “The opening of the new office is an important milestone for the team at LAUDA Singapore and demonstrates LAUDA’s strategy of offering its customers high-quality products and services directly on site,” added Dr. Gunther Wobser. He thanked everyone who contributed to the impressive new site and wished the team every success.

Teck Chia Lee, Managing Director of LAUDA Singapore, is delighted by the opportunities provided by the site, which will drive the growth of the company in the region. The new office at the German Center in Singapore encompasses more than 200 square meters and is characterized by bright, modern architecture. In addition to the sales and service teams, the head office of LAUDA Singapore includes a training center and state-of-the-art service workshop.

“With the new site, LAUDA Singapore is now prepared for the next successful step in the Drive250 strategy. The entire team is proud to be part of the LAUDA Group, which has offered innovative and reliable temperature control solutions for almost 70 years,” said Teck Chia Lee, in thanks for the trust that has been placed in the company.

The constant temperature equipment manufacturer LAUDA is launching a new product on the market to start the new year: the Mobifreeze M 270, the first mobile battery-powered ultra low-temperature chest freezer. Valuable samples or APIs can be safely stored and transported from -86 °C to -50 °C with high temperature resistance – without dry ice. Natural refrigerants are used to provide active temperature control instead.

Safe storage AND transport of valuable samples

The actively temperature-controlled, mobile ultra-low-temperature chest freezer with sophisticated insulation technology has a battery life of four hours and therefore enables the cold chain to be reliably maintained in intralogistics and for inter-factory transport in road logistics. Delicate and temperature-sensitive substances such as gene therapy medicinal products, monoclonal antibodies or vaccines, which require storage under validated conditions, can now be transported under identical conditions. Cooling is freely adjustable between -86 °C and -50 °C. If the set limits are exceeded, a warning is provided by an acoustic and visual signal. An integrated data logger stores the temperature and alarm data. In addition to this, a customer-specific monitoring system can be installed. The Good Distribution Practice (GDP) Guidelines for pharmaceutical products can therefore be complied with to the full extent. Furthermore, the Mobifreeze can be used as a hybrid system with flexible switching between battery and mains operation, stationary use for storage, or mobile use for transport. Transfer processes that pose a risk of damage and contamination to the samples are avoided, which means that the overall logistics are more product-friendly.

Safe, comfortable handling, cost savings, and environmentally friendly operation

Battery operation also means that dry ice, which is a hazardous material, and phase-change materials (PCM for short) can be dispensed with during transport. In particular, dispensing with the former eliminates significant health risks for employees. At the same time, expensive exhaust air systems and specific personal protective equipment are no longer required. Together with the elimination of the PCMs and dry ice as a consumable, this represents a significant cost saving. Natural, future-proof refrigerants are used in the refrigeration unit of the Mobifreeze. The ultra-low temperature chest freezer therefore eliminates health risks, offers flexibility, and cuts operating costs.

The freezer is operated via a 4.3" touch screen, whose functionality is also not restricted by gloves. Password-protected user management prevents unauthorized access to

configuration parameters. The mobile ultra-low temperature chest freezer is equipped with two rotating heavy-duty casters, which make movement and steering easy in spite of the volume of 270 l. The ergonomic handles provide a secure grip and the dead man's brake offers extra safety. In addition to this, the bottom panel and wheels are safeguarded by ram and impact protection. The stable design enables it to be loaded with a forklift truck.

This transport innovation for the biopharmaceutical industry is now available. LAUDA, the temperature control specialist, demonstrates once again that it acts upon its claim “Empowering Excellence. For a better Future” and re-thinks established methods.

In December 2023, Andreas Aiblinger, Head of DACH Sales and Service at LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, presented long-standing partner and customer Fritz Bartelt, Managing Director of Bartelt GmbH with the important international award for "Long-time agency with continuous increase in sales during the last five years". The first meeting between the two companies took place at Analytica 1986, where Dr. Gerhard Wobser, the long-standing Managing Director of the global market leader for precision temperature equipment had his first conversation with Fritz Bartelt senior, marking the beginning of a long and fruitful collaborative partnership. Today, a wide selection of the LAUDA products are sold, ranging from laboratory equipment to complex process thermostats from the Integral line as well as systems and corresponding service. Bartelt had already received three awards from LAUDA in the past. President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser and Managing Director Dr. Ralf Hermann, who is responsible for Sales, Marketing and Service, would also like to warmly congratulate him and look forward to many more decades of excellent collaboration.

With headquarters in Graz and other locations in Vienna and Innsbruck as well as a partner company in Budapest, Bartelt GmbH is one of Austria's leading companies in the areas of laboratory equipment, laboratory consumables and laboratory facilities. The company was founded in 1936 as a family business and is now run by Fritz Bartelt from the third generation.

The temperature control specialist LAUDA recently announced that it had won another major order from a well-known European producer of hydrogen filling stations. 36 sets, each consisting of an SUK process cooling unit and a circulation chiller from the Ultracool product line, will be supplied over a period of just under two years. The SUK unit is responsible for cooling the hydrogen before the refueling process, whereas the Ultracool circulation chiller cools the compressors which compress the hydrogen.

Delivery of 20 of these sets will be requested in the current year alone. LAUDA had regularly supplied the filling station producer with single systems from 2020, but then an aggregated order for 14 sets was placed in 2021 for the first time. With a volume of several million euro, the new contract is now the biggest hydrogen order in the history of LAUDA.

There is potential for a large number of further orders, because the market for hydrogen filling stations is growing. According to a study of the Ludwig Bölkow Foundation, the number of hydrogen filling stations will increase to approx. 3,000 by 2030, starting from approx. 1,000 in 2020.

In addition to the production of the currently ordered systems, LAUDA is also working on the next generation of process cooling units. On the one hand, this is being done in the European research project RHeaDHy, which started in February this year and focuses on the development of technology for the refueling of heavy goods vehicles. On the other hand, LAUDA engages in intensive discussion with its customers, in order to drive forward the development in line with the current requirements. Furthermore, in addition to the SUK compact systems currently in use, LAUDA is also planning modular systems that will allow flexible adaptation to both current and evolving requirements. This concept enables refueling station operators to gradually expand their capacity depending on the demand of the end customers, which also means that capital investments can be better distributed over time. As the major order shows, LAUDA is spot-on with its customer focus – the maxim "Empowering Excellence. For a better Future" and the corresponding product quality are convincing.

Important visit for LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG at Hydrogen + Fuel Cells EUROPE exhibition. At Europe’s biggest exhibition for hydrogen, fuel cells, and stationary batteries, which takes place at the Hanover Messe exhibition grounds, the world market leader in precise temperatures was able to welcome Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann. LAUDA’s Managing Director for Sales, Dr. Ralf Hermann, personally greeted the Minister-President at the LAUDA booth and explained to him the family company’s temperature control solutions, which have been specially developed for cooling of hydrogen. Efficient, high-performance temperature control technology is needed for electrolysis and the application of liquid hydrogen, one of the key technologies of the energy transition.

“Hydrogen holds great opportunities for medium-sized businesses as part of a nationwide or Europe-wide energy transition strategy,” explains Dr. Ralf Hermann. “Which is why, as a world market leader, we are all the more pleased that our innovative solutions for hydrogen cooling have the interest and backing of the state government.” LAUDA will continue exhibiting its innovative cooling solutions in the hydrogen section of Hydrogen Fuel + Cells EUROPE at Stand B 20 in Hall 13 until April 21st, 2023.

“The increased use of hydrogen is just one of the ways that we can make our economy and society more ecological and sustainable. I am delighted that companies from Baden-Württemberg, such as LAUDA, are contributing to the success of this transformation. Temperature control for hydrogen is one of many fields that play an important role in this area,” said Minister-President Kretschmann.

LAUDA offers precise cooling for hydrogen applications

Temperature control solutions for the cooling of hydrogen are especially utilized for the cooling of electrolyzers in the manufacture of green hydrogen. Likewise, they are also used where hydrogen is used and supplied, i.e. at hydrogen filling stations and in compression cooling. Refueling of heavy vehicles, such as trains or ships, uses liquid hydrogen, which must be heavily compressed. This results in high technical requirements for the systems involved in transport, storage and the actual refueling process. For this purpose, LAUDA offers innovative constant temperature equipment that meet both the particular requirements of hydrogen as an energy source, as well as external factors when refueling.

Hydrogen has a key role to play in managing the energy transition. Hydrogen is extremely important for an environmentally friendly energy system, both for energy storage to supply heat and for future mobility. But this element has its downsides. Powerful cooling devices are needed to handle it. As the global market leader for temperature control technology, LAUDA already offers the relevant technology for electrolyzers and hydrogen fueling. As part of Horizon Europe, the new EU research project RHeaDHy is expanding this expertise even further with the development of innovative and powerful solutions for faster refueling in heavy-duty applications.

4 million euros for European hydrogen development – LAUDA is setting new standards

Launched on February 1, 2023, the innovation project RHeaDHy aims to advance the development of high-performance hydrogen fueling stations. To this end, the European Union will contribute almost 4 million euros in funding to the project. The ultimate goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from freight transport using hydrogen-powered vehicles. However, in order for the solution to be viable, it must be possible to refuel trucks and other means of transport of a similar size within a short time – the target for refueling a truck with 100 kg of hydrogen is ten minutes. In order to do this, the hydrogen must be refueled under high pressure, which significantly increases the temperature. As a member of a consortium consisting of several European partners, LAUDA will be responsible for the development of a high-performance cooling system. LAUDA will also set standards for the future while helping to develop new standards for hydrogen refueling. The project is scheduled to run until early 2027. By the end of the project, near-series technology should be available and installed at two locations: one refueling station will be opened in Germany and another in France.

Refrigeration technology for the hydrogen industry ready for series production

LAUDA has been a strong partner to producers and operators of hydrogen refueling stations since 2015, and in this time, has delivered dozens of systems to various industry leaders. These systems include SUK 350 L process cooling units for cooling hydrogen during refueling, as well as Ultracool line circulation chillers for cooling the electrolyzers during hydrogen production, both of which are serially produced.

In view of the strong market growth in the hydrogen industry and the forecast of around 3,000 additional hydrogen refueling stations by 2030 in Europe alone, LAUDA is preparing to significantly expand its production capacities for SUK units. The Ultracool series has already been prepared for the increase in demand: firstly, investments of around 7 million euros have allowed the multiplication of production capacities. Secondly, work on redeveloping the product line began as early as 2019 to make it more compact, more powerful and more energy-efficient. Several new models will be launched later this year to meet the growing demand for even more powerful units. LAUDA can cover cooling capacities of up to 240 kW with the serially produced Ultracool product line.

The temperature control specialists from LAUDA have committed themselves to provide outstanding performance for a better future (Empowering Excellence. For a better future). Once again, they have shown their willingness to break new ground and devote themselves to pioneering technologies. With the EU research project, LAUDA is also underscoring its expertise in the field of hydrogen cooling and its will to continuously promote innovation and development.

Together with other investors, temperature control specialist LAUDA has invested in the start-up MAGNOTHERM. With this round of financing, concluding at over 5 million EUR, the multiple award-winning start-up plans to start serial production of its first sustainable refrigerator. LAUDA has been following the development of the promising start-up from Darmstadt since 2019, through its innovative subsidiary new.degree GmbH. The two companies now want to utilize this longstanding relationship and the latest investment of 300,000 EUR to identify strategic reference points for subject areas and projects of shared interest.

MAGNOTHERM was founded out of the Technical University of Darmstadt by the current managing directors, Dr. Maximilian Fries and Timur Sirman, and develops sustainable cooling solutions without the use of conventional industrial refrigerants – which are often harmful to the climate. The start-up uses a temperature-active, magnetic metal to cool a water mixture. In principle, this revolutionary technology can be used for any type of cooling – an advantage that has piqued the interest of the world market leader for precise temperature control: “Equipment from LAUDA is used to control temperature in the applications and processes of major future industries around the world,” explains Dr. Mario Englert, who as Chief Financial Officer is responsible for investments. President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser added: “As the world market leader, we want to make the world a better place with precise temperatures – that is our vision and what we put into practice every day. In the future, energy-efficient systems will be needed that conserve resources and minimize harmful emissions. MAGNOTHERM has taken an important step in the right direction, which complements our technological expertise as a world market leader. With our investment, we are laying the foundation stone for a successful collaboration between the start-up and industry, and can benefit from one another.”

The further expansion of the LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG company premises at the Lauda-Königshofen site was launched with an official groundbreaking ceremony. 180 new parking spaces are being built for the rapidly growing team of LAUDA employees. The parking spaces are being built directly on the company premises and will be canopied with a modern photovoltaic system to maximize use of the site. In addition to the LAUDA management and Works Council Chairman Elmar Mohr, the mayor of the city of Lauda-Königshofen, Dr. Lukas Braun, and representatives of property developer Faul + Bethäuser and Sparkasse Tauberfranken also attended the groundbreaking ceremony on February 16. President, CEO and advisory board member Dr. Gerhard Wobser also took part in the groundbreaking ceremony held to mark the start of the construction work.

The new parking lot is not only intended to provide parking for the growing number of employees that have joined the company over the past year: President & CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, explained in his speech "It's not just about providing parking for cars, it's about sustainability, the careful use of resources, and our responsibility as a company." LAUDA has set itself and its employees the task of making an important contribution to environmental protection as a company. In addition to the installation of a roof-mounted photovoltaic system and charging infrastructure for electric cars that can also be used by the public, the family business was one of the first companies in Germany to make the company car fleet accessible to the public with a car sharing solution. Covering the parking lot with a photovoltaic system is another logical step in helping the company achieve its ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. Furthermore, the family business will also soon have its own bus stop.

The construction project will create another 90 parking spaces, doubling the capacity of the previous site in the west to a total of 180. 100 of these parking spaces will be covered. Scheduled to start up by September 2023, the photovoltaic system installed on the canopies above the parking spaces will generate 350 kWp of power, thereby covering around 30 percent of LAUDA's electricity requirements. The global market leader is investing around another 1.2 million euro in this expansion project.

The mayor of Lauda-Königshofen, Dr. Lukas Braun, paid tribute to the growth strategy of the global market leader: "The structural expansion of the Lauda-Königshofen site is a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to the region." According to Dr. Lukas Braun, the construction of the parking lot can also be seen as a sign of further growth. Plans to expand the site further north toward Distelhausen are already in the pipeline.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG closed 2022 with record turnover. With a consolidated group turnover of around EUR 121 million, the global market leader exceeded the original target of EUR 120 million by EUR 1 million, and for the first time in it's history, was able to announce a turnover of more than EUR 100 million. In addition, the LAUDA Group also closed the month of December with a record turnover of around EUR 15.56 million. This record is the result of the comprehensive Drive250 strategy project, which LAUDA has been pushing forward for a year now. The family-owned company has set itself ambitious growth targets with a new structure, future-oriented investments and process optimizations: By 2026, the number of LAUDA employees is set to almost double internationally, from 530 at present to over 1,000. Turnover is expected to increase from the current level of around 120 million euro to 250 million euro in the five-year period under consideration. The 2022 record clearly shows that the strategy of the global market leader is working and that everything is going according to plan in terms of content. This is particularly remarkable given the geopolitical and socio-political backdrop of the previous year.

"We have made amazing progress since the implementation of our Drive250 strategy project," explains President & CEO of LAUDA, Dr. Gunther Wobser. "As a result, we hired almost 60 new employees in 2022." In spite of a year full of unpredictability, the company managed to stay on course. "2022 was extraordinary in every respect and was extremely demanding for everyone at LAUDA. It was characterized by large volumes of incoming orders, material shortages and bottlenecks." Nevertheless, LAUDA was still able to pursue its ambitious goals. The success of the company is also down to the performance of its employees: "I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this outstanding result and I am sure that we will achieve our goals together again this year," concludes Dr. Gunther Wobser.

The groundbreaking strategy project Drive250 by LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH CO. KG based in Baden-Württemberg continues to move forward at full speed. LAUDA's Drive250 project is setting the course for the future, which is also proving important for the town of Burgwedel in the Hanover region, where the global market leader for precision temperature equipment has a branch office. LAUDA used the "Drive250 Stopover" get-together format to bring together employees from both locations to celebrate what has been achieved so far, share information about the current progress of the processes, and examine common objectives. For this reason, President & CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, traveled to Burgwedel with his colleague, CFO, Dr. Mario Englert. The mayor of Burgwedel, Ms. Ortrud Wendt, was the guest of honor: "My goal is to maintain a close relationship with the companies based here at the industrial location of Burgwedel, and provide a local connection to the city administration. This is why I was particularly happy to accept the invitation from the LAUDA management to visit the company in Grossburgwedel. In discussions with President & CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, and CFO, Dr. Mario Englert, we exchanged views on ways of promoting the mobility revolution and the use of renewable energy, among other things. It's a good thing that LAUDA is here and I hope that the company will remain at this location for many years to come."

The former laboratory specialist GFL officially became part of the LAUDA Group at the beginning of 2019, and LAUDA Burgwedel was fully integrated in its parent company in 2022. The family-owned company is setting itself ambitious growth targets with a new structure, future-oriented investments and process optimizations. In this regard, new employees will be recruited and a large number of jobs created both at the headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen and Burgwedel, as well as other international locations – the number of LAUDA employees worldwide is planned to almost double by 2026, from 580 at present to over 1,000. Turnover is expected to increase from the current level of around 120 million euro to 250 million euro in the five-year period under consideration. To this end, the company is investing an amount well into the double figure millions for expansion of the production and logistics, but also for administration, IT and digitalization. The intensification of the business development in the area of future technologies such as hydrogen will also play an important role.

At the event, the management also drew a positive conclusion of the Drive250 strategy project, which was launched at LAUDA in the first quarter of 2022. In his speech, Dr. Gunther Wobser dubbed the past year as a "year of growing together". In addition to mutual visits between Burgwedel and Lauda-Königshofen, working groups were defined to systematically address the individual areas, processes and challenges. Here, the main focus was placed on mutual understanding and support, generating profits together, and improving productivity and performance. Consequently, sales were stabilized, the introduction of the LAUDA ERP system started, and the hardware and software equipment at location was upgraded. The hurdles for NRTL approval of the LAUDA Versafreeze deep-freezers have also been overcome, making it possible to start sales in the USA. Turnover was 10 percent higher than in the previous year, while the overall profit at the Burgwedel site was 80,000 euro. "Drive250 was a huge success last year, which we all worked on together, and I'm very happy to be able to start off the new year in this way," said Dr. Gunther Wobser.

After around one and a half years of intensive work and development, the LAUDA Carsharing Service is now live and can also be used by external members of the public. LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world leader in precise temperature control, is therefore playing a pioneering role in the region and making its entire fleet of company cars available to the public depending on availability. Following the initial idea of the President & CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, who initiated the project after the first important discussions and played a significant role in driving it forward, the LAUDA Carsharing Team headed by his Managing Director colleague Dr. Mario Englert has been working continuously on its implementation over the past few months.

For the company, sustainability means scrutinising and questioning every action and every process: What could be improved, what adjustments could be made? Smaller projects or changes can sometimes add up to make a big difference. For a family-owned company like LAUDA, the passing on of values and the prudent use of raw materials naturally play a significant role: "Our innovative constant temperature equipment and systems save a great deal of energy every day and are extremely durable. As a company, we have been certified to the ISO 14001 environmental management system since 2022. As a model company, we aim to be completely climate-neutral as early as 2030", says Dr. Gunther Wobser. “In addition to the economical use of resources, existing equipment must be used in the best way possible. So I had the idea of making our high-quality company cars, which just stand around on the premises in the evenings and at weekends, available to the general public as our city's first carsharing service. We implemented the idea together with my colleague Dr. Englert and a motivated team, and are now going live."

Using the carsharing service is simple: Everything is done via smartphone after downloading the evemo app. This allows you to rent, unlock, lock and return the car. Customers are registered and cars booked via this link or QR code: https://lauda.evemo.app/login

Lauda-Königshofen, December 15, 2022 – In the late evening hours of December 9th, well-known Lauda-Königshöfen entrepreneur Karlheinz Wobser passed away at the Caritas Hospital in Bad Mergentheim at the age of 87. Since the founding of the first measuring instrument factory of LAUDA Dr. R. Wobser KG by his father Dr. Rudolf Wobser, Karlheinz Wobser was the first employee to play a decisive role in establishing and rapidly developing the then young company from the ground up. His profound knowledge of refrigeration technology laid the foundation for the company’s rise to its current position as global market leader. He was an authorized signatory and Technical Director until the death of the company founder in 1977, after which he and his brother Dr. Gerhard Wobser assumed the role of general partners when the company transitioned to a GmbH & Co. KG. Karlheinz Wobser was particularly interested in the innovation of refrigeration systems and improvement of production processes as well as the modernization and expansion of factory facilities. After 46 years of dedicated and successful work for LAUDA, Karlheinz Wobser retired at the end of 2002 at the age of 66.

Born on June 28, 1936, as the first child of Dr. Rudolf and Dorothea Wobser in Dresden, in 1942 he began attending school about 20 kilometers away in Medingen, where his father was given the responsibility of setting up an engineering department in the original chemical company Gebrüder Haake.  After finishing elementary and high school in Dresden, he graduated in 1954 and began studying mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Dresden in the fall, specializing in precision mechanics.

Due to the increasing political pressure in the GDR, his parents made the decision to flee to West Berlin in August 1955. Soon after, the family found accommodation in Schwenningen am Neckar, where they stayed for a short time. Karlheinz Wobser worked as a mechanic in the Wigo factory in Schwenningen until March 1956, whereas the rest of the family had moved to Burlafingen near Neu-Ulm in the meantime. During this time, his father was on a nationwide search for investors and had found a site and potential customers for his own company and met with interest from the city government of Lauda as well as factory owners Erich Widmann and Paul Hagspiel. The measuring instrument factory of LAUDA DR R. Wobser KG was founded on March 1, 1956, and Karlheinz Wobser was the first employee.

For reasons unknown, his admission procedure into the Federal Republic of Germany initially failed and he risked being deported back to the GDR. Fortunately, a few years later he was granted West German citizenship and therefore also received an ID card. The foregoing uncertainties were a major reason why Wobser was not able to resume his studies. However, as one of the original employees, he had also become indispensable in the development of the young company. He attended many courses to learn the theoretical and practical fundamentals of refrigeration technology and developed the first low-temperature thermostats with his father. In doing so, he paved the way for LAUDA's subsequent rise to its current position as global market leader in the industry.

Karlheinz Wobser met his future wife, Gudrun Schüssler from Tauberbischofsheim, in January 1957, and the couple then married in October 1961. They had three children, Andrea (1962), Gabriele (1963) and Ulrike (1964). All three daughters now have their own families and grown children. In addition, two of his daughters still work at the company today. At the beginning of the 1960s, the young company enjoyed a steady upward trend with a newly developed, revolutionary program. More and more employees were hired, and the company went through one construction phase after the other. Karlheinz Wobser played an important part in this as Technical Director and authorized signatory. When the company founder, Dr. Rudolf Wobser, died on 17 June, 1977 at the age of only 66 after a short serious illness, his two sons, Karlheinz Wobser and Dr. Gerhard Wobser, became general partners and later Managing Directors when the company was refounded into a GmbH & Co. KG.

Karlheinz Wobser was particularly interested in the innovation of refrigeration systems and the improvement of production processes as well as the modernization and expansion of factory facilities. After 46 years of dedicated and successful work for LAUDA, he retired at the end of 2002 at the age of 66.  Even after leaving, he showed great interest in the company's further development and attended events organized by the LAUDA Seniors Club. He was presented with the Staufer Medal of the State of Baden-Württemberg in 2006 and the Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medal in 2016 in recognition of his outstanding services to the company and society.

Apart from his work and family, numerous honorary activities have shaped the life of Karlheinz Wobser. He was member of the executive committee of the Sparkasse Tauberfranken bank from 1985 to 2008, a lay commercial judge of the Chamber for Commercial Affairs at Mosbach Regional Court from 1996 to 2004, and a member of the Representatives' Assembly of the AOK health insurance provider for many years. He was also a member of several clubs and had done a great deal for the Lauda tennis club and the Bauland aviation sports club as a long-standing committee member. In addition to flying, his hobbies included playing music on the accordion and keyboard as well as tending his garden. In his later years, he enjoyed playing golf and embarking on river cruises. Unfortunately, worsening health problems prevented him from taking part in these activities to an increasing extent. Nevertheless, he was able to celebrate his 85th birthday with family and many friends in June 2021 as well as his diamond wedding anniversary in October 2021 after 60 years of marriage with his wife Gudrun. In May of this year, he suffered a femoral neck fracture from which it took him a long time to recover. Weakened and struggling with worsening kidney problems, he was hospitalized multiple times and finally passed away on December 9 in the presence of his mourning family. A dedicated entrepreneur and citizen of the city of Lauda-Königshofen is no longer with us.

Observant visitors were already able to get a first glimpse at ACHEMA and analytica, and now LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG makes it official: A new digital platform – LAUDA.LIVE – is now online. With comprehensive device management, intelligent analysis and monitoring tools, and sophisticated remote maintenance capabilities, the platform maximizes the performance, uptime, and reliability of LAUDA temperature control solutions.

Comprehensive fleet management for transparent device management

LAUDA.LIVE offers a wide range of functions free of charge. Fleet management lets you manage an unlimited number of devices and enter your own names and locations. Well-structured and individually adaptable dashboards provide a clear overview and simplify quick device localization for large device fleets. Users also have access to device-specific product documentation: From data sheets and manuals to installation drawings, everything is just a click away. For optimum management of the temperature control units, LAUDA.LIVE also presents a maintenance logbook and supportive warranty management. As a result, the platform helps to guarantee that no maintenance is forgotten and that the warranty status is always transparent. Optionally, warranty extensions can also be requested directly or service tickets can be created. These tickets are archived and can be used again for reference in subsequent analyses. All these functions do not require the connectivity of the devices and can be applied regardless of the device type.

Extended range of functions for remote maintenance and analysis

The bookable service "Remote Support & Monitoring" provides you with the option of remote maintenance, analysis, and monitoring of the devices. A service hotline with German, English and Chinese native speakers is available 24 hours a day, five days a week (Central European Time). Remote maintenance can significantly reduce the costs of service deployments as the causes of faults can be identified in advance and ideally rectified without the need for on-site service deployment. Software updates and function updates will also be able to be performed remotely in the future, saving further costs and increasing system performance.

Initial user feedback has made it clear that customers also want intelligent monitoring and analysis functions in particular. LAUDA therefore enables the remote monitoring of all networked devices from anywhere – at home, while traveling or in the factory. Device data can be displayed graphically and exported for external documentation, analysis and testing.

Sophisticated and secure

The digital platform is cloud-based with access in the web browser and is therefore compatible with every common operating system. The display is optimized for mobile devices and can be output on a desktop/notebook PC, as well as a tablet or smartphone.

Particular attention was paid to security. Users can choose either a local or a mobile network connection between the constant temperature equipment and LAUDA.LIVE. State-of-the-art PKI encryption, two-factor authentication and access rights management protect the data transmitted to LAUDA.LIVE according to Microsoft Azure IOT recommendations. PKI stands for Public Key Infrastructure, which uniquely identifies a device that is communicating with LAUDA.LIVE. Microsoft's Azure cloud application is used in various security-critical industries, such as energy, aviation and finance. Most people are already familiar with two-factor authentication from the latter sector, as one can only log into online banking using two security levels (for example, a password and TAN). Other applied standards are also known from everyday life – this is the same technology that is employed in VPN networks that are used to access company servers in the home office, for example. The data is stored on European servers in compliance with GDPR.

With LAUDA.LIVE, LAUDA devices become fully networked, intelligent IoT devices. The constant temperature equipment manufacturer is therefore taking precise temperature control into the digital age. According to its claim "Empowering excellence. For a better future", it provides its customers with a comprehensive and powerful package of functions to enable outstanding performance through precise temperature control.

LAUDA.LIVE is now fully available. More information is available on the Internet at: https://www.lauda.live/

The long-standing head and Managing Director of LAUDA France S.A.R.L., Eric Couche, is the first overseas employee of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG to be awarded the Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medal for his outstanding performance during his 17 years of service at LAUDA. Eric Couche has managed the foreign subsidiary since it was founded on March 1, 2005, and will retire at the start of next year. To present the Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medal and say farewell to the longstanding colleague in the festive setting of the Château Mont Royal in Chantilly, near Paris, the President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser traveled to France for the occasion, together with his wife and the Managing Director for international sales, Dr. Ralf Hermann. The entire team at LAUDA France took part in the celebratory evening.

LAUDA France was founded on March 1, 2005, in Neuilly-sur-Seine – starting with Sales Director Eric Couche as its only employee and an annual turnover of 1.5 million euros. LAUDA France was not only the first subsidiary outside Germany; Eric Couche was also the first overseas LAUDA employee. “I am very thankful for Eric Couche’s contribution and his exceptional work in building up our first foreign subsidiary. The development of LAUDA France has been positively shaped by his reliability and enterprise,” remarked Dr. Gunther Wobser, during his address. Today, the company of ten employees serves key customers in sectors such as pharma or automotive, and expects to generate almost five million euros in revenue in 2023. “That is an amazing achievement,” said the President & CEO in recognition. Maxime Sabre, who has worked for LAUDA France for more than ten years, will succeed Eric Couche as Managing Director of the subsidiary. “Eric Couche and the team at LAUDA France have made a huge contribution to LAUDA's success. I wish him all the best.”

The Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medal, which is made of real gold, was created for the occasion of the 60th company anniversary in 2016 and is awarded to individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the family company. Eric Couche is the first overseas employee to be honored with the medal.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG has awarded the LAUDA Award for exceptionally successful new agencies to the Italian technology service provider DELO Instruments S.R.L. The award was presented at the DELO headquarters in Fizzonasco, south of Milan, on October 28. President & CEO of LAUDA, Dr. Gunther Wobser, personally handed over the award to Claudio Baldi, Founder and CEO of DELO Instruments.

“In the last four years, the collaboration between LAUDA and DELO has developed beautifully in the area of battery testing for the northern Italian automotive sector,” explains Antonio Manconi, Managing Director of LAUDA Italia, who is responsible for the direct collaboration with the Italian partner. “By marketing LAUDA constant temperature equipment to reputable manufacturers of vehicles and components in Italy, DELO has been able to achieve outstanding results. Our goal is to further expand the business and to support customers in the automotive industry with optimal temperature control solutions for complex test scenarios.”

“With LAUDA Italia S.R.L. and Managing Director Antonio Manconi ,we have built up a strong organization in Italy that has quadrupled our market share to around 40 percent, since it was first founded in 2014,” adds Dr. Gunther Wobser. “DELO Instruments has been a reliable partner at our side since 2018. Thanks to the support of our international agencies, electric mobility is one of LAUDA’s fastest-growing areas of business activity. That’s why we would like to thank our new agency, DELO, for a fantastic year in 2021 with this award.”

The Spanish subsidiary of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, LAUDA Ultracool, SL, has officially inaugurated its new production site with a celebratory ceremony in Terrassa, near Barcelona. In doing so, the temperature control specialist has successfully completed its first construction project abroad – and its first greenfield construction of an entire production facility. The family company has invested around seven million euros in the new-build in Spain, and created around 4,000 m² of new production areas and almost 1,000 m² of office space on the 9,000 m² site. As a result, the Spanish subsidiary has doubled its production capacities for LAUDA Ultracool circulation chillers, to meet growing demand worldwide for energy-efficient industrial cooling. The expansion of Spanish subsidiary is strategically aligned with the ambitious Drive250 strategy project, with which the world market leader aims to more than double its revenue within five years.

Along with the workforce and the Managing Director of LAUDA Ultracool, Xavier Armengol, the festivities were attended by high-ranking representatives from Germany, including President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser and his father Gerhard Wobser, as well as Managing Directors Dr. Marc Stricker and Dr. Mario Englert. Regional representatives including the Mayor of Terrassa Jordi Ballart and Deputy Mayor Núria Marin, and Patrick Heinz, the Deputy Consul General of the German Consulate General in Barcelona, also took part in the event. In their speeches, Ramon Talàmas, President of the Terrassa Chamber of Commerce, and Joan Romero, Representative of the Catalonian Government and CEO of ACCIO, an organization to ensure the competitiveness of Catalonian businesses, as well as Antoni Abad, President of the CECOT Entrepreneurs’ Association, praised the contribution and commitment of the world market leader LAUDA to the burgeoning economic region of Catalonia.

“In recent years, LAUDA Ultracool has grown steadily and successfully positioned itself on the market with modern, energy-efficient circulation chillers,” said Dr. Marc Stricker, summarizing the developments of the last few years. “The new build will create urgently needed capacities for our biggest overseas subsidiary, both in production and for the further expansion of the product line. Accordingly, this important investment is perfectly in line with our Drive250 growth strategy.”

“Like in 2011, when we acquired the Spanish subsidiary, we are showing courage and investing during difficult times,” remarked Dr. Gunther Wobser during his festive speech. “That’s why it is all the more important that we as a company send a visible signal of confidence and determination. By doing so, we can write our success story together.”

The Dutch laboratory dealer Beun de Ronde B.V., a provider of scientific equipment with an impressive history going back 100 years, has been one of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG.’s most reliable partners for decades. Since 1958, the two family companies have worked together without . Beun de Ronde was LAUDA’s first agency abroad, meaning it has been at the world market leader’s side almost from the very beginning. After the death of the two company founders Beun and de Ronde, their long-standing, trusted colleague Joop Klinkenberg took over the shares and the company management, which he later passed down to his son Mike. To honor this extraordinary and close partnership, the current Managing Director Mike Klinkenberg has been awarded the Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medal. At a celebratory dinner at the company headquarters near Amsterdam, the President & CEO of LAUDA, Dr. Gunther Wobser, presented the award in the presence of his father, Advisor and Shareholder, Dr. Gerhard Wobser, and the Managing Director of Beun de Ronde, Corné Reuvers.

Dr. Gunther Wobser handed over the medal in person. This time, the occasion was a first: “The relationship between LAUDA and Beun de Ronde is a very special one, because it was the first agency that LAUDA signed a contract with on August 15th, 1958. The collaboration goes back even further, as company founder Dr. Rudolf Wobser knew Jan de Ronde from his previous work. Especially in the early days of our company, Beun de Ronde played a significant role in our success, for which I would like to thank him on behalf of everyone involved. To this day, our partnership is the foundation of our shared economic success and can undoubtedly be regarded as a shining example of an international, neighborly collaboration between two family companies.”

The Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medal, which is made of real gold, was created for the occasion of the 60th company anniversary in 2016 and is awarded to individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the family company. For example, employees who have belonged to the company for over 50 years are honored with the award. In total, 16 Dr. Rudolf Wobser Medals have been awarded. Mike Klinkenberg will be the first person outside the company and outside Germany to receive this distinguished accolade.

2022 – For the first time since 2019, the managing directors of the twelve overseas subsidiaries got together with the senior management of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG for the World Jour Fixe at the company headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen. In the previous two years, the strategic meeting of all the senior managers had to take place online due to the pandemic.

LAUDA's international management team traditionally meets twice a year, to discuss directive projects, goals and plans of the limited partnership and all its subsidiaries. In intensive workshops and training sessions, the participants develop strategic goals, evaluate milestones and create synergies for the world market leader's global business. Alongside an extensive development analysis of the individual business fields and the upcoming annual plan for 2023, the comprehensive strategy project Drive250 was at the top of the agenda. Under this title, the family company has set itself ambitious growth targets. For example, the number of LAUDA employees is set to double worldwide, from 530 at present to over 1,000 by 2026. The company also wants to increase its turnover from the current level of around 100 million euro to 250 million euro in the five-year period under consideration.

“Direct, in-person discussion with each other is an important factor in LAUDA’s company culture,” explains President and CEODr. Gunther Wobser, emphasizing: “We are in an important phase of our strategic realignment, which is made more difficult by the current geopolitical developments. That’s why now, more than ever, all international forces need to work together to carry forward our shared vision of making the world a better place with precise temperatures.”

After an intensive three days, the organizers and 29 participants were left with a positive overall impression of the event. On top of the strategic work, there was no shortage of collegial interaction between the participants, including a traditional visit to the Königshöfer fair and a cycling trip to the neighboring town of Bad Mergentheim with a mini golf tournament.

ACHEMA, the world's leading trade fair for the international process industry, will gather experts, users and the trade press from all over the world in the Frankfurt exhibition halls from August 22 to 26, 2022. The LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG will present digital innovations from temperature control technology at its stand in Hall 4.0, Stand C26, and provide an insight into the possibilities in hydrogen cooling - one of the trend topics at this year's ACHEMA. In contrast to its previous trade fair appearances at ACHEMA, LAUDA is deliberately concentrating this year on the focal points of process engineering and process industry in order to bring its own experience and portfolio in the field of industrial temperature control to the fore.

»The process industry with its diverse applications and future-oriented developments is one of our most important target markets,« explains LAUDA CSO Dr. Ralf Hermann. »Thanks to our decades of work in this field, we have a profound understanding and the necessary expertise for the most demanding temperature control tasks in process technology. Accordingly, we are delighted to finally be able to present our latest developments to our customers and partners again in a presentable setting and provide new impetus.«

Process thermostats with native app control and digital products from LAUDA

In the field of reactor temperature control, LAUDA presents the new generation of LAUDA Integral process thermostats, powerful temperature control units with intuitive control via mobile devices. LAUDA is bundling its digital innovations under the trade fair motto EMPOWERING EXCELLENCE. FOR A BETTER FUTURE. With cleverly thought-out further developments in temperature control technology that optimally complement user processes and make them possible in the first place, LAUDA supports its customers in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electromobility and hydrogen in improving the world with precise temperature control.

The smart networking of process technology and temperature control technology continues to advance with LAUDA.LIVE. With this digital platform, LAUDA temperature control solutions become fully networked and intelligent IoT devices. The digital products provide users with comprehensive asset management capabilities and smart analytics and monitoring tools, optimizing LAUDA equipment uptime, reliability and performance. A demonstration of LAUDA.LIVE awaits visitors at the LAUDA booth at ACHEMA.

LAUDA is demonstrating its extensive know-how in the process industry at ACHEMA with a LAUDA ITH heat transfer system for process temperature control. The industrial system offers working temperatures up to a maximum of 550 °C and a heating capacity of 3 - 500 kW, making it ideally equipped to handle individual temperature tasks in process industry applications. LAUDA experts on site will be happy to answer visitors' questions and discuss customized temperature control solutions.

If you would like a personal interview, our CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser will be available from 24-26.8.22 and our Director of Product Management, Enrico Bossart will be available from 22-24.8.22 at the trade fair. Please contact us regarding this as early as possible so that we have sufficient time to plan and spend time with you and your questions. Thank you very much.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG is a new cooperation partner of the association Innovationsregion Hohenlohe e. V. In this way, the global market leader wants to strengthen its own innovation activities and also supports the securing of locations and structural promotion in the extended region. Both partners want to use synergies and work together to promote and retain skilled workers in so-called MINT professions.

"As a family business with strong roots in the region, one of our most important tasks is to inspire skilled workers and young talent for our wonderful home region - especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers. Although we are based outside of Hohenlohe in the Main-Tauber district, I have been following the admirable activities in our immediate neighborhood with great enthusiasm since the company was founded over twenty years ago. As cooperation partners, we can now work together to achieve our common goals," emphasizes LAUDA's President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser. In addition, LAUDA bundles innovation activities outside its core business in its subsidiary new.degree. In the company's own Innovation Lab, the company drives forward ideas from employees as well as technology and service innovations from start-ups and digital initiatives in exciting search fields for future-oriented temperaure control.

With the Brainstation project, which is to be built in the former Lauda train station in the heart of the Main-Tauber district, the ambitious entrepreneur himself is pursuing the goal of working with other entrepreneurs to get young people excited about entrepreneurship, digitization and innovation - and ultimately to prevent them from migrating to metropolitan areas. As the region's innovation center, Brainstation will offer event space, creative zones, a co-working area, a café, boarding house, offices and a technology museum. With Futurelabs gGmbH and the Makerspace, children and young people will have an exciting place to discover their own talents. This creates the best conditions for successful collaboration with the Hohenlohe Innovation Region.

"We are very pleased to welcome the global market leader LAUDA as a new cooperation partner of Innovationsregion Hohenlohe e.V.," explains the chairwoman of Innovationsregion Hohenlohe e. V., Dr. Stefanie Leenen. "The globally active and innovative company with the impressive dynamics is a real enrichment for our network and fits perfectly with the goals that the Innovation Region has set for itself."

Since its foundation in 2000, the Initiative Innovationsregion Hohenlohe e. V. has set itself the task of maintaining the region with its large number of world market leaders as an attractive location for the future. Today, the innovation region consists of 26 members, 19 of which are manufacturing companies and seven service providers. Among other things, the initiative is involved in schools and works closely with politics, ministries, administration, science and educational institutions.

A special anniversary is being celebrated by LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG on July 1, 2022: Dr. Gunther Wobser, the President and CEO of LAUDA, started his career in the family business exactly 25 years ago. At a ceremony held at the company's headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen, congratulations were extended not only by the managing directors, the LAUDA management team, the shareholders of LAUDA and the chairman of the works council, Elmar Mohr, but also by the mayor of the town of Lauda-Königshofen, Dr. Lukas Braun, and the managing director of the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Elke Döring.

His career at LAUDA began in 1997 when he joined the company as Head of Marketing. After his uncle's retirement, he became CEO in 2003 alongside his father, Dr. Gerhard Wobser. During their time together, until Dr. Gerhard Wobser's retirement in 2010, he founded, among other things, the first foreign subsidiary, LAUDA France, to support and advise customers and agencies in the French market. Later, the subsidiaries LAUDA América Latina C.A., LAUDA China Co. Ltd. and LAUDA-Brinkmann LP, USA. were added. The internationalization of LAUDA was in full swing.

With LAUDA's enormous growth, Dr. Gunther Wobser gradually brought support into the management team, starting with Dr. Marc Stricker (COO, 2014), Dr. Mario Englert (CFO, 2018) and Dr. Ralf Hermann (CSO, 2022). LAUDA continued to grow strongly over the next few years, founding its own foreign companies such as LAUDA Technology in the UK and acquiring LAUDA Ultracool in Spain, LAUDA-Noah in the USA and most recently three manufacturers in 2019 with GFL in Burgwedel near Hanover. Turnover and employee numbers have risen constantly over the years to 530 employees worldwide with a turnover of around 92 million euros. Under the direction of Dr. Gunther Wobser, LAUDA became the world market leader for tempering equipment and systems and has remained so to this day.

After a one-year stay abroad in the USA, the entrepreneur brought Silicon Valley to Tauber Valley. With new.degree GmbH, Dr. Gunther Wobser established holistic innovation management at LAUDA. Digitalization took hold - and not only in internal processes. The temperature control units and systems are pioneering the digitalization of temperature control technology with state-of-the-art operating concepts and cloud connection. With the Brainstation innovation center, the innovative approaches should also benefit the region.

The mayor of the town of Lauda-Königshofen, Dr. Lukas Braun, found appreciative words for the commitment of the jubilarian in his laudation: "You think ahead, you drive, you are an entrepreneur in the most original sense, an innovation driver for our region."

"Always on the pulse of time and with full entrepreneurial power," said IHK Chief Executive Elke Döring, "he always initiates new innovative processes." She found special recognition for his commitment in the plenary assembly of the IHK and for the entire Heilbronn-Franken region. In addition, he has already headed the IHK Entrepreneurial Circle Main-Tauber, founded by Dr. Manfred Wittenstein in 1999, for ten years. Other well-wishers were Dr. Gerhard Wobser on behalf of the shareholders, as well as Dr. Marc Stricker and Dr. Mario Englert as part of the LAUDA management team. Elmar Mohr, Chairman of the Works Council, offered warm congratulations on behalf of the employees.

At the beginning of the year, under the leadership of Dr. Gunther Wobser, Drive250 was launched - the most ambitious strategic project in the company's history: sales and the number of employees are to double within five years, while construction work and relocation measures accompany the first steps at the headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen. In Spain, LAUDA has invested around seven million euros in the construction of a completely new production facility. The signs continue to point to growth - with Dr. Gunther Wobser at the helm. The repeated record sales in recent months impressively demonstrate that the family-owned company can achieve its ambitious goals.

The success story of LAUDA is closely linked to the person Dr. Gunther Wobser, he is the face of LAUDA and has significantly shaped the awareness of LAUDA through his presence in public and in social media.

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world market leader for temperature control equipment and systems, has been appointed to the Digital Council of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations. The entrepreneur, author and lecturer now strengthens the 20-member council, consisting of thought leaders from family businesses, corporations, the tech industry, start-ups and academia. The chairpersons are former Siemens AG executive Janina Kugel and the CEO of WAREMA Renkhoff SE, Angelique Renkhoff-Mücke. Other prominent members include digital pioneer Christoph Bornschein, bestselling author Christoph Keese, and Industrie 4.0 thought leader Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wahlster. The digital transformation of the world of work cuts across all industries and poses completely new questions and demands on society, employees and employers. The focus of the new Council member is on passing on his knowledge of innovation, providing impetus to society and the corporate world, and developing effective recommendations for action for politics and business from the perspective of SMEs. He is particularly interested in the professional exchange in the trusting round. The BDA Digital Council is always concerned with encouraging and empowering decision-makers from business and society to actively shape and accompany change.

"The appointment is a great honor and recognition for me. Challenges that a modern company of our time has to face require the development of new business models as well as innovative technologies and strategies," says Dr. Gunther Wobser. "Agility, flexibility, modern leadership and ambidextry - efficiently and flexibly expanding our core business consistently while at the same time systematically exploiting innovations and opportunities for the future - is a necessity in order to position one's own company for the future." The successful entrepreneur would like to bring his own experience to bear in Berlin in order to jointly master the challenges at the economic and socio-political level and to drive forward solutions to the problems of digital transformation.

About the BDA Digital Council

The Digital Council of the German Employers' Associations was founded in April 2019 and brings together personalities who deal with digital transformation in their respective professional contexts. They develop new business models as well as innovative technologies or concepts, conduct research along these topics and are key players in the social debate. These different perspectives and competencies are brought together in the BDA Digital Council to find solutions in an interdisciplinary and networked manner. The Confederation of German Employers' Associations is the leading social policy organization for the entire German economy. It represents the interests of one million companies with around 20 million employees across all sectors at national, European and international level and is thus the mouthpiece of German industry on the working world of the future.

Nearly 26,000 visitors and 891 exhibitors from 39 countries came to Munich from June 21 to 24 for analytica 2022, the world's leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis and biotechnology. After the trade fair had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the Corona pandemic, the positive mood and the great urge for professional exchange could be felt throughout. After the four days of the 27th edition of the trade fair, LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG also draws a clearly positive balance. The world market leader for temperature control equipment and systems presented its product portfolio in six thematic application areas and demonstrated how LAUDA's innovative, digital solutions will bring the laboratory of the future into the present. Despite the uncertainty of the still ongoing pandemic, it was possible to build on the trade fair successes from 2018 - in terms of specific inquiries and customer contacts. The 25-strong trade fair team can thus look back on a very successful week. The motto of this year's trade show appearance of the world market leader "EMPOWERING EXCELLENCE. FOR A BETTER FUTURE" was omnipresent through the visual representation of a floating "Impact Cloud" above the entire booth and impressively illustrated the future technologies and application areas in which LAUDA is making its excellent contribution to improving the world bit by bit with exact temperatures.

"It was a great pleasure to be able to exchange ideas with our partners and customers directly and personally. It is precisely these technical discussions and direct contact that provide such important impetus from our industry," says Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA and Deputy Chairman of the Advisory Board of the leading trade fair. "Particularly in 2022, after more than two years of pandemic, analytica was the perfect professional setting to present our innovations and the strategic reorientation of LAUDA to the trade audience. We are more than satisfied with the positive response and the large number of visitors to our stand, and we are very pleased with the many points of contact and the professional expertise that we were able to exchange during the most important leading international trade fair."

Process thermostats with voice control, mobile ultra-low freezers and digital products from LAUDA

The trade visitors were particularly interested in the product innovations on display, especially the world's first mobile ultra-low temperature freezer equipped with modern lithium-ion battery technology for the safe transport of vaccines, samples and pharmaceuticals. Temperature-sensitive active ingredients are stored and transported safely and in a controlled manner, CO₂ emissions are reduced and the occupational safety of logistics staff is significantly increased by dispensing with dry ice.

The new generation of LAUDA Integral process thermostats, which were developed for a comprehensive range of applications from -90 to 320 °C, an innovative temperature control unit with an intelligent interface concept and intuitive control via mobile devices, also impressed the visitors. With the pioneering technology demonstration "Hey LAUDA", the process thermostats can be operated by voice control for the first time. The devices can thus be controlled easily and conveniently via short and simple commands.

After a four-year break due to the pandemic, analytica, the world's leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analytics and biotechnology, is a fixed date for LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG. This year, the world market leader for temperature control equipment and systems is presenting its product portfolio in six thematic application areas and demonstrating how LAUDA's innovative, digital solutions are bringing the laboratory of the future into the present.

Process thermostats with voice control, mobile ultra-low freezers and digital products from LAUDA

With the new generation of LAUDA Integral process thermostats, developed for a comprehensive range of applications from -90 to 320 °C, LAUDA presents an innovative temperature control unit with an intelligent interface concept and intuitive control via mobile devices. With the pioneering technology demonstration "Hey LAUDA", the process thermostats can be operated for the first time by means of intuitive voice control. The devices can thus be controlled easily and conveniently via short and simple commands. The industry-standard voice control with directional microphone characteristics for reliable recognition of voice commands, even in environments with background noise, works by means of a separately connectable voice control box and processes the commands in a GDPR-compliant manner without data transmission to cloud services (Privacy by Design). Speech recognition technology based on Natural Language Understanding (NLU) ensures the best possible speech recognition. The voice control system of an Integral IN 150 XT will be presented in the "Digitalize and Connect" area at the LAUDA booth in Hall B1, Booth 504.

With LAUDA.LIVE, LAUDA temperature control solutions become fully networked and intelligent IIoT devices. The digital platform, which will also be presented live in the "Digitalize and Connect"  area, offers users comprehensive asset management functions as well as intelligent analysis and monitoring tools. LAUDA.LIVE provides companies with transparency about their own fleet of temperature control units, as well as their condition and maintenance requirements. The sophisticated control and remote maintenance functions allow highly qualified remote diagnosis and optimize the uptime, reliability and performance of LAUDA equipment.

The freezers of the Versafreeze line with "GFL Technology" are the center of the application field "ultra-low temperature storage". LAUDA Versafreeze ultra-low temperature freezers for laboratories and pharmaceuticals guarantee safe storage of pharmaceuticals and valuable samples in the temperature range down to -85 °C. At this year's analytica, LAUDA will present a world first: The mobile Versafreeze ultra-low freezer - the world's first mobile ultra-low freezer with modern Li-ion battery technology for the safe transport of vaccines, samples or pharmaceuticals - makes the use of dry ice in the storage and transport of pharmaceuticals obsolete and exact temperatures in the cold chain a reality. Temperature-sensitive active ingredients are stored and transported safely and in a controlled manner, CO2 emissions are reduced, and the occupational safety of logisticians is significantly increased by dispensing with dry ice.

Water baths, shakers and space-saving temperature control units for daily work in the laboratory

Reliable solutions for numerous requirements in daily laboratory work have been part of LAUDA's core competence for over 65 years. With the acquisition of laboratory technology manufacturer GFL Gesellschaft für Labortechnik at the end of 2018, LAUDA has expanded its portfolio to include first-class laboratory equipment. To highlight the branch's more than 50 years of experience and expertise accordingly, all LAUDA laboratory equipment is given the "GFL Technology" suffix as a seal of approval for quality, reliability and convincing performance data. In the application areas "Preparation" and "Temperature Control in the Laboratory", LAUDA presents practical examples for various laboratory applications, from LAUDA Hydro water baths to LAUDA Varioshake shakers and shaking incubators to LAUDA ECO thermostats for economical temperature control in the laboratory. The application area "process temperature control" includes the successful line of Integral IN process thermostats for professional temperature control from -90 to 320 °C, the versatile LAUDA PRO circulation chillers and the variable process thermostats LAUDA Variocool from 1200 W to 10 kW from -20 to 80 °C for the dissipation of process heat in laboratory, miniplant and production.

Improving the world together with precise temperatures

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA as well as Vice Chairman of the analytica Advisory Board, is looking forward to the first major trade show participation in four years: "As the world's leading trade show for laboratory technology, analytica is a first-class opportunity to present our solutions for the digital transformation of temperature control technology to trade visitors. I am very much looking forward to the personal discussions with our worldwide customers and partners. Our ambition is to improve the world together with precise temperatures. How we intend to implement this vision is impressively demonstrated by the high-growth application fields at our trade show booth."

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG is reinforcing the management of the successful family-owned company as of April 01, 2022. The previous general manager and authorized signatory, Dr. Ralf Hermann will manage the world market leader in temperature control equipment and systems together with the President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, Dr. Marc Stricker (COO) and Dr. Mario Englert (CFO). As Chief Sales Officer, Dr. Ralf Hermann will consolidate the company's customer-oriented activities with the departments of Area Sales International, Key Account Management, Project Management Plant Engineering, E-Commerce & Inside Sales, Service and Product Management, thereby making a contribution to achieving the ambitious goals. In addition, he will assume responsibility for the company’s distribution companies in the management team.

The appointment of Dr. Hermann is an important measure of the comprehensive Drive250 strategy project, which will enable LAUDA to position itself for the future. The family-owned company is aiming to meet the requirements of a modern, agile industrial company with an offensive growth strategy, a clear, comprehensible structure and a significant reduction in the complexity of processes and products.

Dr. Ralf Hermann has been General Manager for Constant Temperature Equipment since 2017. In this role, the Doctor of Biology is responsible for the most important constant temperature equipment division, the service division and the management of the company's distribution companies. Before joining LAUDA, Dr. Ralf Hermann worked for Eppendorf AG in Hamburg, most recently as a member of the Managing Board.

“Dr. Ralf Hermann has managed LAUDA’s largest business unit with great professionalism for a long time and has played a decisive role in shaping our market success in recent years. As Managing Director for Sales, Service and Product Management, he will drive forward the further development of our product portfolio, international sales and business development,” says President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser.

Dr. Ralf Hermann is very conscious of his responsibility: “I’m looking forward to the new challenge and the opportunity to play a key role in the implementation of our Drive250 strategy project. The new structure and the process optimizations already underway will help us achieve our ambitious growth targets."

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG has received a major order for hydrogen technology. The world market leader will provide around 20 process cooling units for a French manufacturer of hydrogen filling stations. These will be responsible for an essential part of the refueling process – cooling the hydrogen to -40 °C – as part of the application. The filling stations will be used throughout Europe. LAUDA is stepping up its activities in the field of hydrogen technology in order to provide customers with urgently needed temperature control expertise and to make an active contribution to environmental protection. The production of green hydrogen is one of the key technologies for a successful energy turnaround.

LAUDA will manufacture industrial process cooling units of the type SUK 350 as well as industrial circulation chillers from the LAUDA Ultracool product line for the French customer. Delivery of the systems will be completed by the end of June 2022. The process cooling units will be used to cool the hydrogen pumped into the vehicle tank under high pressure with a short-term high cooling capacity. The process cooling unit provides a peak cooling capacity of 40 kW at -40 °C and was especially designed for use in hydrogen filling stations. The LAUDA Ultracool circulation chillers, which have been specially optimized for this application, are used simultaneously for cooling a high-pressure hydrogen compressor to a constant temperature of -18 °C.

The demand for professional hydrogen cooling is growing

“The order from our French partner is a clear indication for us that temperature control solutions from LAUDA are a critical high technology in the development of a functional and safe hydrogen logistics system,” says Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA. “We have significantly increased our activities in this area in recent years and see a lot of potential for precise temperature control technology from LAUDA there.”

“We can offer the experience gained from more than 60 years of system engineering, and many customers appreciate that,” adds Alfred Semrau, managing director for Heating and Cooling Systems. “In addition to electrolysis and hydrogen refueling – two fields in which equipment and systems from us are already in operation – there are many other applications for energy-efficient cooling in the hydrogen sector. We are very much looking forward to working with our customers to develop many other exciting solutions.”

Construction of the LAUDA Group’s new production facility in Terrassa, Spain, is progressing. The temperature control specialist is building a state-of-the-art production facility in the immediate vicinity of Barcelona for the Spanish company LAUDA Ultracool S.L., which was acquired ten years ago for the development and production of circulation chillers. After the laying of the foundation stone in January 2021, LAUDA expects the building to be completed and LAUDA Ultracool S.L. and its sales subsidiary LAUDA Ibérica Soluciones Técnicas S.L. to move in during the first quarter of 2022. LAUDA is investing around 7 million euros in the new building in Spain.

The new production facility means that LAUDA will double its production and storage area for industrial circulation chillers, which are used e.g. for cooling in the field of mechanical and system engineering. LAUDA is therefore continuing to drive forward the continuously positive development of its Spanish subsidiary and is meeting the growing global demand for energy-efficient temperature control solutions. Approximately 4,000 m² of new production space and more than 850 m² of office space will be created on the 9,000 m² site. "With the new building, LAUDA Ultracool is consistently gearing up for growth," explains Dr. Marc Stricker, COO at LAUDA and responsible for Development and Production. "We are not only increasing the production capacities of our Spanish subsidiary but have also deliberately created new office space to further expand the operational and technical capacities of LAUDA Ultracool," continues Dr. Stricker.

Sustainability and energy efficiency were important factors in the construction of the new complex. For example, concrete slabs with enhanced thermal insulation were used to minimize energy losses. Photovoltaic systems with a peak output of 310 kWp will be installed on the roof to generate electricity for the company’s internal consumption. As a result, LAUDA Ultracool will cover 65 percent of its internal electricity consumption and save emissions amounting to 104 tons of CO₂ per year.

Representatives of the parent company's management team were able to see the progress for themselves during a site visit. “We are delighted that the new building is progressing well despite the difficult pandemic situation and the global resource bottlenecks,” said President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser. "The expansion of the site in Spain is of enormous importance for the strategic growth of the LAUDA Group. Not only are we meeting the demand for industrial circulation chillers by increasing production capacity, but overall we are strengthening the future viability of industrial temperature control technology."

The Bavarian Minister of State for Digital Affairs, Judith Gerlach, has awarded LAUDA DR. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG in the neighboring state of Baden-Württemberg. Thereby, the politician, who heads the first nationwide Ministry for Digital Affairs only in 2018, was able to get an idea of the digitalization and innovation activities of the world market leader for precise temperature control. In lively discussion rounds, the participants, including the three managing directors of LAUDA, Dr. Gunther Wobser, Dr. Marc Stricker and Dr. Mario Englert, as well as the managing director of new.degree, Birgit Dillmann, were able to constructively discuss the insights gained and exchange practical views with the Minister of State on necessary measures for the digitization of German SMEs.

Judith Gerlach gained a detailed insight into the digital agenda of the medium-sized company from Tauber-Franconia at three stations that had been specially prepared for the minister at LAUDA's headquarters. For example, Managing Director Dr. Marc Stricker impressed her with a hands-on presentation of LAUDA.LIVE, a digital platform that allows temperature control units to be controlled, networked and monitored in real time via a cloud application. In addition to a virtual reality demonstration of the virtual LAUDA showroom, the managing director of Brainstation GmbH & Co. KG, Lisa Straub, wowed the audience with a detailed presentation of the vision of a supra-regional innovation center that is to be built at the Lauda train station.

"Digitization knows no borders," said Judith Gerlach in her keynote speech at the event. Direct exchange like here at LAUDA is important, especially in times of Corona. After all, it's all about changing structures and processes. The momentum that digitization has gained from the pandemic must now become a pendulum movement.

As part of the AVL Supplier Day 2021 on October 18, 2021 in Linz/Austria, LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG was honored as a long-standing partner in the category ›Supply Excellence‹. At the ceremony in Graz, LAUDA's President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, accepted the award together with the General Manager OEM, Thorsten Eilers, and the Sales Manager OEM, Felix Heinrich-Bignasse. The event was attended by 250 suppliers and partners of AVL. The Chairman and CEO of AVL, Prof. Helmut List, personally presented the important award in the category ›Supply Excellence‹.

AVL List GmbH, headquartered in Graz, develops, simulates and tests drive systems in the automotive and other industries. Worldwide, the company employs more than 11,000 people with an annual turnover of 1.7 billion euros. LAUDA has already been a firm and trusted partner of AVL for several years, and since 2019 this cooperation has been further expanded and intensified. The Austrian company relies on LAUDA's temperature control equipment and systems to offer solutions in the field of testing systems. For example, AVL uses the powerful LAUDA Integral process thermostats together with a flow control unit for test processes in the automotive sector. »We have a cooperative and future-oriented relationship with AVL, where we try to identify tomorrow's needs together in order to be able to offer technically and commercially attractive solutions at the right time,« says Thorsten Eilers, praising the relationship with the Austrian partner. For LAUDA, the award is a »significant and very appreciative distinction,« explains Dr. Gunther Wobser: »LAUDA is a reliable partner for all customers worldwide, which is confirmed by this award.«

For the second time this year, LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG was able to host a traditional ceremony. Three employees were honored for 40 years of service at LAUDA. Sonja Hörner-Dürr, Peter Spitznagel and Peter Wiltschek all began their training at LAUDA on August 24, 1981. In addition to the general management and the LAUDA management team, the congratulators included colleagues and companions of the employees as well as the mayor of the city of Lauda-Königshofen, Dr. Lukas Braun.

Sonja Hörner-Dürr, born in Bad Mergentheim in 1964, began her training as an office administrator at LAUDA in 1981. Since then, with brief interruptions in accounting and order processing, she has found her professional home in order processing. Since April 16, 1997, she has been working there as a department manager. From there, she masters the demanding tasks and challenges of customs and foreign trade with precision, knowledge and the necessary bite. Ms. Hörner-Dürr has thus taken on "incredibly important tasks for which I personally have a great deal of respect," explained Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA, in his laudatory speech.

Peter Spitznagel started his career in 1981 with a combined apprenticeship as an electrical appliance mechanic and energy appliance electronics technician, which he successfully completed in 1985. Peter Spitznagel initially found his place at LAUDA in electrical assembly before moving to the electronics laboratory of the Research & Development division in January 1997, where he still works today. There, according to Dr. Gunther Wobser, he was "heavily involved in the creation of new devices" and "had his finger on the pulse of LAUDA's technical development", for example by building sample circuit boards. Peter Spitznagel was also regularly on hand at national and international trade fairs to provide expert support in setting up and commissioning the new temperature control units and systems. This required flexibility and resilience, Dr. Gunther Wobser attested to the jubilarian.

The third person to celebrate, Peter Wiltschek, also began his training in 1981. As a mechanic, he first worked in test construction, later in special equipment construction and in the large refrigeration department, before taking over the assembly of hypothermia equipment in February 2003. Since 2007, Peter Wiltschek has been the group leader for hypothermia equipment assembly, where special temperature control units for use during operations are manufactured for a major medical equipment manufacturer. With a keen eye for quality and a great deal of passion for his work, Peter Wiltschek has been meeting the particularly demanding, strictly regulated requirements of medical device production for years, said Dr. Gunther Wobser. After his speech, Dr. Gunther Wobser presented the three jubilarians with LAUDA's certificate of honor and thanked them for their many years of service.

As a welcome guest of honor and representative of the city, the mayor of Lauda-Königshofen, Dr. Lukas Braun, delivered words of greeting and the honorary certificate from the state of Baden-Württemberg, signed by Minister President Winfried Kretschmann. "The frequency of LAUDA's long-standing honors is impressive," stated Dr. Lukas Braun. The fact that entire family cohorts complete their careers at LAUDA is unique in the region, he said. "LAUDA is an anchor of stability for the business location." A long length of service is also a sign that employees feel very much at home in the region, Dr. Lukas Braun emphasized. Addressing the jubilarians, he said, "You have been a part of the wine town of Lauda-Königshofen for 40 years. As a result, you have helped shape the success of the world market leader."

Companions and colleagues also took the opportunity to congratulate the three employees on their jubilee and to pay tribute to them in personal words. Finally, Elmar Mohr, Chairman of the Works Council, expressed his thanks on behalf of the workforce. In return, the honored Sonja Hörner-Dürr spoke words of thanks in the direction of Dr. Gun-ther Wobser and extended these to his father, the former CEO and President, Dr. Gerhard Wobser. She concluded: "LAUDA is one of the top employers in the region and offers secure employment. That is certainly not something that can be taken for granted."

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG celebrated the inauguration of the new Laudaplatz (Lauda Square) with a celebratory ceremony in front of the gates of its head office in Lauda-Königshofen. The open-air inauguration ceremony was attended by the company management, partners and the management group, along with important political representatives, namely Mayor Dr. Lukas Braun, Member of the Landestag Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Reinhart, and Member of the Bundestag Nina Warken. In total, around 50 guests were present at the ceremony, which was compliant with coronavirus restrictions. From now on, LAUDA can be found at the new address, Laudaplatz 1.

“Our company is 65 years old, and for 65 years, Pfarrstrasse was our home.” With these words, Dr. Gunther Wobser, Managing Director of LAUDA, opened his ceremonial speech for the historic change of company address. Laudaplatz 1 befits both company’s status as a global market leader in temperature control technology and the company’s connection with the region and the town of Lauda-Königshofen. The family company will also remain open to the general public: “We have created a representative, public space that invites cyclists, athletes and passers-by to stay a while.” The new Laudaplatz is a “fine new address for an expanding family company,” declared Dr. Gunther Wobser.

Words of praise from politicians

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Reinhart, Member of the Landestag (State Parliament) and Vice President of the Baden-Württemberg Landestag, praised the cosmopolitan and locally connected outlook of the company. At the same time, he spoke highly of the extraordinary contribution of medium-sized companies to the German economy. Member of the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) Nina Warken was also present for the inauguration of Laudaplatz 1. “The new address reflects the deep connection between Lauda-Königshofen and LAUDA,” said Nina Warken in her laudatory speech. “As a world market leader, LAUDA has made an important contribution during the pandemic, both in Germany and internationally,” remarked the politician, looking back on the past year. She praised the varied social commitments of the company and highlighted the lifetime achievements of Dr. Gerhard Wobser, the former Managing Director, who also attended the inauguration as a guest. In reference to the new address, Nina Warken ended her admirable speech with “Nomen est nomen”. For the inauguration, the mayor of Lauda-Königshofen, Dr. Lukas Braun, handed over the official street sign with the new address to Dr. Gunther Wobser. The town is proud of LAUDA, said Dr. Lukas Braun: “Many congratulations on this successful christening.”

On September 23, the Microsoft Hybrid Work Tour will be presenting at the premises of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG will present solutions for digital, location-independent and collaborative work. As part of a camper tour through five German cities, including Munich, Kassel and Berlin, Microsoft experts will be organizing workshops and live webinars on the topic of hybrid working between September 20 and 24.

A visible sign of the tour is that the participants will be traveling in converted motorhomes and vehicles. Among other things, webinars will be offered throughout the day, as well as live broadcasting, posting and tweeting from a vintage bus while at LAUDA. »We are delighted to be hosting the Hybrid Work Tour on September 23 at the LAUDA site in my hometown of Lauda-Königshofen«, explains LAUDA President and CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser. »Even before Corona, working with digital tools shaped our everyday lives, so the knowledge of the experts will certainly be of great interest to our employees«, continues Dr. Gunther Wobser.

On their German tour, Microsoft experts will introduce interested parties, followers and users to hybrid, location-independent, digital working in live webinars and on-site workshops. This will also include the live show »Alex & Ragnar«, which is well-known in the scene and will be broadcast live on YouTube that evening - with Dr. Gunther Wobser as a special guest - starting at 9 pm.

»As long-standing partners of Microsoft, we are pleased that the Hybrid Work Tour is making a stop in Tauberfranken outside of the metropolises«, clarifies Dr. Mario Englert, Managing Director at LAUDA and, among other things, responsible for the information technology of the global market leader. »The increased use of digitalization in the context of communication and also cooperation is a major, lasting effect of the Corona pandemic. LAUDA was and is also very well positioned and prepared in this regard.« Digital working methods and communication channels have now become established in the company, Dr. Mario Englert continued. »On September 23, LAUDA presented itself not only as a host for one of the largest software companies in the world, but also as a power user. Because the digita-len workshops and the uncomplicated exchange with experts benefit all LAUDA employees.«

With a symbolic laying of the foundation stone, LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG celebrated the official start of construction for an addition to an existing office building on July 22, 2021. When the office building with production hall was erected and completed in 2008, an extension was already planned, reported Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of the company, in the presence of guests of honor, cooperation partners, the two other LAUDA Managing Directors Dr. Marc Stricker and Dr. Mario Englert, Production Manager Christoph Baumann, Daniel Eckl, Operations Technology and Services and Sebastian Fell, Marketing LAUDA.

"Especially in these Corona times, the laying of the foundation stone and the start of construction are both a sign of confidence and one for entrepreneurial growth due to an expansive order situation," explained Dr. Gunther Wobser. Therefore, it is very important to create not only additional space for production, but also for office staff. As an ambitious expansion target, the world market leader for temperature control equipment and systems is aiming for a turnover of 250 million euros per year in the next few years. In order to meet the increased space requirements at the company's central headquarters, the existing multi-storey building is being extended by a further floor.

Managing Director Dr. Marc Stricker estimated the building project planned and supervised by architect Klaus Schreiner at around 2,500 m³ of space on a gross area of 430 m². It provides for office space in an "open space concept", including rooms for lounges and technical infrastructures. Completion of the building, with a total investment volume of around 1.1 million euros, and the start of occupancy are scheduled for March 2022, although the start of construction has been delayed somewhat due to the current shortage of building materials. "It was important to us to work with regional partner companies as far as possible," Dr. Marc Stricker emphasized. Accordingly, 50 percent of the contracts have so far been awarded to companies from the region without exception, such as the construction company Faul und Bethäuser GmbH.

"This structural expansion is a further commitment by LAUDA to its main site in Lauda-Königshofen, which is enormously good for the town and its development," emphasized Mayor Dr. Lukas Braun, who was among the small group of guests of honor at the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone at lofty heights, such as architect Klaus Schreiner, the two construction company managing directors Herbert Berthäuser and Norbert Groß, Peter Vogel, Chairman of the Board of the Sparkasse Tauberfanken, and the town's master builder Tobias Blessing. At the same time, he said, it was a renewed sign and mosaic stone for the dynamic entrepreneurship of the Wobser family, which is anchored in the city. "However, it is not just about pure growth, but also about the constant search for new technical innovations and developments," affirmed Dr. Lukas Braun. The mayor went on to attest to the company and its management that they are not "caretakers of the existing", but are constantly thinking ahead in the field of temperature control technology. "I wish the family-owned company LAUDA to continue to advance its culture of innovation so dynamically and successfully," Dr. Lukas Braun summed up.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world market leader for tempering equipment and systems, is participating in the fundraising campaign of the Tauberfanken Donors' Association. In doing so, the family-owned company is supporting the regional cultural scene, which in many parts has been put under strain due to the pandemic. At the official handover of donations on July 7, 2021, Heidi Griefenow-Maedel from the FreilichtTHEATER im TEMPELE Niederstetten e.V. 1993 and Monika Schumann from the Kulturverein Bad Mergentheim e.V. were guests at LAUDA's company headquarters. Dr. Gunther Wobser, CEO and President of LAUDA, presented the symbolic checks together with Paul Gehrig from the Tauberfranken public utility company and Thomas Landwehr from Sparkasse Tauberfranken.

»Cultural operators are having a particularly hard time in the pandemic« explained Thomas Landwehr, one of the initiators of the action. That is why the Tauberfranken Donors' Association was founded, which supports non-profit cultural associations together with companies from the region. According to Thomas Landwehr, donations have already been handed over three times. He always hears stories that make people sad. For LAUDA, supporting the campaign was a matter of course: »When I was asked by the Sparkasse for support, I immediately agreed wholeheartedly,« explained Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA, at the check presentation. LAUDA has been closely associated with the cultural scene in the region for decades. Among other things, the company hosts the LAUDA FabrikGalerie bi-monthly - with a current break due to the pandemic - which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

»Wir sind sehr froh, dass wir jemanden haben, der uns unterstützt«, bedankte sich Heidi Griefenow-Maedel bei den Anwesenden. Auch wenn man nicht wisse, wie sich die Pandemie im nächsten Jahr entwickeln werde, wolle man »nicht den Kopf in den Sand stecken«, so die Vorsitzende des Vereins. »Ohne Sie wäre es wirklich nicht möglich«, bestätigt auch Monika Schumann, Spielleiterin im Kulturverein Bad Mergentheim. Dr. Gunther Wobser zeigte sich beeindruckt von den Schilderungen der Spendenempfänger über die immensen Schwierigkeiten während der derzeitigen Gesundheitskrise. »Vielen Dank für Ihre Einsichten«, schloss der Geschäftsführende Gesellschafter von LAUDA.

»We are very happy to have someone who supports us,« said Heidi Griefenow-Maedel, thanking those present. Even if one does not know how the pandemic will develop next year, one does not want to »bury one's head in the sand,« said the chairwoman of the association. »Without you, it really wouldn't be possible,« Monika Schumann, play director at the Bad Mergentheim cultural association, also confirmed. Dr. Gunther Wobser was impressed by the donation recipients' descriptions of the immense difficulties during the current health crisis. »Thank you very much for your insights,« concluded the President and CEO of LAUDA.

Karlheinz Wobser, who is widely known in the region as a former managing partner of LAUDA for many years and due to numerous honorary activities, will celebrate his 85th birthday today, Monday.

Karlheinz Wobser was born in Dresden on June 28, 1936, the first child of Dr. Rudolf Wobser and Dorothea Wobser, née Nitzki. In 1942, the year of the war, he was enrolled in school in Medingen, about 20 kilometers away, where his father had been given the task of setting up an apparatus department at the Medingen test equipment plant. On his way to school, which was about 1.5 kilometers long, Wobser often had to throw himself into the ditch to avoid low-flying air raids. The night of February 13, 1945, when Dresden sank into rubble, was a traumatic experience. In 1954, he graduated from the Dresden-Süd high school. From the fall of 1954, he studied mechanical engineering, specializing in precision mechanics, at the Technical University of Dresden. During a practical semester, Wobser learned practical skills at the Medingen testing equipment plant, among other places.

In May 1955, the parents decided to leave the GDR after the political pressure on the father became stronger and stronger. The Wobser family fled to West Berlin in August 1955, and a month later they flew to Frankfurt am Main. The family found accommodation for some time in Schwenningen am Neckar. Until March 1956, Karlheinz Wobser worked as a mechanic at the Wigo factory in Schwenningen, while the rest of the family had meanwhile moved to Burlafingen near Neu-Ulm. During this time, his father, who was searching for investors, a location and possible customers for his own company throughout Germany, found interest in the Lauda city council as well as the factory owners Erich Widmann and his friend Paul Hagspiel. On March 1, 1956, Messgeräte-Werk LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER KG was founded, which celebrated its 65th anniversary this year.

After his application for admission to the Federal Republic of Germany failed, Karlheinz Wobser was threatened with deportation back to the GDR. Fortunately, however, he obtained an identity card a few years later and thus Federal German citizenship. The previous uncertainties were, however, a major reason why Wobser did not resume his studies. Nevertheless, he played a decisive role in the establishment of his father's young measuring instrument factory LAUDA. As one of the first employees, he learned the theoretical and technical basics of refrigeration technology. The fact that LAUDA refrigeration circulators gained an excellent reputation worldwide in the following years is the decisive merit of Karlheinz Wobser.

In January 1957, Karlheinz Wobser met his future wife, Gudrun Schüssler from Tauberbischofsheim. Three children, Andrea (1962), Gabriele (1963) and Ulrike (1964), were born. In the meantime, all daughters have their own families with grown-up children. In addition, two of his daughters still work in the company today. Now, with a newly developed and revolutionary program for the young company, a steady upward development began, more and more employees were hired and construction phase followed construction phase. From 1957 to 1977, Wobser was the company's technical director. When the company founder, Dr. Rudolf Wobser, died on June 17, 1977 after a short, serious illness at the age of only 66, his two sons Karlheinz Wobser and Dr. Gerhard Wobser became managing partners of the LAUDA company. Karlheinz Wobser retired at the end of 2002. His nephew Dr. Gunther Wobser was appointed as the new managing partner, and today he is the third generation to lead the family business. Until 2010, he managed the company together with his father Dr. Gerhard Wobser, before the latter also retired after 39 years.

In addition to his career and family, Karlheinz Wobser's life has been marked by numerous honorary commitments. From 1985 to 2008, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Sparkasse Tauberfranken, from 1996 to 2004 he was an honorary commercial judge at the Chamber for Commercial Matters at Mosbach District Court, and for many years he was a member of the Assembly of Representatives of the AOK. In addition, he was a member of several clubs in Lauda and was a board member of both the Lauda Tennis Club and the Bauland Air Sports Club for many years. For several years he was a member of the golf club Glashofen-Neusaß near Walldürn. In addition to golfing, other hobbies of the jubilarian included traveling on river cruises, making music on the accordion and keyboard, maintaining his koi fish pond, boating on the lakes of Mecklenburg, especially with his four grandchildren, and painting, which he is now less and less able to do for health reasons.

Wobser followed the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche in his native city of Dresden with great interest and donated substantial contributions to the Friends, of which he is still a member. As a result, Wobser was also a guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Frauenkirche in Dresden in October 2005. "Despite all the adversities, I can describe my childhood in Medingen as a happy time, even if memories naturally transfigure some things," says Wobser, who for many years maintained contact not only with his old home, but also with his old school friends. "Live and let live," is what Wobser calls an essential motto that has accompanied him throughout his 85 years of life and has always been very important to him.

Stefan Eiselein is the new Managing Director of the newly founded company, LAUDA Medical GmbH & Co. KG, based in Lauda-Königshofen. The 56-year-old qualified computer scientists will take over the role from the President and CEO of the LAUDA group, Dr. Gunther Wobser, who has temporarily held the position since LAUDA Medical was founded. Stefan Eiselein was most recently Chief Digital Officer and Chief Corporate Development Officer at Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, a renowned specialist media company and B2B communication service provider from Würzburg.

Through the new company, LAUDA Medical, LAUDA will specialize in technology for the medical market. Its first development project is a technologically brand new, innovative hypothermia device to stabilize patient temperature during heart surgery. LAUDA has supplied devices to a leading manufacturer of heart/lung machines for over 40 years, and will continue to expand this partnership. In addition, LAUDA wants to build a reputation as an independent brand for precise temperature control on the growing medical market.

“Stefan Eiselein was responsible for managing and driving forward digital development at Vogel Communications for many years. During this time, he built up several new business areas from scratch and worked successfully with start-ups. I first became aware of him in 2017,” explains Dr. Gunther Wobser. “I am confident that he will actively shape the development of our new business unit for medical devices, and especially that he can make an important difference when it comes to digital solutions, user integration and subsequent sales development,” says the President & CEO of LAUDA. “The medical technology industry is a growing market. Digitalization is just one of the drivers of this development. I’m very pleased to acquire a new international business field with LAUDA Medical,” says Stefan Eiselein, commenting on his new role.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, LAUDA, the world market leader for constant temperature equipment and systems, has secured a major order for Variocool process thermostats. The German subsidiary of a major global US company in the biopharmaceutical sector has ordered a total of 76 devices, including accessories, for integration in their systems for producing the Covid-19 vaccine. The different models have a cooling capacity of between 2 and 10 kW.

The Variocool process thermostats are factory-certified according to CE and NRTL, and therefore meet the standards required in Europe as well as in North America. LAUDA redesigned these flexible devices before launching them onto the market in November 2020. The process thermostats have bi-frequency and multivoltage capability, which means that if production is relocated, the thermostats can be easily transferred to another location and also make project planning easier for the customer.

LAUDA has scheduled delivery of the ordered Variocool process thermostats to the customer for the end of April 2021. The customer uses LAUDA devices for controlling the temperature of mixers and single-use bioreactors required to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines. Cell cultures are grown at a temperature of between 4 and 37 °C in reactors with a volume of between 200 and 2,000 liters. Variocool process thermostats are designed to maintain a stable temperature within an extremely narrow tolerance range of ± 0.1 K.

Last year, LAUDA significantly increased its production capacity for Variocool process thermostats due to the high demand, and was therefore able to meet the tight delivery deadline. "LAUDA had already been working closely with the Variocool process thermostat customer for several years even before the major order was secured", explains OEM sales specialist Tobias Henning, who is responsible for OEM customer support in the bioprocessing sector. The LAUDA OEM division helps customers develop complete systems by establishing standards in collaboration with the relevant development teams, which are then integrated into the product configurator of the OEM customers at a later stage. As a result, the customer also receives assistance with documentation, calculations and similar tasks. In some cases, the OEM division even develops devices specifically for customers. "We are currently seeing a high degree of satisfaction with LAUDA on the market and want to build on this trust as a basis for further expanding our capacity to cater for specific customer developments", explains Thorsten Eilers, OEM Managing Director at LAUDA.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, Dr. Marc Stricker, celebrated his 50th birthday on Friday, April 16, 2021. Due to the Corona situation, the event was honored in an internal ceremony at the company and broadcast via video.

Since 2014, the engineer with a doctorate has been responsible for production, logistics, research & development and quality management in the now three-member management team. He is also responsible for the heating and cooling systems, plant engineering and the four other development and production sites of the temperature control specialist.

Dr. Stricker was born in Wattenscheid (now Bochum-Wattenscheid). After completing high school and civilian service, he studied mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen University and received his doctorate in engineering in 2002. In addition, he later completed a part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg from 2009 to 2011. After his academic career, Dr. Stricker worked for four years at the heating company Viessmann, where he developed a novel adsorption heat pump as R&D project manager. In 2005, he moved to the Franconian pump manufacturer Speck near Nuremberg, where he rose from project manager to managing director and worked successfully for a total of nine years.

During the ceremony, the President and CEO of LAUDA, Dr. Gunther Wobser, also acknowledged the trustful cooperation on behalf of his colleague, Dr. Mario Englert. He particularly emphasized Dr. Stricker's unmistakable signature on the new equipment design and the very successful process thermostats. Dr. Gerhard Wobser expressed his thanks as an advisory board member and shareholder on behalf of the company's owners. The long-time, former managing director emphasized that Dr. Stricker's technical perspective is highly appreciated by all at the regular shareholders' meetings. Finally, the Chairman of the Works Council, Elmar Mohr, offered his congratulations on behalf of the workforce. All speakers presented special gifts, which were complemented by original objects from the various production sites. Visibly moved, Dr. Stricker thanked everyone for the speeches and the gifts.

LAUDA DR.LAUDA R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, the world market leader for constant temperature equipment and systems, is encouraging innovation within the LAUDA Group. new.degree GmbH, a new, wholly owned LAUDA subsidiary, was founded at the beginning of the year to deal with temperature control-related innovation activities outside the present core business. The new company is managed by Birgit Dillmann and comprises seven employees in Germany and abroad.

new.degree GmbH brings together LAUDA start-up management, the LAUDA innovation laboratory including the branch office in Morgan Hill, USA, as well as the LAUDA Digital Unit, which is responsible for digitalization projects within LAUDA. The LAUDA internal ideas management scheme, which picks up ideas from employees about new products or business areas and possible process improvements, is also supported in the new company. The objective of the merger is to further professionalize and strategically develop the activities which have been developed so far. new.degree GmbH is based at its current location in Lauda-Königshofen. In the medium term, however, it is planned to move to the “Brainstation” innovation center planned by Dr. Gunther Wobser, the Managing Director of LAUDA, at Lauda railway station, the town that gives the company its name, in order to provide the creative space that is crucial to its success.

The core task of the new company is to identify innovation potentials relevant to temperature control outside LAUDA’s current normal business activities, develop them into innovative solutions and test them in the market at an early stage. Potential approaches to this will be systematically generated by the analysis of trends and suitable search fields, uncovering opportunities for future-critical technologies, targeted collaboration with startups or also thanks to ideas provided via the internal idea management instrument. The innovation laboratory quickly and validly evaluates such ideas for their sales opportunities and innovation potential. Promising ideas are developed into so-called Minimum Viable Products using agile development methods such as Lean Startup and Design Thinking with the active involvement of potential users. They are then proposed for further development to market maturity in the event of a successful test.

Support and supervision of young companies

new.degree GmbH supports start-ups in their business development with relevant technology innovations and gives their business ideas the necessary initial momentum through joint pilot projects. In addition, the innovation experts of the LAUDA management recommend strategic investments in promising start-ups on the basis of a comprehensive system. LAUDA has so far successfully invested in three start-ups - watttron, ENER-IQ and Better Basics Laborbedarf.

By integrating the Digital Unit, which was previously part of the IT division, in new.degree GmbH, the new unit is also responsible for driving LAUDA’s digital transformation. The development of customer-centric digital products and services, such as device diagnostics and data-based business models, implemented jointly with the parent company is of particular note here. At new.degree, experts from various disciplines such as marketing strategists, innovation managers, digitization experts, engineers and material scientists therefore work hand in hand at two locations. In addition, they are supported by the knowledge network of the entire LAUDA Group. LAUDA is also part of the Maschinenraum, an innovation ecosystem based in Berlin that brings together German SMEs and family-owned companies to collaboratively drive forward topics of future relevance.

LAUDA, the global market leader for temperature control equipment and systems, will cooperate with Better Basics Laborbedarf GmbH (BBL). The Dresden-based company, founded in 2019, develops, manufactures and sells smart basic equipment for laboratories that simplifies the organization of laboratory workstations and supports laboratory employees in their daily work with individually manufactured organizational systems. The modular systems are produced using 3D printing technology. In addition to an equity investment, LAUDA is primarily focusing on synergies for the jointly addressed laboratory market. For LAUDA, this is already the third successful cooperation with a start-up after watttron and ENER-IQ. This is part of the family-owned company's comprehensive innovation strategy, which, in addition to cooperation with innovative start-ups, is also driving extensive digitization measures or sustainable idea management in the group of companies, among other things.

Cooperation at eye level

Thanks to its in-depth expertise in 3D printing technology and the materials used in this process, the start-up BBL is able to realize individual customer requirements in the field of laboratory equipment. The SmartRack organization system, for example, can be equipped with 3D-printed modules as needed, providing holders for pipettes, round-bottom flasks or waste containers. The modules can be freely combined in terms of quantity and position. In cooperation with BBL, LAUDA can offer customer-centric product solutions. This strengthens the laboratory technology segment, in which LAUDA already successfully markets high-quality laboratory equipment for a wide range of applications.

The cooperation is also intended to expand the technology expertise in 3D printing within the LAUDA Group. »The start-up cooperation with Better Basics Laborbedarf provides further access to innovative technologies, which, in addition to synergies with our research and development department, also provides new impetus directly in sales,« says Robert Tietze, Start-Up Manager at LAUDA. LAUDA is already using 3D printing in the series production of its temperature control units.

»A central aspect of LAUDA's innovation strategy is the targeted cooperation with innovative, young companies that complement and further advance our core competence, temperature control,« explains Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA. »With Better Basics, we have once again made a find and can offer customer-specific solutions to the laboratory market. In addition, we expect to gain valuable insights in the field of 3D printing for the production of our temperature control units,« says Dr. Gunther Wobser.

»We at Better Basics Laborbedarf are very pleased to have gained a strategic partner in LAUDA, who will support us in our further growth. In this way, we can benefit from LAUDA's many years of experience and exploit synergies in sales, among other things«, says Mario Schneider, CEO of Better Basics Laborbedarf.

LAUDA, the world market leader for constant temperature equipment and systems, is expanding its successful range of integral process thermostats with new models. LAUDA has rounded off its portfolio for demanding temperature control tasks with two devices of the new, pressure-blanketed Integral P variant and a new, high-performance device of the T variant, and will also offer models with NRTL certification for the North American market in future. The new products are accompanied by the MID 80 through-flow control unit, which enables reproducible test processes.

LAUDA Integral P: Using pressure to achieve the perfect temperature

The two device types, Integral IN 2050 PW and IN 2560 PW, function according to the pressure blanketing principle. The devices, which are equipped with a stainless steel pressure vessel, significantly expand the temperature range of non flammable heat carriers. For example, the upper temperature limit of water/glycol mixtures, which are commonly used in tests in the automotive industry, can be increased from 90°C to 140°C. Consequently, the new Integral P process thermostats enable testing of drive systems or stress tests under realistic conditions at low operating costs. In the pressure blanketing process, the compressed air supply is used to fill the device with negative pressure, which sucks the temperature control medium into the device with a vacuum of -0.2 bar. Integral P process thermostats can be used within a working temperature range from -40°C to 140°C with a cooling capacity of 20 kW and 25 kW, respectively. The devices are ideal for use in test stations for the testing of electric motors or batteries in the electric mobility sector.

New model in the Integral T product line meets demand for even more powerful temperature control

In response to high demand for powerful temperature control in the pharmaceutical industry, LAUDA is expanding its product line of Integral T process thermostats with the IN 1830 TW, offering 19 kW cooling capacity. The process thermostat is aimed at users who need professional temperature control with a working temperature range from -30°C to 150°C. Thanks to their open hydraulic system, LAUDA Integral T process thermostats are ideal for temperature control processes with frequent changes in the consumer or test object. The new generation of devices features a modular interface concept and ensures maximum connectivity of user processes.

With the MID 80 through-flow control unit, LAUDA has taken an important step from pure temperature control to efficient energy management. A magnetic-inductive flow meter measures the flow rate of the temperature control medium within the application. The temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet is used to accurately determine the transferred amounts of energy. The high-precision measuring unit enables accurate and reproducible results, which are indispensable in battery tests, as used in the electric mobility industry. In order to achieve a high level of quality in production, validated test processes in this field use a defined flow rate.

On 20 January 2011, i.e. 10 years ago, LAUDA, the world market leader in temperature control equipment and systems, acquired a plant for industrial circulation chillers in Terrassa near Barcelona, Spain. Owing to the continuous positive development of the Spanish subsidiary, the temperature control specialist was able to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone for a new production facility there at the beginning of the year. The new building of LAUDA's subsidiary LAUDA Ultracool, SL will more than double the production capacity of LAUDA circulation chillers to meet the growing global demand for energy-efficient temperature control solutions. For LAUDA, this is not only the first construction project abroad in the company's 65-year history but also the first complete new building "on a greenfield site". Around 4,000 m² of new production space and more than 850 m² of office space will be created on a 9,000 m² site in the direct vicinity of the existing company headquarters. The Spanish sales company LAUDA Ibérica Soluciones Técnicas will also move into the new building.

LAUDA will manufacture industrial circulation chillers on the new site. LAUDA is investing around 7 million euros in the new building in Spain. Completion is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2021. Xavier Armengol, Managing Director of LAUDA Ultracool, is proud of the new building: "LAUDA Ultracool will have significantly more space to integrate research and development and production capacities on the new site." The LAUDA Group's investment in these turbulent times was also a strong signal of confidence in the subsidiary and its employees.

The laying of the foundation stone, which took place on 14 January 2021 under strict hygiene conditions without representatives of the parent company, was attended by the management of LAUDA Ultracool, together with the deputy mayor of Terrassa, Ms. Nuria Marín, and high-ranking representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services. A time capsule containing local newspapers, a LAUDA complete brochure, sketches of the building, euro coins and a document with employee signatures was placed in the foundation during the ceremony,.

"The new building in Terrassa in the direct vicinity of the megacity of Barcelona has great significance for us," said Dr. Marc Stricker, COO of LAUDA. He noted that the demand for energy-efficient industrial cooling was constantly increasing, e.g. in applications such as the cooling of laser cutting machines or industrial printing machines. "The new building and the possibilities it creates will enable us to meet this demand and continue to drive the future viability of industrial temperature control technology forward at the same time. In this respect, LAUDA Ultracool is playing a leading role in the development of the connection of industrial circulation chillers to the LAUDA Cloud." Constant temperature equipment such as the Ultracool industrial circulation chillers can be monitored and controlled on a decentralized basis via the LAUDA Cloud. Access to the historical data of every device in the LAUDA Cloud also enables predictive and preventive maintenance. President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser added: "Our fantastic success story in Catalonia shows that LAUDA is not only growing steadily at home but all over the world. Of the total of five production sites, three are located abroad; in China and the USA in addition to Spain. This means we are close to customers in dynamic industries such as electromobility and bioproduction, which includes vaccine manufacturing."

LAUDA, the world market leader in temperature control equipment and systems, is expanding its portfolio with the new LAUDA Versafreeze product line. This consists of high-quality ultra-freezers which have been optimized for the extreme requirements of deep-freeze storage. LAUDA thereby meets the requirements of vaccine producers, pharmaceutical service providers, vaccination centers and universities for the safe storage of temperature-sensitive corona vaccines and valuable medicines, chemical substances or biological samples. With a temperature range from 0 to -85 °C, LAUDA Versafreeze ultra-freezers provide state-of-the-art refrigeration technology, excellent insulating properties and the greatest possible protection, thanks to password-protected access rights and secure monitoring via the LAUDA Cloud.

Deep-freeze appliances with cutting-edge insulation technology

LAUDA Versafreeze freezer cabinets and chest freezers use a combination of vacuum insulation panels, thermofoil and diffusion-resistant foamed polyurethane insulation to protect against warming. This high-grade combination enables economical energy consumption, an excellent temperature homogeneity and consistency as well as short pull-down and maximum warm-up times. The insulation is also thinner with the same or even improved properties, leaving more space for the chamber. In the design, LAUDA relies uncompromisingly on components of the highest quality, such as vacuum panels from va-Q-tec, compressors from Embraco or controllers from Störk. After all, quality and reliability - and therefore the safety of valuable samples - are LAUDA's top priorities for its deep-freeze appliances.

In addition to this, LAUDA stands for continuity. As early as 2008, LAUDA-GFL was the first manufacturer in the world to set standards in the storage of sensitive pharmaceuticals by using efficient and natural refrigerants in ultra-freezers. Today, the use of sustainable refrigeration technology remains an essential component of LAUDA Versafreeze ultra-freezers.

Safe storage of valuable and sensitive materials

LAUDA Versafreeze deep-freeze appliances offer maximum sample reliability even in the event of a power failure, thanks to long thawing times. The integrated accumulator is a standard feature and ensures that the actual temperature display and alarm functions are maintained for a period of up to 60 hours. Locking systems right through to the individual drawer and inner compartment protect high-value and critical samples against tampering and access. New features of the Versafreeze deep-freeze appliances also include operation via an intuitive, modern touch display with a wide range of setting options, password-protected access rights and secure monitoring via the LAUDA Cloud. This allows critical values of the ultra-freezers to be checked and controlled independently of the location and appliance.

LAUDA Versafreeze can be optionally equipped with a safety cooling system for added safety. These systems protect against an uncontrolled temperature increase by keeping the chamber temperature constant at a freely definable value (-70 to 0 °C) through the controlled addition of LN2 or CO2 in the event of a failure of the appliance cooling system. LAUDA Versafreeze are available with safety cooling systems for either CO2 or LN2 coolants. LN2 is always used when the stored materials may not come in contact with CO2. LAUDA Versafreeze safety cooling systems include an accumulator which supplies power to the safety cooling system and the alarm module. An optional data logger for external control and recording of the chamber temperature is also available. The data logger has adjustable limit value monitoring with an acoustic alarm and sufficient memory for up to 60,000 measurement values with sample times from 1 sec to 24 h. All devices are equipped with a data logger integrated in the controller as standard.

Extensive accessories for individual customer requirements

LAUDA Versafreeze ultra-freezers are characterized by exceptional variability and perfectly tailored accessories. Upon request, the deep-freeze appliances can be equipped at the factory with additional options to increase safety and performance. In addition to an optionally selectable water cooling system, drawer sets, appliance-specific factory certificates, plug-in units for boxes, microtiter and DeepWell plates are available to make optimum use of the chamber of the deep-freeze appliance. Their use guarantees clearly arranged and safe storage of all the sample material. LAUDA Versafreeze ultra-freezers have proven themselves in a wide variety of applications for decades and also solve the most difficult problems, no matter whether they are series devices or special solutions. Special equipment and customized accessories can be flexibly manufactured in our high-quality in-house sheet metal processing shop.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG has once again been declared World Market Leader Champion in the field of "Constant Temperature Equipment and Systems for Precise Temperature Generation". This is the fifth award in a row for LAUDA. The family-owned company has been represented in the World Market Leader Index since the survey first started. The well-respected index has been drawn up under the direction of Prof. Dr. Christoph Müller from the University of St. Gallen since 2015. Every year, the business magazine WirtschaftsWoche selects the 450 world market leaders in their respective industries in a special edition.

"We are very proud of our repeated nomination as World Market Leader Champion," says Dr. Gunther Wobser, the President and CEO of LAUDA. "Our employees in the two German locations and the twelve foreign subsidiaries work day-in and day-out to drive forward the performance of the temperature control technology and to inspire our worldwide customers with temperatures in line with our mission statement". The fact that this has also been successful against the background of a global pandemic shows that LAUDA is excellently positioned with its comprehensive portfolio of temperature control and laboratory equipment. The company has so far been able to avoid introducing short-time working and even reported a maximum number of new trainees this year. In addition, the sales level was maintained compared with the previous year with more than 90 million euro.

Equipment and systems from LAUDA are used in a wide range of industries, including the automotive and pharmaceutical industries, research & development and aerospace. In particular, LAUDA constant temperature and laboratory equipment is increasingly used in vaccine production and logistics. For example, LAUDA Versa-freeze ultra-freezers are making an important contribution to the storage of the sensitive corona vaccine. "In an extremely difficult year, this award is a welcome and motivating recognition of our performance", concludes Dr. Gunther Wobser.

LAUDA has completed the integration of laboratory devices with the "GFL Technology” quality mark over the past year, including water baths, shakers and ultra-freezers for the storage of vaccines. LAUDA has implemented a strategic corporate objective in the shape of the GOAL (Global Ordering and Logistics) project and has consistently aligned international sales to the needs of LAUDA customers by reorganizing the worldwide logistics and production processes. As a result, the world market leader has simplified and standardized its worldwide ordering process, so that it is now possible to obtain all LAUDA products from a single source.

In addition, the family-owned company is consistently pushing ahead with digitalization, e.g. with the monitoring and control of constant temperature equipment via the LAUDA Cloud in the LAUDA Ultracool circulation chillers or the new generation of LAUDA Integral process thermostats. The world market leader is also further expanding its strategic innovation management, e.g. with its collaboration in the "Maschinenraum", an innovative collaboration platform for German SMEs, and sustainable partnerships with various start-up companies, or new.degree, its innovation laboratory in Sunnyvale, CA, USA.

We are celebrating a big "O" at LAUDA, the world market leader in temperature control equipment and systems. President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser has reached his half-century. With a degree and doctorate in business administration, he is the third generation of the family to manage the company. With its headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen, LAUDA was founded by his grandfather, Dr. Rudolf Wobser in 1956.

After completing his studies and gaining initial experience in an international corporation, Dr. Gunther Wobser began his career as Head of Marketing in July 1997. He has been managing the temperature control specialist as President and CEO since 2003. Dr. Gunther Wobser shared responsibility with his father, Dr. Gerhard Wobser until 2010. Today he is actively supported by the two managing directors, Dr. Mario Englert and Dr. Marc Stricker.

International expansion of the temperature control specialist

An important focus of Dr. Gunther Wobser's work is the internationalization of the medium-sized company. He founded the first foreign subsidiary, LAUDA France S.A.R.L., in 2005, and LAUDA has a total of nine sales companies abroad today. In addition to founding new companies, the business administration graduate acquired a total of four companies, three of which are located abroad. With the most recent addition, LAUDA-GFL Gesellschaft für Labortechnik mbH in Burgwedel near Hanover, Dr. Gunther Wobser expanded the LAUDA Group with a fifth production location and supplemented the product range in the key market of laboratories. The company's turnover has grown steadily from around 18 million euros in 1997 to around 92 million euros today. In the same period, the number of employees increased from 180 to 520 today, with more than 100 of them outside Germany. Even in the current challenging times, the largest employer in Lauda-Königshofen is managing without short-time working and continues to hire. The highest number of trainees in the company's history with nine new additions was reported recently. The global family-owned company is known for fair treatment of its qualified employees and enjoys an excellent reputation both regionally and in professional circles.

A leading role in innovation and digitalization

With his current focus on innovation and digitalization, Dr. Gunther Wobser continues to drive the LAUDA success story forward. He ran the company from the Silicon Valley location for one year as of July 2017 and established new.degree, his own innovation laboratory, which is now part of the newly created innovation team in Germany. A facility was also opened in September in the new "Maschinenraum" in Berlin, an innovative collaboration platform for medium-sized businesses. In addition to directing idea management, the tasks include testing ideas outside the core business and co-operating with start-ups, such as the multiple award-winning heating specialist watttron. So it is appropriate that the pioneer has recorded his insights in a book to be published at the Frankfurt Book Fair just in time for his birthday.

LAUDA, the world market leader for temperature control equipment and systems, has been manufacturing customer-specific refrigeration systems for pharmaceutical companies for more than 50 years. The company has now completed a cryogenic cooling system for use in a pharmaceutical freeze-drying plant. This enables pharmaceutical substances to be gently frozen at -80 °C. The order was placed by Martin Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH, one of the world's leading freeze-dryer companies with more than 70 years of experience in this field. Martin Christ relies on the expertise of LAUDA for the reliable provision of the deep-freeze environment. A Kryopac Secondary Circuit Unit from LAUDA Heating and cooling systems, the plant construction division of the temperature control specialist, which plans and manufactures exactly according to customer requirements, provides the requisite cooling capacity.

Drugs and vaccines are essential for the treatment of diseases and the health of people worldwide. Since many drugs would only have a short shelf life when dissolved in water, the pharmaceutical industry relies on gentle freeze-drying for longer preservation. LAUDA was quickly chosen as the cryogenics expert for Martin Christ for the manufacture of a freeze-drying plant for an international pharmaceutical company. Apart from LAUDA's comprehensive know-how, the two companies have enjoyed a successful working relationship for many years. "We are specialists for extremely low temperatures and have been able to gain valuable experience in this field over many years", emphasizes Ralph Herbert, the project manager for Heating and cooling systems.

Liquid nitrogen provides temperatures down to -115 °C

Precise temperature control for the freeze-dryer is provided by a LAUDA Kryopac Secondary Circuit Unit, which enables cryogenic reactions to be safely controlled. The possibility of individual temperature control of the shelves and the ice condenser is of great importance in this refrigeration system. But the Kryopac, a heat exchanger specially developed for the evaporation of liquid nitrogen, is the heart of the system. Liquid nitrogen boils at -196 °C and is therefore particularly suitable as a refrigerant for applications which require extremely low temperatures. Depending on the design of the Kryopac system, temperatures down to -115 °C are possible in the secondary refrigerant oil circuit. The -80 °C required for the freeze-dryer is therefore reached quickly and exactly to the degree. Liquid nitrogen is also a non-flammable refrigerant which is preferred not only by the end customer but also by the pharmaceutical industry in general. Other advantages include economic, safety and environmental aspects, such as low investment costs and lack of waste products. Depending on the specification of the application, the nitrogen requirement can be decreased by adapting the control system designed by LAUDA, thereby significantly reducing operating costs.

The heat technology of the Kryopac system is derived from the proven LAUDA Heat Transfer Units used by many customers. These produce a temperature-controlled liquid flow and are delivered as a compact, fully insulated, ready-to-connect system with a control cabinet. The benefit: There are no freezing problems in the heat exchangers here. Precise temperature control, compact design and high plant availability were particularly important for Martin Christ's customer. The LAUDA Kryopac Secondary Circuit Unit also meets these requirements without any problems.

Freeze-drying makes use of a physical phenomenon

Freeze-drying is an extremely gentle preservation method, as the chemical properties of the source substances are not changed. All the active ingredients in pharmaceutical products are therefore preserved. This type of preservation is also used for sample preparation in laboratories, in the food industry or archeology, for example to preserve wet leather or wood.

The refrigeration system of the Kryopac system cools the shelves on which vessels filled with drugs are placed with a cooling capacity of 30 kW at -80 °C and freezes the pharmaceuticals in two and a half hours. Heat is supplied during evacuation, the removal of air by creating a vacuum. This results in a physical phenomenon called sublimation: The frozen water evaporates without liquefying. The drug is dried directly from the frozen state. The resulting water vapor is deposited on the ice condenser of the freeze-dryer in the form of ice crystals. The ice condenser is maintained at a temperature of -80 °C by the Kryopac system. A complete freeze-drying process typically takes 48 hours.

The Kryopac system was initially completely tested at LAUDA and then subjected to a further thorough inspection as a complete system at Martin Christ before the freeze-dryer was delivered to the end customer. However, this is not the end of the cooperation. As a result of the successful working relationship and implementation of this project, Martin Christ has already ordered two more LAUDA Kryopac Secondary Circuit Units.

LAUDA, the world market leader for constant temperature equipment and systems for precise temperature generation, has extended its laboratory technology product range with the LAUDA Puridest stills product line. The devices with the 'GFL Technology' quality mark produce an ultra-pure, low-gas, sterile and pyrogen-free distillate with very low conductivity. Puridest stills are used in bacteriological and medical sample preparation and also in the preparation of cell and tissue cultures. They are also used for cleaning and sterilization processes, buffer solutions and microbiological and analytical applications. The distillate complies with the DAB regulations and the specifications of international pharmacopoeias. LAUDA Puridest stills also distill raw water of lower quality, separate pollutants, and reliably kill germs such as bacteria and viruses. 

Low-maintenance and easy to use

LAUDA Puridest stills are available throughout the world in four high-performance product lines with 14 single- or two-stage model variants in the form of stainless steel or glass stills. Depending on the model, the devices are equipped with a storage tank and produce 2 to 12 liters of distillate per hour with conductivities down to below 1.6 µS/cm. Apart from their reliability and extremely long service life, LAUDA Puridest stills are characterized by their simple handling in the daily work in the laboratory. The stills are extremely easy to commission and operate. The ultra-pure water can be extracted directly after connection to the raw water and power supply. The devices are maintenance-free, because the glass stills automatically remove pollutants. 

LAUDA Puridest stills with the "GFL Technology" quality mark

Decades of experience and technical development have set the standard: LAUDA Puridest stills are developed and manufactured by LAUDA-GFL. The company has been a member of the LAUDA group since December 31st, 2018 and is known throughout the world as a premium manufacturer of reliable laboratory technology. The use of the "GFL Technology" quality mark means that LAUDA is continuing the tradition of the GFL brand, which has been renowned for its quality and reliability in laboratories worldwide for more than 50 years.

Pure water: The Art of Distillation

Distillation is an effective and reliable way of producing pure water. The distinctive feature of distillation is that it only requires the input of energy. Compared with other auxiliary materials, such as absorbents or solvents, energy has the major advantage that it can be easily supplied to a system and removed again. As a result, stills require minimum maintenance. They are maintenance-free apart from regular cleaning. Distilled water, also referred to as aqua dest (lat. aqua destillata), is produced when steam condenses. This "pure water" is approx. 99.5 percent free of salts, organic substances, microorganisms, pyrogens and bacteria.

LAUDA, the world market leader for constant temperature equipment and systems, is expanding its product range of reliable laboratory devices for a wide spectrum of applications with the new Varioshake shakers. The LAUDA Varioshake product line comprises ten shakers in three sizes with five different shaking motions, as well as three shaking incubators in three sizes with a circular motion. Like the new LAUDA Hydro water baths, the Varioshake shakers feature “GFL Technology” and represent the many years of experience and outstanding quality of premium manufacturer GFL Gesellschaft für Labortechnik mbH, which became part of the LAUDA Group at the end of 2018. Equipped with modern LAUDA design and excellent performance data, the new GFL Technology laboratory devices stand for premium quality and precision.

LAUDA Varioshake: Shakers for reliable continuous operation

The LAUDA Varioshake shakers are reliable partners in many applications in the laboratory. They are used for mixing a variety of liquids or powders, prevent sedimentation or are used for oxygen enrichment and sample preparation. LAUDA Varioshake shakers are extremely user-friendly, robust and durable and are therefore the ideal companion for everyday work in the laboratory. Their sturdy, low-wear mechanical system ensures extremely smooth operation and reliable continuous duty. The electronics system controls the soft start. With a space saving of up to 35 percent compared to the previous model, Varioshake shakers are adapted to the limited space available in laboratories. All models of the LAUDA Varioshake shakers are presented in the new, modern LAUDA design.

LAUDA Varioshake shakers are available in versions with a load bearing capacity from 8 to 30 kg and work surfaces up to 676 x 540 mm. Depending on the model, the devices are equipped with user-friendly analog or digital control. The Varioshake VS 8 OE and VS 8 BE models stand out in particular: They are extremely compact and offer an extended ambient temperature range up to 60 °C (instead of the 50 °C typical for series production) for use in incubators. The shaking incubators from the LAUDA Varioshake product line offer a usable volume of 45 to 150 l with shaking areas up to 676 x 540 mm and excellent temperature stability of ±0.2 K. LAUDA Varioshake shakers are equipped with a large number of possible shaking movements. From orbital shakers for round vessels, such as Erlenmeyer flasks or petri dishes, and horizontal shakers to Varioshake overhead shakers with 360° rotation, the Varioshake product line offers movement patterns for a wide range of applications.

LAUDA Varioshake shakers with an extensive accessory range

The extensive accessory range enables the LAUDA Varioshake devices to be tailored to individual requirements. The modular system provides easy exchange and quick and easy adjustment to virtually any size or form of vessel. The range of accessories includes adhesive mats, universal attachments, trays, racks and clamps. In addition to this, almost all of the auxiliary equipment is globally compatible within the Varioshake shaker product range. Quick and easy retrofitting is therefore no problem.

"The LAUDA Varioshake shakers mean that we are adding another core piece of GFL laboratory technology to the extensive LAUDA portfolio. The designation 'GFL Technology' stands as a quality mark for quality and precision, coupled with new product features in a first-class design", explains Dr. Gunther Wobser, Managing Director of LAUDA. "With LAUDA Hydro and LAUDA Varioshake, we have already successfully introduced two LAUDA-GFL appliance lines in the modern LAUDA design this year. We will complete the reorganization in the course of this year."

The corona virus is changing our daily life and work in a way never before seen. Since the restrictions in public life currently continue to be largely maintained and can only be eased gradually, the pressure on global medical research to develop drugs, therapies and ultimately a vaccine against this novel virus is increasing. LAUDA, as a manufacturer of temperature control units and systems as well as laboratory equipment, contributes to the solution in dealing with COVID-19. As a long-standing supplier of professional temperature control technology with over 60 years of experience, LAUDA equips laboratories all over the world with highly accurate and reliable temperature control and laboratory technology. In times of the Corona Pandemic, an even more important part of LAUDA's expertise is found in the area of pharmaceutical production of active ingredients.

LAUDA temperature control units support companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, for example in the commercial production of pharmaceutically and biotechnologically produced active ingredients - this becomes important, for example, in the production of a vaccine against the coronavirus in large quantities. An important step in this process is the temperature control of bioreactors. Here, microorganisms are cultivated under the best possible conditions, for example in the range of body temperature to 37 to 38 °C, and then suddenly cooled down. "In the field of bioproduction, we have been supplying all well-known customers for years. Especially our Integral process thermostats and the Variocool recirculating coolers with additional heating have become a kind of gold standard in the temperature control of bioreactors," explains Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA.

For the mass production of a possible vaccine or supporting medication, the industrial division of LAUDA develops heating and cooling lyses for scale-up processes. These include process cooling systems for so-called "Freeze & Thaw" processes, in which active ingredients are deep-frozen in large tanks and shipped for further processing. "We are currently receiving enquiries from major technology companies in the USA who are using our industrial cooling systems for research on COVID-19," says Dr. Marc Stricker, the COO responsible for this area.

In addition to production, the storage of active ingredients plays an important role in combating the pandemic. LAUDA cryogenic equipment is used, for example, in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of vaccines and medications in order to store samples safely and over a long period of time.

LAUDA also offers solutions in the area of preparatory steps: "In the area of laboratory technology, we are currently receiving an increasing number of enquiries about LAUDA-GFL stills", explains Dr. Gunther Wobser. The distillation apparatuses of the youngest LAUDA subsidiary are used for the production of purified water for the manufacture of disinfectants as well as for the supply of autoclaves for sterilisation/autoclaving, e.g. of surgical instruments, components or tubes of respirators. So-called overhead shakers also help in the fight against coronavirus - the shakers are used to produce solutions for test kits for the extraction of DNA and RNA from a variety of sample materials such as serum, plasma, oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swabs (mouth, throat or nose) or other respiratory samples.

However, LAUDA's contribution does not end with its products and services. The company has also offered its support to the Corona Task Force for Medical Technology of the state of Baden-Württemberg, as well as to the well-known medical technology company Dräger in the production of urgently required medical devices. LAUDA also helped Corona helpers of the Main-Tauber Kreis with donations in their solidarity against the consequences of CO-VID-19: "We take the virus very seriously in our own company as well and have initiated strict rules and safety measures to protect the health of our employees and at the same time ensure the availability of our temperature control units worldwide," says Dr. Gunther Wobser. "Fortunately, we can still guarantee this at present. All of our employees are working flat out, either on site or from their home offices, to deliver first-class quality under the given restrictions for those who are urgently dependent on our products in the fight against COVID-19," adds CFO Dr. Mario Englert. "We are proud to be able to contribute to the solution of the Corona crisis with our daily work".

The LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GmbH & Co. KG, the world market leader for precise temperature control, has renewed its support for the Saxon technology start-up watttron. Together with other renowned investors, LAUDA is providing fresh capital of EUR 3.4 million in addition to expertise. LAUDA is thus underlining the importance of the successful cooperation with the young company from Freital near Dresden, which began in 2018. The multi-award-winning start-up company develops and manufactures intelligent heating systems that are able to heat with pinpoint accuracy. This is particularly important in the packaging industry, as the innovative process can save energy and material. Together with LAUDA, marketing opportunities in the fields of analysis, bio and laboratory technology and on the North American market are being worked on. In addition, both companies are working on a prototype that is not only capable of heating with pixel accuracy, but also of cooling.

With the current financing round, watttron aims to accelerate its own development, gain new partners on a global level and open up new industries such as biotechnology, chemistry or 3D electronics. LAUDA as a partner firmly believes in the success of the young company and is convinced of the joint partnership: »We have been watttron's cooperation partner for around two years because we have already seen and actively support the benefits of the patented heating technology beyond the packaging market in 2018«, says Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA. »The positive development of recent years has confirmed our decision to continue investing in watttron.«

Thermoelectric process thermostats, which are used in the temperature control of etching processes in the semiconductor industry, have been a permanent feature of LAUDA’s comprehensive portfolio since its acquisition by Noah Precision (now LAUDA-Noah) in 2014. Now the global market leader has fully revised and expanded the former POU product line with the new “Semistat” series.

The new LAUDA Semistat product line comprises three models: LAUDA's Semistat S 1200 is an affordable entry-level device that offers an even smaller footprint than its predecessor – with the same cooling output of 1.2 kW at 20°C. Meanwhile, the newly developed Semistat S 2400 retains the mechanical and hydraulic structure of the product line. The process thermostat also incorporates the latest innovations from the thermoelectrics sector, such as the latest generation of high-performance Peltier elements, which guarantees a higher power density and greater reliability. With the Semistat 4400, LAUDA has brought a whole new performance class with 4.4 kW cooling output to market. This process thermostat is specially designed for applications using 300 mm wafers with a high cooling output requirement at low temperatures.

Thermoelectric process thermostats for the semiconductor industry from -20 to 90 °C

Semistat process thermostats have been optimized for precision temperature control in plasma etching applications in the semiconductor industry. Defined areas are removed from the surface of the wafers during the etching process. A dynamic temperature controller keeps the wafer chucks located inside the plasma etching chamber at a constant temperature, to prevent temperature drift. The constant temperature is crucial in maintaining a stable etching profile and producing a high-quality surface. Peltier technology realizes the two main advantages of Semistat thermostats: energy and space savings combined with maximum long-term operational stability.

The new process thermostats are extremely energy-efficient because they only control the temperature and consume energy when there is a need to regulate the temperature inside the etching chamber. Since the Peltier element is the only component used for heating and cooling, it is possible to minimize the space requirements of the thermostat. The compact design and optional underfloor installation ensure that minimal space is occupied in the cost-intensive cleanroom. A small internal fluid volume and short hose connections from the device to the application mean that less energy is required to control the fluid temperature. The low volume of the temperature control fluid, in particular, allows rapid temperature changes. Semistat temperature control systems use up to 90 percent less energy than compressor-based systems.

Like its established predecessor, the Semitat product line has a working temperature range of -20 to 90°C and offers a high temperature stability of ±0.1 K. With cooling outputs from 1.2 to 4.4 kW, the water-cooled devices can be used in combination with a large variety of chamber and platform models.

The most important functions of LAUDA Semistat process thermostats

• Compressor and refrigerant-free system with low energy consumption
• Smallest footprint in the industry
• Extremely low volume of heat transfer fluid
• Use of perfluorinated fluids
• Improved accessibility and minimal cleanroom use
• No filters or DI components required
• High reliability and low operating costs
• Locally exchangeable modules for easy troubleshooting
• Dynamic, stable temperature control at the point of use
• Temperature drift prevention for stable etching profiles
• Improved wafer-to-wafer stability

The global situation regarding the coronavirus has changed dramatically and has reached unexpected proportions. Today, we have once again defined important measures within the company that also have an impact on our business operations. We have drawn up a plan that will keep our business operations going for as long as possible. However, there may be certain restrictions on accessibility.

We have decided that from 17 March 2020, all business trips from Germany to other countries will be prohibited. In addition, we will not receive any business visits from abroad from 17 March until further notice. We ask for your understanding. It is important to us to emphasize that the health of our employees is always our top priority.

Furthermore, we try to conduct our business in such a way that our customers are affected as little as possible. However, certain effects cannot be avoided due to the epidemic. We thank you for your understanding and are available to answer your questions.

2020 – LAUDA, the world market leader for constant temperature equipment and systems for precise temperature generation, has extended its laboratory technology product range.  The launch of the new LAUDA Hydro waterbath product line, reinforced by the addition of "GFL Technology", means that LAUDA can now offer a considerably extended range of products. In this respect, LAUDA is continuing the tradition of the GFL brand, which has been valued in laboratories for its durability and superior quality for over 50 years. The GFL company has been part of the LAUDA Group since the beginning of 2019 and will be further expanded as a development and production location.

LAUDA Hydro water baths: Equipped for every laboratory application

Water baths are an indispensable part of many process chains in laboratories. The Hydro product range offers the perfect equipment for every laboratory requirement with six water baths, two water baths with a circulating function and three shaking water baths. The LAUDA Hydro water baths with an interior made of high-quality stainless steel provide the right bath depth and openings for every application with bath volumes from 4 to 41 liters. They are designed for the needs of biological, medical or biochemical laboratories with excellent temperature homogeneity, optional circulation or a shaking function.

Homogeneous temperature distribution

The heater of the LAUDA Hydro water baths is located directly under the bottom of the screen. This ensures homogeneous temperature distribution and rapid achievement of the desired temperature with a high temperature stability of ±0.1 K. The heater power is adjusted to the size of the bath. The optional circulating function is ideal for applications which require both temporal and spatial temperature distribution throughout the bath. Water baths with a circulating system have an excellent temperature homogeneity of ±0.02 K.

All water baths offer a temperature range of up to 100°C, which also permits applications in the boiling temperature range. A timer function can be used to set a switch-on delay and the duration of the operating time, either after a switch-on delay or after reaching the set temperature. The high-contrast 3.5-inch TFT display shows all the settings and operating values. The controller also has an electronic function check with a visual and acoustic alarm signal in the event of an error. The double overtemperature protection allows reliable continuous operation, even in the absence of the operator.

LAUDA Hydro water and shaking water baths from 10 to 100 °C – high quality, intuitive, reliable

The shaking water baths of the LAUDA Hydro series can be used for a variety of tasks in the laboratory depending on requirements. The device type H 20 SOW creates a circular motion for the sample whereas the types H 20 S and H 20 SW are designed for a linear, oscillating shaking movement. This is because variable mixing of the samples is required depending on the application. For example, applications in biotechnology are often dependent on an orbital shaking movement.

The built-in speed controller enables a load-independent, infinitely variable shaking movement with a soft start. The two shaking water baths H 20 SW and H 20 SOW are equipped with a cooling coil as standard. The temperature range of the shaking water baths can be extended down to 10 °C by connecting them to the domestic water supply or to commercially available circulation chillers.

LAUDA Hydro: User safety and a long service life

All Hydro device types are protected against overheating during dry running by means of low-level protection. The Hydro shaking water baths have water level control as standard, which guarantees reliable continuous operation. Furthermore, they consist of a corrosion-resistant outer casing made of electrolytically galvanized, powder-coated sheet steel. The interior parts of the casing and the tubular heating element are made of stainless steel. The double-walled, heat-insulated cover with internal curvature reliably prevents condensate from dripping back into the system. The recessed operating elements protect the electronics from dripping water and dirt. This increases the service life and ensures a high level of user safety.

LAUDA has rounded off its new water bath line with vaporization baths and a tissue float bath for special applications such as gentle evaporation from Erlenmeyer flasks and the stretching and drying of sectioned tissue samples. The new LAUDA Hydro water baths are available as of now and will replace the previous line of LAUDA Aqualine water baths by the end of March 2020.

With a "Everyday view of digitisation at LAUDA", the President and CEO of LAUDA, Dr. Gunther Wobser, opened the series of lectures at the action day "Digitisation and sustainability for BW and worldwide" with a keynote speech on 10 February. The action day is part of the 6th "Po-pup Laboratory BW", a digitisation project of the state of Baden-Württemberg. The aim of the Po-pup Lab BW is to give small and medium-sized companies in the state an understanding of innovative technologies or business models and to provide concrete recommendations for action on the basis of workshops or best practice examples.

Components of the digital strategy of the world market leader

In his presentation to representatives from politics and business, Dr. Wobser pointed out the great importance of digitization in the industry. The exponentially increasing technical development, e.g. Moore's Law of Computer Performance, stands in contrast to the linear human adaptability. As a result, new companies with disruptive forces are increasingly pushing into the market. LAUDA meets this challenge, among other things, through strategic cooperation with start-ups such as ENER-IQ, Coolar and watttron, according to Dr. Wobser. LAUDA's own LAUDA innovation laboratory in Silicon Valley and the Digital Agenda, which is aligned with the corporate strategy, are further components of LAUDA's digital strategy.

Appeal to politicians

At the end of his keynote speech, Dr. Wobser addressed the political community with forceful words: The Main-Tauber-Kreis is in the final group of districts in terms of innovative ability, ranking 39th out of 44, and the trend is downward. Further active support is required, for example in the expansion of the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University Mosbach with the Bad Mergentheim campus as "anchor point of digitalisation". Dr. Wobser criticized that too often, medium-sized companies have to carry out complex digitization projects with their own resources without the support of the state and immediately reduce the results as an investment.

At the LAUDA stand, the Minister of Economic Affairs of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, accompanied by Campus Director Prof. Dr. Kim and the Chairman of the CDU faction in the State Parliament, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Reinhart, were able to gain an impression of two digital projects of LAUDA. The family business thus demonstrated a practical application of virtual reality with the LAUDA showroom. LAUDA also demonstrated the connection of the industrial recirculating chillers to its own LAUDA Cloud including data visualisation via a tablet. This enables users to check the device status at any time, regardless of location, and also to change parameters directly.

With the LAUDA ECO REJ 1225 G calibration thermostat, LAUDA has released a piece of constant temperature equipment designed for the specific requirements of test laboratories and customers who perform calibration and adjustment work on a daily basis. The equipment has been specially developed for the precise calibration of thermometers, such as industrial platinum resistance thermometers, temperature probes, thermocouples or electric thermometers. Liquid calibration baths are considered the most stable temperature source and offer the most consistency for the comparative calibration of temperature probes and sensors in a laboratory. They use a large quantity of liquid to maintain a stable and homogeneous test environment for the calibration of calibration objects of varying sizes, shapes and lengths.

These applications call for calibration thermostats that maintain a constant, temperature-independent liquid level. To achieve this, LAUDA uses a two-chamber bath, consisting of the temperature chamber and the application chamber, also known as the overflow vessel, usable space or buffer chamber. A pump unit pumps the medium from the temperature chamber to the application chamber, which has an overflow at a certain level. From here, the bath medium flows back into the temperature chamber. The ECO calibration thermostat also has a height-adjustable, cylindrical working chamber. This makes it possible to adjust the liquid bath surface in the working area to above cover plate height. Fully immersed thermometers can thus be read directly at the immersion point. In addition, the separate working chamber provides a constant immersion depth regardless of the volume expansion of the bath liquid, an excellent temperature stability of ±0.02 K and a homogeneous temperature distribution within a working temperature range of -25 to 200°C.

The new ECO calibration thermostats: Available with natural refrigerants 

With the new LAUDA ECO calibration thermostat, LAUDA has made an important commitment to environmentally friendly temperature control technology. For example, the device is operated with refrigerants that comply with the European F-gas regulation. In addition, the new REJ 1225 G temperature calibration thermostat is optionally available with natural refrigerants. The thermostat can easily and flexibly be integrated in existing work processes thanks to a variety of interfaces, including Profibus, Ethernet or Pt100/LiBus. The large, color TFT display provides a clear overview at a glance and lets you program a variety of temperature curves, which are processed automatically by the thermostat to support your everyday laboratory work.

LAUDA, the world market leader in precise temperature control, presents a new generation of ultra-modern circulation chillers of the Ultracool series which have been developed with a focus on energy efficiency and in compliance with the European Ecodesign Directive. LAUDA has also set new standards in the digitalization of temperature control processes as a result of the integrated web server, which permits control via mobile devices, as well as the connection to the LAUDA Cloud. Industrial circulation chillers are often used in continuous operation. They cool applications used e.g. in the printing industry, machine and plant construction and metal working. Companies are increasingly focusing on energy-saving and sustainable measures as part of the energy revolution; the need for energy-efficient options to control the temperature of industrial processes is also constantly increasing.

LAUDA Ultracool circulation chillers with an energy saving of up to 50 percent

The new LAUDA Ultracool circulation chillers have been developed in compliance with the European Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, in order to meet customers' requirements for energy- and resource-saving products. The Directive defines limit values for energy efficiency which process circulation chillers must fulfill. This turns the new Ultracool devices into extremely efficient industrial circulation chillers. The design allows energy costs to be reduced by up to 50 percent depending on the operating conditions compared with conventional chillers which are not Ecodesign-compliant. This not only reduces operating costs but also provides payback times of less than one year.

LAUDA Ultracool: Prepared for Industry 4.0

The new circulation chillers are equipped with an LCD remote control with a cable connection as standard. An Ethernet interface for connection to a computer or local network (LAN) is also integrated as standard. In addition, the intelligent connectivity concept of the new Ultracool circulation chillers provides flexible operating options. For example, the Ultracool devices can be controlled by means of a web server via a PC or even mobile devices - an Internet connection is not necessary. The new LAUDA Ultracool circulation chillers are also among the first devices from the world market leader in temperature control technology to be connected to the LAUDA Cloud. This enables data exchange and monitoring from any computer with an Internet connection – irrespective of the location. LAUDA will systematically expand its Cloud offer from 2020 onwards and offer services such as predictive maintenance to avoid downtimes.

Ready for any customer requirement

LAUDA Ultracool circulation chillers cool precisely in an extended operating temperature range from -10 to 35 °C with a temperature stability of ±0.5 K. The protection class IP 54 allows outdoor installation, and fan control as standard guarantees operation at ambient temperatures down to -15 °C and reduces noise emission. LAUDA has been able to reduce the footprint in comparison with equivalent previous models. All the new LAUDA Ultracool circulation chillers can be optimized for any customer-specific requirement thanks to numerous options such as speed-controlled pumps or flow meters. The bi-frequency power supply (50/60 Hz) enables worldwide use.

The ongoing development and ever greater acceptance of new drives which use electricity or hydrogen poses new challenges for automobile manufacturers. Suppliers and service providers who support established automobile manufacturers with their know-how are a crucial success factor for dealing with electromobility. Bertrandt AG provides its customers with test stands with climatic chambers to test high-voltage batteries from the module level and hybrid batteries to batteries for all-electric vehicles under various climatic and load conditions. The components are exposed to a wide variety of conditions in climate simulations or accelerated aging in fatigue tests. Bertrandt has successfully offered these industry-specific development services for over 40 years and is a globally operating company with around 13,000 employees and 57 locations. This year the company built one of the largest high-voltage battery test centers in Germany in Ehningen. Bertrandt has put its faith in temperature control technology from LAUDA to equip the new test chambers.

High-precision temperature control down to -40 °C

In addition, the company has ordered Process Cooling Units with volume flow control from LAUDA which meet the high demands of customers in the automotive sector. The units are used to control the temperature of test specimens inside a climatic chamber, such as HV storage devices, i.e. high-voltage batteries, which are used in electric cars as well as solar systems. The customer uses two large SUK 400W units for performance tests and ten additional SUK 350W units for endurance tests and simulation runs. The Process Cooling Units precisely control the temperature from -40 to 120 °C.

The special feature: LAUDA develops the refrigeration systems with a water/glycol mixture as the temperature control medium and a single-stage schema cooling circuit. By dispensing with a cascade refrigeration system, LAUDA can guarantee the future-proofing of the design with regard to the European F-Gas Regulation, since a refrigerant with a high GWP value is not required for the second stage. The refrigeration system must have sufficient power reserves, in order to be able to guarantee precise control even at limit temperatures around -40 °C. Each individual Process Cooling Unit must be precisely tailored, since water/glycol mixtures begin to freeze at temperatures around -45 °C (depending on the concentration).

Fully automatic filling facilitates test processes

LAUDA has equipped the Process Cooling Units with fully automatic filling and draining of the test specimen, in order to facilitate the testing processes of the customer in the automotive sector. This technology, which has been in LAUDA's product range for a long time, is now being requested by more and more customers and is becoming the industry standard, explains Manuel Faulhaber, Project Manager at LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems. Since Bertrandt is a service provider which serves a wide variety of customers, the systems have also been designed with fully automatic filling and draining of the entire system. Bertrandt is therefore able to use a wide range of customer-specific temperature control media for its test procedures without cumbersome manual filling and draining - a massive time saving for the service provider.

LAUDA Heating and cooling systems, the plant construction division of the world leader in precise temperature control, specializes in the manufacture of individual solutions based on customer requirements. In this respect, the experts from LAUDA hold sway over a temperature range from -150 to 550 °C which is required for production facilities in the pharmaceutical industry or test stations in the automotive sector. The temperature control specialist has now designed and manufactured a heat transfer system for a long-standing customer, one of the biggest German chemical companies. This was also quite the exception for the experienced engineers at LAUDA.

The customer ordered a system which must reach a working temperature of 400 °C without any problems. The heater is used in the field of materials research, in so-called scale-up tests and for the preparation of reactions which make such a high temperature essential. "Heat transfer systems with a working temperature range up to 350 °C are part of the day-to-day business of LAUDA", says project manager Ralph Herbert. "The range up to 400 °C is in the premier class." However, this is increasingly in demand in the meantime, according to Ralph Herbert, because it allows more effective heat transfer, thereby enabling a higher throughput and optimization of temperature-relevant production processes. Depending on the requisite outflow temperature and application area, these heat transfer systems use various types of thermal oils (silicone oil or eutectic mixtures). Generally speaking, they are electrically heated and generate a temperature-controlled liquid flow which heats the customer application in turn. A cooling option via heat exchanger can be integrated depending on requirement.

In-depth technical expertise essential

The particular feature of the jump from 350 to 400 °C is that the engineers at LAUDA have to deal with significantly higher working pressures. The stainless steel reactors used on the application side also have to withstand a higher load. "The maximum pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit in normal heat transfer systems with thermal oils is 6 bar, but it increases up to 21 bar in the 400 degree systems, depending on the thermal oil used", explains Ralph Herbert. This requires expertise in pipeline construction and the individual equipment components which not every manufacturer can offer.

LAUDA manufactures heat transfer systems in this high temperature range several times a year – whereby the planning and design are always especially important aspects for the LAUDA experts, confirms Ralph Herbert. The team of engineers at LAUDA is currently planning thermal oil systems with a maximum working temperature of up to 430 °C. The system was completed on schedule for the customer from the chemical industry, inspected and approved in the test bed at LAUDA and then commissioned on site together with the customer.

For the fourth time in a row since 2016, LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG has been appointed world market leader in the field of "Constant temperature equipment and systems for precise temperature control". The list of world market leaders is drawn up annually under the direction of the economist Prof. Dr. Christoph Müller from the renowned University of St. Gallen. The WirtschaftsWoche business magazine has been awarding this prize since 2016. LAUDA has been a member of the world market leader index since 2015.

»We are very proud to receive this award again,« explains Dr. Gunter Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA. »The repeated confirmation of our achievements shows us that our two locations in Germany and our twelve foreign subsidiaries mean that we are excellently positioned internationally. By acquiring the laboratory equipment manufacturer GFL, we have further expanded our product range and strengthened our portfolio in the field of laboratory technology.« An important part of the innovation strategy of this family-owned company with around 510 employees is the consistent cooperation with innovative start-ups. LAUDA recently announced a cooperation agreement with ENER-IQ GmbH. The company is developing a data platform based on artificial intelligence to increase the efficiency of heating systems. Since the end of 2018, the company has also been working with a multi-award-winning start-up, watttron GmbH from Freital. Watttron develops and produces intelligent heating systems that enable point- and temperature-accurate heating.

The October issue of WirtschaftsWoche lists LAUDA as one of a total of 456 companies from various sectors that have been recognised as world market leaders – out of just under 14,000 companies with sales in excess of 50 million euros across Germany. In order to be allowed to hold the title of world market leader, a company must meet various criteria. Annual sales must be at least 50 million euros – 50 percent of which must be generated abroad on at least three continents. To determine the world market leader index, the scientists from St. Gallen only use official figures.

The LAUDA international leadership team completed a week of intensive work, constructive discussion, and strategic decision-making. This was the annual World Jour Fixe, where the managing directors of all the twelve foreign businesses gather to meet with the leadership group of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG. This event took place for the seventh time, and, after Barcelona, was back in its traditional headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen.

The aim of the meeting of international leaders is the direct and intensive exchange of information about collaborative projects and the strategic goals of all the LAUDA companies active on the global market. Global strategies were on the agenda alongside an extensive view of the development of the individual business sectors and the planning for the following year. Consistent customer orientation of the international sales and marketing logistics of the global market leader were discussed under the label of GOAL (Global Ordering and Logistics). An additional item at the forefront of this year’s event was the advancing integration of the GFL Gesellschaft für Labortechnik mbH, which was acquired by LAUDA at the end of last year.

The direct exchange between all participants is a significant factor for the company culture of LAUDA. For this reason, the annual World Jour Fixe has a constant entry in LAUDA’s diary. President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser says: “The international meeting reinforces the trust and collaboration between the worldwide LAUDA companies. This year the feedback was staggering and our route to becoming a global company was confirmed” In addition to digitalization, the healthy growth of the company benefited markedly from “intensive personal communication at the level of equals”.

In addition to the strategic tasks, the collegial interchange amongst the participants did not miss out, for example, there was a visit to the Königshöfer Fair and a joint tour of the Marienburg Castle in the neighboring university city of Würzburg.

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GmbH & Co. KG presented an in-house exhibition with four highly innovative start-up companies at an event held to mark the 80th birthday of the former Managing Director and current Advisor and Shareholder Dr. Gerhard Wobser.

Cloud Software with Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Optimization of Heating Systems and Heating Networks is an innovative project of ENER-IQ GmbH (Würzburg/Hamburg). According to the Federation of German Heating Industry (BDH), around two thirds of heating systems and district heating networks are operated inefficiently. The reasons for this include defective components, inefficient control settings and, above all, deficient system tuning due to a shortage of qualified personnel. ENER-IQ's solution approach consists of sensor-based recording of the heat generation and distribution parameters. The collected data is transferred to a cloud application developed by the start-up company. From there, the systems and properties are monitored, the data analyzed, key performance indicators calculated for more efficient management and data supplied for optimization purposes. In the long term, it is used for the AI-supported optimization of the systems and remote adjustment as well as recommendations for action for tradesmen.

MagnoTherm Solutions from Darmstadt develops energy-saving and gas-free refrigerating or heating machines based on magnetocaloric materials. Compressors for refrigeration plants have reached their efficiency limit. Cold and heat are generated using magnetocaloric materials such as lanthanum-iron-silicon instead of greenhouse gases in the device developed by the start-up company. The solid body heats up when it is brought into a magnetic field and cools down when it leaves it. The heat or cold is conducted away from the material and made usable via a water mixture. Significant energy savings can be achieved through the isentropic process. The lower pressures and water as a medium mean that the cooling unit is safe for the end user and requires less maintenance. Since the materials can be adjusted to different temperature ranges, it is possible to create highly individual and energy-efficient applications.

The patented invention of watttron GmbH in Freital near Dresden is an innovative system for industrial heating processes, initially for the packaging industry. LAUDA has been cooperating very closely with this award-winning company in various areas for almost a year now in an atmosphere of mutual trust. The modular heating system enables material savings of up to 30 percent to be achieved in the manufacture of packaging. Different shapes can be realized according to the customer's wishes by linking modules in a sequence. Each module has 64 heating pixels which can all be individually controlled and regulated. This makes it possible to create individual heating profiles which can be selectively changed within seconds. This process allows packaging to be produced more efficiently in a thermal process or with contact heating. For example, the material in areas of a yoghurt pot which require high deformation is heated more, while the areas which are hardly or only slightly deformed are heated less. In principle, the heating process developed by watttron can also be used in many other industrial precision heating processes such as bio, pharmaceutical, chemical and automotive technology.

The Berlin-based start-up company Coolar has developed a cooling system which can make use of adsorption cooling technology based on water as a sustainable refrigerant for the first time. This means that compact refrigerators and transport boxes operated without electricity can be developed without climate-damaging, toxic or highly flammable substances. The first application was a so-called off-the-grid medical refrigerator for off-grid health care facilities which was successfully tested in completely self-contained operation in the field in Tenerife at the beginning of 2019. This solution means that Coolar can offer a low-cost, ecologically sustainable and pollutant-free solution for medicine and vaccines without the need for electricity, batteries or complicated control technology. In addition, the cooling system, whose compactness and simple control system are uniquely flexible, provides a sustainable, water-based alternative for a large number of small to medium-sized fields of application in the cooling technology industry, which is currently undergoing radical change.

"We aim to use these collaborative partnerships to identify and become aware of technical trends and technological developments at an early stage and provide innovative start-ups with cooperation on equal terms," underlined Dr. Gunther Wobser, CEO of LAUDA, speaking at the presentation of the four start-ups and their inventions. "LAUDA has carried out some excellent preliminary work in cooperation with start-up companies," said Robert Tietze, who has been Start-Up Manager at LAUDA since May 2019, talking about his experiences of the first few months. It had become apparent that universities provide a concentration of experts within specific areas of research from which interesting start-up companies arise.

LAUDA, the world market leader for constant temperature equipment and systems for precise temperature control, is steadily expanding its comprehensive portfolio. With the fully redeveloped, future-proof LAUDA Integral product line, the company presents a further milestone in the field of professional temperature control. The powerful Integral process thermostats have been a permanent feature of the LAUDA portfolio since 2000, and have become established as a reliable solution in all manner of applications and industries. Major areas of application include the temperature control of reactors in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, temperature tests at test stations in the automotive industry, or space simulations in mechanical and electrical engineering. The company is now driving the further development of the process thermostats and bringing the models in the T and XT series into the digital age. As a result, the new generation of Integral process thermostats have a variety of new features, including a brand new, intuitive control concept using mobile devices, increased pump output and a modular, expandable interface concept.

LAUDA Integral T and XT: 20 years of success

LAUDA's new Integral T process thermostats ensure efficient control of external temperature control processes in the temperature range from -30 to 150°C. The devices have an adjustable heating and cooling capacity and small internal volume that enables rapid temperature changes. Thanks to the open hydraulic system, the device aerates quickly and without loss of function. This makes it ideal for temperature control processes with frequent changes in consumer or test object. Classic application areas include controlling reactions or climate simulations. A reliable, powerful submersible pump and an internal bypass to limit the pressure are part of the standard equipment of the Integral T.

The extremely dynamic, high-performance LAUDA Integral XT process thermostats, on the other hand, operate with a cold oil blanket according to the flow principle and make it possible to use just one temperature control medium across the expanded temperature range from -90 to 320°C. Thanks to an electronically controlled, magnetically coupled, eight-level LAUDA Vario pump, the flow rate can be optimally thermally set for the requirements of pressure-sensitive consumers, as well as applications with high hydraulic resistance. An internal bypass, another new standard feature of the XT models, also increases flexibility. It increases the flow rate inside the device when only low flow rates are possible externally, to optimize the temperature control process.

For the new Integral XT models, LAUDA offers an optional through-flow control unit, which is particularly indispensable in creating reproducible test processes. An excellent example of such use is in test processes in the field of electric mobility. In order to achieve a high level of quality in production, validated test processes in this field use a defined flow rate that must be complied with. The optimized hydraulics and speed control of the new Integral devices also improve the conveying capacity of the thermostats considerably. Operated with future-proof refrigerants – the process thermostats conform to the European F-gas regulation – the new Integral devices provide the usual rapid temperature control along with high operating safety. The proven Smart Cool System of LAUDA Integral XT devices is now also featured on the new Integral I models. Here, electronic injection valves control the cooling output of the devices for greater energy-efficiency.

Integral process thermostats – Ready for the digital future

With the new Integral devices, LAUDA is driving forward the networking of temperature control technology. As the first series device in the history of LAUDA, the process thermostats have an integrated web server. This allows the devices to be integrated in existing company networks and therefore monitored and controlled via PC, or with mobile devices like a tablet or smartphone, if desired. The devices can be installed and operated in separate locations, if required. This enables location-independent monitoring and control. The thermostats can also be easily controlled via a modern OLED display directly on the device.

Newinterface concept provides flexibility

The new Integral process thermostats enable maximum networking of user processes, thanks to their modular and future-proof interface concept. The devices feature interfaces such as Ethernet, USB and Pt 100 as standard. Further interfaces and communication protocols can easily be added via additional modules. This allows Integral thermostats to be flexibly integrated in different communication scenarios. In addition, all the three-phase devices in the LAUDA Integral series are equipped for operation with a mains frequency of 50 or 60 Hz (bifrequent) – a great benefit for users who want to use their devices flexibly in different locations worldwide.

Modular design for simplified maintenance

LAUDA Integral devices are available in three different casing sizes and with a cooling capacity of 1.5 to 18 kW. Whereas the operating unit for the smallest casing size is mounted on the top of the device for best ergonomic advantage, on the medium and large casings, it is located at eye level on the right hand side of the device. The electrical and hydraulic connections are located on the right hand side for all devices. This means they will be easy to operate and see. With the Command Touch, LAUDA offers an intuitive operating unit with a touch display and expanded range of functions as an accessory, which can be connected to the device via a cable.

LAUDA Integral – A new generation

The process thermostats from the Integral series have proven successful on the market for decades. The development of the next generation takes the proven strengths of the series and combines them with future-proof components. By doing so, LAUDA offers its customers a piece of constant temperature equipment that fulfills today's requirements for refrigeration technology and guarantees a seamless transition with maximum process reliability.

An important aspect in the development of the Integral series was the European F-gas regulation. This will gradually restrict the quantities of partially fluorinated hydrocarbons available on the market until 2030. Demand for future-proof constant temperature equipment that conforms to the F-gas regulation has risen considerably. “We have put a lot of thought and expertise into the development of the refrigeration technology,” explains Dr. Jürgen Dirscherl, Head of Research & Development at LAUDA, for “simply replacing the refrigerant would limit performance data” and jeopardize customer processes. The goal of the LAUDA experts was to develop a new generation of devices that can seamlessly replace older models of existing Integral devices. “This will ensure the reliability of our customers’ process,” says Dr. Dirscherl. The new Integral series retains many of the proven functions and technical solutions of the old one.

With the new generation of Integral devices, LAUDA has put forward a technically more advanced version of a tried-and-tested product line, explains the Head of Research & Development. The new LAUDA design may be the most obvious new feature of the new devices, but that’s not the only difference. “For example, the new design enables simplified maintenance, thanks to improved accessibility of the components without separating the hydraulic circuit from the application. Further powerful benefits of the new generation of Integral devices include the position of the connections, enhanced communication options with process control systems, the integrated web server, pumps with a higher output range and, above all, considerably higher flow rates,” says Dr. Dirscherl.

Example applications for LAUDA Integral process thermostats

LAUDA process thermostats reliably heat and cool in a wide range of applications in the most varied of industries. For example, the devices can be used for the temperature control of stirrer tanks as well as reactors in chemistry, pharmacy and biotechnology, and in temperature tests on test stations in the automotive industry, be it for climate simulations or performance and material tests. Integral process thermometers are also the ideal partner for material inspections. In microreactor technology, the devices are used for temperature control in scale-up processes. And in mechanical and electrical engineering, LAUDA Integral process thermostats are an elementary component of space simulations.

At the end of 2018, the world market leader for temperature control, LAUDA, announced the acquisition of the laboratory technology specialist GFL from Burgwedel. In order to ensure a smooth transition, the previous managing partners of GFL, Ulrike Mischel and Dieter Bubel, continued as managing directors until the end of June 2019. Now LAUDA has taken the next step towards successful integration into the LAUDA Group with the appointment of Andreas Degmayr as the new Managing Director of GFL.

At the end of June, Dr. Gunther Wobser, CEO and President of LAUDA and also CEO of the youngest subsidiary GFL, invited the two former shareholders Ulrike Mischel and Dieter Bubel to a farewell reception. He expressed his thanks for the trusting cooperation during the purchase initiation phase and above all as colleagues in the management during the intensive last six months.

A big responsibility for LAUDA
The staff paid tribute to both of them with an original gift and words of thanks from the chairman of the works council, Mike-Peter Klotz, for the decades of management of the successful, traditional company. Dr. Gunther Wobser is aware of his responsibility: "GFL is a proud family business with over 50 years of successful activity. The values and excellent reputation of the GFL brand fit well with LAUDA. The high-quality water baths, freezers and distillation plants are an excellent addition to the portfolio. I would like to thank the second generation and promise to continue the successful tradition within the LAUDA Group with now 500 temperature experts at two German locations". On 1 July, the experienced engineer Andreas Degmayr was appointed as an additional managing director 'on site'. Antje Peters, who has been with the company for many years, is responsible for the commercial area.

Germany has set ambitious goals for the energy revolution: The proportion of renewable energy relative to overall energy consumption should be 80 per cent by 2050. With the expansion of wind energy, photovoltaics and other regenerative energy sources as well as the increasing electrification of society, the world of business, politics and science are facing a major challenge: the efficient and sustainable storage of locally generated excess energy so that it can be fed into the energy grid during peak times. One highly promising energy efficiency concept is “Power to Gas”, whereby methane is obtained from wind or solar energy by way of electrolysis and methanation. Energy is then stored in gas form and recovered when required. Methanation could also accelerate the rise of gas-powered vehicles in the automotive sector, while the methane required to fuel the vehicles could be produced in an environmentally compatible way. Researchers all over the world are working at full speed to design a technology that is simpler and more relevant in terms of energy efficiency. The Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg is a leading organization that has already been active in this field of research for seven years. To carry out work in its pilot plant, the institute uses a LAUDA heat transfer system that must meet the very specific requirements of the researchers.

High-precision, rapid cooling required

LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems, which is the industrial division of temperature equipment manufacturer LAUDA, plans and manufactures customized constant temperature systems exactly according to customer requirements. A type ITH 350 heat transfer system was developed for the Max Planck Institute. The system is used to control the temperature of a reactor. The LAUDA system must be able to provide cooling of 100 Kelvin per minute without falling below the end point. It must therefore cool down quickly but must not fall below a certain temperature point and endanger the actual process. This challenge also posed problems for the LAUDA engineers because heat transfer systems are usually designed for constant temperature control. The research carried out at the Max Planck Institute requires a system that cools extremely quickly.

Cooling from 340 °C to 150 °C in minutes – with extreme precision

The methanation reaction generates a great deal of heat and high temperatures that may damage the reactor, or more importantly, the catalyst. Up to now, this kind of process was typically started up slowly one time and then run constantly for several weeks. Project manager Jens Bremer explains what the researchers are aiming to achieve: "First we are attempting to identify how dynamically this process can be arranged and then develop some basic concepts for new operating strategies and reactor designs. We have already obtained some initial promising results based on computer-assisted calculations and now wish to use the pilot system to verify these results”. Temperature control requirements are correspondingly high. The LAUDA heat transfer system is more than capable of delivering the required precision. “The performance and dynamics of the reactor are primarily determined by the cooling of the reactor. Rapid temperature control enables a flexible response to external influences, such as a decrease in the hydrogen supply, without having to shut down the reactor”, explains Jens Bremer.

During the process, the reactor is heated electrically to 340 °C. Once a defined temperature is reached, an exothermic reaction is triggered and the system must then be rapidly cooled to 150 °C. An electronic valve used in normal situations that serves as a regulating device would be much too slow for this particular application. It may be possible to use the valve to adjust the cooling capacity, depending on the actuating signal. If the system is cooled with cooling water, the cooling capacity for normal cooling tasks is limited to preserve the materials in the event of significant temperature differences. In this case, a rapid opening is required to reach the necessary cooling speed without stressing the material too much. LAUDA engineers have therefore developed a pneumatic 3-way valve that opens in only 2 seconds to ensure that the heat carrier is cooled at more than 150 °C per minute.

The heat transfer system incorporates two thermostatic circuits. While the first circuit controls the temperature in a buffer vessel, the second circuit controls the temperature in the test setup of the Max Planck Institute. Both circuits use the same medium and are connected to one another via the media storage unit. One additional customer requirement for the system was that the heat carrier could be used at temperatures of up to 350 °C. LAUDA therefore selected a thermal oil capable of satisfying the demanding requirements of the material.

Specific customer requirements fulfilled

LAUDA developed and designed the special heat transfer system according to the requirements of the Max Planck Institute. The restricted spatial conditions were already taken into consideration during the development phase on the computer. The system had to be enclosed in a special safety dome, which made it necessary to mount the control cabinets on the side. As requested by the customer, some of the nozzles are located on the underside of the device. The LAUDA system was sent to Magdeburg for assembly in two parts, which were lifted into the safety glass enclosure by a crane.

The heat transfer system for methanation research was the second system LAUDA has delivered to the Max Planck Institute. The institute is more than satisfied with the services provided by the temperature control manufacturer: “We received outstanding consultation and customer care all the way from the initial concept design phase to final on-site installation. No other manufacturer was able to provide such flexibility for our specific situation”, explains project manager Jens Bremer.

LAUDA and GFL present together for the first time at the Forum LABO.

A few days ago, the Forum LABO marked the end of a successful trade fair appearance for LAUDA, the world's leading manufacturer of temperature control units and systems. For more than 60 years, the name LAUDA has stood for professional and reliable temperature control in the laboratory. France is one of the most important markets for LAUDA. The family business founded its first subsidiary there in 2005 and has been operating in the neighbouring country with steadily growing success ever since.

At the Forum LABO, LAUDA presented its broad portfolio of temperature control units for laboratories, research & development and production in a new design. With the LAUDA PRO, the user has at his disposal a scalable device line with a remarkable overall concept that is used in a large number of industries. The circulation thermostats for professional applications in test benches, reactors, climate chambers or distillation plants in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, mineral oil, automotive or electrical engineering industries enable temperature control from -90 to 250 °C and convince with dynamic temperature changes and a compact design.

With the new Integral line of devices, LAUDA is presenting for the first time in Paris a completely new development of powerful process thermostats with an intuitive operating concept that, among other things, allows control via mobile terminals. With its completely redesigned exterior, the thermostat also attracted a lot of attention from visitors to the trade fair.

In addition to the LAUDA temperature control units, a selection of laboratory units from GFL also awaited the trade visitors. LAUDA acquired the German premium manufacturer for laboratory technology from Burgwedel at the beginning of the year. For the first time, both companies presented their joint portfolio under one roof, including distillation apparatuses, shakers and water baths. The President and CEO of LAUDA, Dr. Gunther Wobser, who visited the Forum LABO and the LAUDA stand, was delighted with the positive response at the trade fair. »The French market is an important pillar for LAUDA. I am therefore delighted that Forum LABO has stabilised as an exchange platform with our French customers and dealers.«

The F-Gas Regulation forces plant operators to rethink their approach. The industrial division of LAUDA supplies future-proof systems.

The current EU regulation on fluorinating greenhouse gases has been in force since 2015. This means that it has been decided to gradually restrict the quantities of partially fluorinated hydrocarbons available on the market until 2030. Operators and manufacturers of refrigeration systems are now clearly aware of the consequences of this legislation. Not only has the availability of traditional refrigerants fallen significantly, but the demand for future-proof systems using natural refrigerants has also risen significantly. LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems, the industrial division of the world market leader for temperature control units and systems, has been working intensively on this topic for more than five years - and recently manufactured a process cooling system with a two-stage cooling cascade and natural refrigerants for temperatures down to -60 °C for a biopharmaceutical company in Germany.

LAUDA HKS systems for freezing processes

The globally active customer, one of the largest research-based pharmaceutical companies in Germany, has ordered a process cooling system from LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems. The system is used for so-called Freeze & Thaw processes, in which active ingredients are deep-frozen in large tanks of up to 200 l volume and shipped for further processing. The process cooling system must therefore be able to cool down to -60 °C with high precision.

In close consultation with the customer all specifications of the process cooling system were defined and the individual components were designed during the pre-engineering process. The customer's factory specifications also had to be taken into account, such as the use of instrumentation from certain manufacturers. The process cooling system is designed for two tanks, each with a cooling capacity of 2.2 kW. The system is also equipped with a volume flow control system to make the entire process reproducible for the customer and to safeguard it at all sites. In order to achieve the required working temperature of -60 °C, the LAUDA engineers rely on a two-stage cascade system. Two interconnected and coordinated compressor systems provide the required temperature by the evaporator of the first circuit cooling the condenser of the second circuit. This intelligent combination of several cooling circuits allows low temperatures down to -90 °C to be reached.

Flammable refrigerants require special sensor technology

In order to guarantee future-proof operation, the plant for the pharmaceutical company is operated with natural refrigerants. LAUDA uses flammable refrigerants such as ethane and prophene for this purpose. The use of these gases in turn places special demands on the system. From a filling quantity of 150 g combustible gas, the use of a special gas sensor is mandatory, which monitors the tightness of the refrigeration circuits and switches off the process cooling system in case of danger. In addition, the entire refrigeration system is equipped with a ventilated housing to keep air exchange as low as possible. In the event of a leak, a fan ensures sufficient negative pressure and reliable ventilation to the outside. LAUDA heating and cooling systems only use components and safety technology approved for the refrigerant in question, strictly in accordance with DIN EN 378.

Each step of the project was closely coordinated with the client. The use of natural refrigerants does not have any disadvantages for the customer. Refrigerants from the range of hydrocarbons are inexpensive and, from an energy point of view, often more efficient than conventional F-gases or synthetically produced substitutes. For the engineers and designers of LAUDA heating and cooling systems, process cooling systems of this kind are an important step into the future. The demand for industrial solutions with natural refrigerants will continue to rise as the shortage of traditional refrigerants increases.

World market leader strengthens competence in the field of lab temperature control

LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG has announced the acquisition of GFL Gesellschaft für Labortechnik mbH today. This is the third takeover in total for the world market leader from Lauda-Königshofen. While the previous acquisitions primarily served to open up new business areas in the industrial environment, LAUDA intends to expand its competencies in the field of laboratory technology with GFL.

Traditional company with more than 50 years of experience

GFL is a German premium manufacturer and currently employs around 50 employees. With this strategically important acquisition, LAUDA has increased its sales to around EUR 90 million and its workforce to 500 employees.

GFL has been known as a manufacturer of laboratory equipment for more than 50 years and is active in over 150 countries. The portfolio of the company, headquartered in Burgwedel in the northeast of Hanover, includes deep-freeze appliances, water baths, shaking water baths, water distillers, incubators and shakers. Users can be found in research, routine and special laboratories in medicine, science and industry. All of GSL’s devices are developed and produced in Germany. The two managing partners of the company, Ulrike Mischel and Dieter Bubel, will remain with the company until mid-2019 to ensure a smooth transition and successful integration. All GFL employees should be taken on by LAUDA.

With the acquisition of GFL, LAUDA aims to expand its existing product range as the world market leader for temperature control units and systems and to expand LAUDA's product technology capabilities in sheet metal processing, for example. GFL, for its part, will benefit from LAUDA's strong international distribution network.

Experience in the acquisition of companies

A positive example of a successful takeover and integration is the LAUDA Ultracool company near Barcelona/Spain, which LAUDA acquired in 2011 and whose integration into the LAUDA Group has been extremely successful. In 2018, the Spanish subsidiary, which specializes in the development and manufacture of high-precision industrial circulation chillers, is heading for a record result. In 2014, LAUDA acquired Noah Precision (now LAUDA-Noah), a leading manufacturer of thermoelectric Peltier thermostats on the west coast of the USA.

»With the devices from GFL, we are consistently developing our product range further and strengthening our portfolio in the field of laboratory technology. With our strong sales organization and the LAUDA brand, known worldwide for temperature control, we will continue to drive growth and underscore our position as the world market leader in our industry,« says Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA. »We are very much looking forward to welcoming the GFL employees personally to the LAUDA family and will be expanding the Burgwedel site in a targeted manner.«

LAUDA excels in industrials thermostats for special applications in research and development

Lauda-Königshofen, October 19th, 2018 – LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems, or HCS for short, is the industrial branch of the constant temperature equipment manufacturer, LAUDA. With more than 60 years of development expertise, the division produces custom-made systems for industrial applications. Heat transfer systems, secondary circuit units or state-of-the-art molten salt systems cover an extensive temperature range from -150 to 550°C. A particularly fascinating aspect is the wide range of applications of LAUDA heating and cooling systems.

LAUDA heat transfer systems are typically used in applications in the pharmaceutical or fine chemical industries. Depending on the required outflow temperature, heat transfer systems use either thermal oil, water or water/glycol as the heat carrier. The systems are heated by electric energy, water vapor or other fuels, depending on the project, and generate a precisely controlled heat flow and a temperature profile in the consumer. For example, a heat transfer system was recently produced for a renowned European research institute according to very specific requirements.

Energy balancing during ongoing operation

The customer, who works in the field of research and development, required a special reactor to be heated and cooled, to achieve a highly accurate mass and energy balance via the heat carrier. To achieve this, the system, which has a device from the ITH 400 series at its core, needed to actively separate aqueous components from the heat carrier oil. The challenge: Aqueous components needed to be evaporated and subsequently condensed and discharged from the oil circuit in a controlled manner, all during ongoing operation. This would enable the customer to achieve an exact balance of the heat flow in the reactor to guarantee a defined mass flow.

The data was recorded using a flow meter from Endress+Hauser, a component that LAUDA has had many years of good experiences with and installs in its system several times a year. To control the system, LAUDA opted for modern Siemens PLC controls with a touch panel for easy operation on site. Alternatively, the system can also be controlled via the central process control system. This gives the customer direct access to the volume flow or pressure controls, allowing process optimization at any time.

The entire system was specially designed for the customer application by the LAUDA engineering team, and produced in a project duration of only 18 weeks. The customer, based in Italy, was heavily involved in the project, from conception to final delivery. This proximity to the customer, as well as the construction of industrial heating and cooling systems according to the customer's requirement profile, is one of LAUDA’s strengths, explains Ralph Herbert, project manager at LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems. “In every project, we design our systems according to the precise requirements of the customer. In doing so, we apply planning steps that have been tried and tested over many years, so that we can support the customer from the initial idea to the final commissioning and beyond,” concludes Ralph Herbert. Find out more about LAUDA heating and cooling systems on our website.

World market leader for exact temperature control celebrates anniversary in the important Chinese market

After celebrations in Spain (50 years LAUDA Ultracool) and in the USA (ten years LAUDA-Brinkmann) LAUDA celebrates another anniversary. More than ten years ago, on April 8, 2008, the distribution company LAUDA China Co., Ltd. was founded in Shanghai. This was preceded by a strategy project by the manufacturer of high-quality temperature control units in order to optimally support the Asian-based customers and representations. The five-strong team initially worked closely with other agencies to expand LAUDA's sales across the Asian market. In addition to the technical advice, the marketing of the LAUDA Alpha device line, which was especially designed for the Asian market at that time, was one of the main tasks of the sales subsidiary in cooperation with the large Chinese dealer network.

LAUDA China quickly expanded its market presence. From 2010, it began working with distributors of glass reactors for the Asian market, building a reputation as a trusted partner in reactor temperature control. With the expansion of sales activities in the areas of OEM as well as heating and cooling systems, LAUDA China was able to gain important customers in the field of industrial temperature control. In 2015 LAUDA China supported the pharmaceutical group Lianhe Chemical Technology with several industrial temperature control units; then a milestone for the Asian pharmaceutical industry.

Customers from pharma to electromobility

Over the past ten years, LAUDA China has built a network of strong reference customers in areas such as pharmaceuticals, automotive and biotechnology, and has built an excellent reputation in these industries, explains General Manager Michael Lin, who has been involved from the very beginning and who leads LAUDA CHINA since December 2009. Its most important customers include the global pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and medical device company Wuxi Apptec, the electric mobility pioneer Siemens Valeo and Merck Millipore from the life sciences sector. »The last ten years have been a great success for LAUDA China. Thanks to our local presence, we were able to directly support our customers in China with service and sales services«, continues Michael Lin.

The celebrations of the tenth anniversary included the CEO and President, Dr. Gunther Wobser, who had flown in from the german headquarters. He emphasized the importance of the foreign location in Shanghai and the success of the decentralized management of LAUDA's global sales activities. »The founding of LAUDA China was an important step in our strategy at the time«, Dr. Gunther Wobser said in his speech at the anniversary. »China is a focus of our activities. With the double presence of both a sales and a development and production subsidiary, we clearly show our commitment as the world market leader.«

World market leader announces strategic cooperation with innovative start-up

Lauda-Königshofen, October 10, 2018 – LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG has concluded a comprehensive cooperation agreement with watttron GmbH from Freital. The cooperation between the world market leader for precise temperature control and the start-up company from Freital near Dresden, which is developing an innovative heating system for use in specific industrial processes, includes the exclusive sale of watttron products in North America and the analytical, biotechnology and laboratory technology industries worldwide, as well as the use of watttron technology in future LAUDA constant temperature equipment. In addition, LAUDA secures a prospective participation in watttron GmbH.

watttron GmbH develops and produces intelligent heating system, which enable precise heating at the right point and at the right temperature. In which a thin, ceramic heating plate is heated accurately down to one pixel, where each heating pixel can be controlled individually - like on a TFT display. This makes it possible, for example, to produce packaging in a much more resource-saving, flexible and controlled manner. Applications for watttron technology can also be found in the automotive, medical, additive manufacturing, chemical and biotechnology sectors. watttron was also awarded for its groundbreaking technology in the innovation competition 'Germany - Land of Ideas'. Company CEO, Marcus Stein, was the only representative of a German start-up to speak at the BDI's German Industry Day at the end of September.

»For our start-up the cooperation with LAUDA is a great asset. We are particularly motivated by the fact that LAUDA, a world-class medium-sized company, wants to break new ground with this partnership«, says Marcus Stein, CEO of watttron GmbH. »We are looking forward to the expertise of our new partner and hope to be able to bring our innovative heating technology even faster into new market areas and countries, especially in North America«. Ronald Claus von Nordheim, Head of Production (CPO) at watttron, added: «At the same time, we see great advantages of our technology in the laboratory area, which LAUDA's customers will also benefit from.«

With LAUDA and watttron, an established medium-sized company and a young start-up from the mechanical engineering sector are pooling their expertise to jointly advance the development of temperature control. With this cooperation, LAUDA is expanding its temperature control technology portfolio, while watttron in turn benefits from the experience and sales networks of the globally active temperature control equipment manufacturer.

»The most important driver for LAUDA as world market leader is our vision of exciting with temperatures. Through the cooperation with watttron and the use of this trend-setting technology in the field of temperature control, we are consistently continuing along this path«, explains Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA. »With this comprehensive cooperation, we are building an innovation bridge to one of the most successful industrial start-ups in Germany today. We also want to use this opportunity to learn firsthand from our new partner. The cooperation with startups is an important part of our innovation strategy«, says Dr. Gunther Wobser.

Sixth LAUDA World Jour Fixe brings together global leadership team

For the sixth time, the international LAUDA World Jour Fixe took place. Once a year, this management meeting brings together the managing directors of the twelve foreign subsidiaries with the management of the LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG. For the first time, the international meeting was not carried out in the middle of the year at the headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen, but at the beginning of autumn in Terrassa near Barcelona, Spain. The reason for the layover was the first, interactive preparation of the sales plan for the following year. In addition, the Spanish subsidiary LAUDA Ultracool celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

The annual World Jour Fixe serves - in addition to an outlook on current business developments - the comprehensive exchange of overarching projects, goals and plans of all LAUDA companies operating on the world market. This time, lectures and workshops on "Innovation and Idea Management" were on the extensive agenda. For the first time, the sales planning for the various business units of LAUDA and LAUDA Scientific was worked out in one place in different small groups.

»A trusting cooperation across borders requires regular exchange at eye level as well as short communication channels«, explains Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA. The regular World Jour Fixe is an important building block in its corporate strategy in the special LAUDA corporate culture, Dr. Gunther Wobser continues.

Global market leader celebrates anniversary in Spain

LAUDA, global market leader in precision temperature control, held a festive gala evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Spanish foreign subsidiary LAUDA Ultracool. Specializing in the production of industrial circulation chillers, the company has been a member of the Lauda Group since the start of 2011. Founded on 24 September 1968 in Terrassa, Spain under the name CHAUMECA IBERICA, S.A., the company can look back on an eventful history.

In the early years, CHAUMECA IBERICA manufactured chillers, vessels and outflows for compressed-air conditioning systems but over the years the company’s product portfolio was extended to include water and air chillers as well as ceramic filters. With the launch of a specially developed absorption dryer, CHAUMECA IBERICA became an important provider of compressed-air conditioning products during these years. The end of the 1970s and the development of refrigeration dryers marked the era of industrial cooling for the company. Ten years later, CHAUMECA IBERICA was considered one of the leading Spanish brands in the compressed-air sector.

The chillers from the CHAUMECA IBERICA product portfolio were further developed over the years while their economic importance continued to increase. In 1993, the company therefore began to manufacture water-cooled constant temperature equipment in a range of 22 different models with power ratings up to 230 kW. On 3 January 1999, the German company Ultrafilter GmbH took over the Spanish machine builder. CHAUMECA IBERICA S.A. then became Ultrafilter, S.A. and a member of the Ultrafilter Group. After the takeover, the company focused entirely on the development and manufacture of circulation chillers in Terrassa. The CRIA-N brand then became ULTRACOOL. At this point in time, the Spanish company was already selling its products worldwide.

In 2003, the company was taken over a second time by Donaldson Filtration Solutions, an American multinational group of companies employing roughly 12,000 staff worldwide. Under the direction of Donaldson, the Terrassa-based company expanded the ULTRACOOL line to a maximum cooling output of 450 kW. Following a series of modernization measures, production capacity had increased to 2,000 units per year. In 2010, the Donaldson Group decided to restructure its European operations and concentrate on the manufacture of industrial filters, which made up its core business. The new buyer was LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER and so the Spanish subsidiary LAUDA Ultracool was born. Within a very short time, the Spanish employees became established members of the LAUDA family and the circulation chillers were a valuable addition to the LAUDA temperature control portfolio. LAUDA presented the most recent further development in the Ultracool line to the global public for the first time at this year’s ACHEMA exhibition. It includes completely new, efficient models that can establish an innovative cloud connection to the local control and monitoring system.

At the end of September 2018, the 50th anniversary of LAUDA Ultracool was fittingly celebrated at the site of the Spanish subsidiary. The entire international LAUDA Group management team attended the gala evening, including Executive Director Dr. Gunther Wobser and his father Dr. Gerhard Wobser as well as Managing Directors Dr. Marc Stricker and Dr. Mario Englert from company headquarters. The former founder of CHAUMECA IBERICA, Xavier Escudé Gonzalez, the mayor of Terrassa, Alfredo Vega López, and the president of the employer’s association, Antoni Abad were also among the guests. During his eulogy, Dr. Gunther Wobser recounted the intensive impressions that the acquisition of LAUDA Ultracool had made during the economic crisis that was happening at the time. Impressed by the cleverly designed constant temperature equipment, the modern production plants and the team of staff, he finally signed the contracts for the takeover on 21 January 2011 after a sleepless night.

“LAUDA Ultracool is an impressive success story, especially when you consider that Spain was entrenched in a crippling economic crisis at the time”, explained Dr. Gunther Wobser proudly. “Today, LAUDA Ultracool is our largest overseas subsidiary and a profitable company with a significant, steady turnover. It is also closely integrated in the international LAUDA family“, explains Dr. Gunther Wobser.

World market leader for precise temperature control celebrates ten-year anniversary in North America

Lauda-Königshofen, September 17, 2018 – For LAUDA, the world's leading manufacturer of temperature control units and systems, there are many reasons to celebrate this September. The foreign subsidiary LAUDA-Brinkmann founded in 2008 celebrates its tenth anniversary. The celebrations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, included high-ranking representatives of the headquarters, including the President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser.

The success story of the LAUDA company in the United States began ten years ago in the town of Delran, New Jersey, just a few miles from Philadelphia. On September 1, 2008, after only a few months of preparation, the world market leader for precise temperature control announced the opening of the wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, LAUDA-Brinkmann LP. The company originated from Brinkmann Instruments. The distributor of high-quality laboratory equipment had already been acting as a loyal partner of LAUDA in the USA since 1965, but surprisingly discontinued the business. Starting with twelve employees, LAUDA-Brinkmann has overseen the entire North American market for temperature control equipment and systems for industries such as pharmaceutical, chemical, automotive or aerospace for more than ten years. LAUDA-Brinkmann now employs 17 specialists, including four service technicians. The partnership with a North American service provider and its more than 1,000 field service technicians for the USA and Canada guarantees the. comprehensive and extensive support of LAUDA customers.

»The first ten years of LAUDA Brinkmann has passed in the blink of an eye«, says Michael Faulkner, General Manager & CEO of LAUDA-Brinkmann who has been on board since the launch in 2008. »During that time, we’ve focused on diversification, through our product offering, the markets we sell into and the overall skill sets possessed within the LAUDA Brinkmann team.« Michael Faulkner looks to the future with great optimism. The company will continue to grow worldwide together with the LAUDA Group, he is certain.

The portfolio of LAUDA-Brinkmann has been continuously expanded over the years and now covers the entire spectrum of temperature control, from water baths to the in the US well-accepted process thermostats of the Integral line and the very successful Ultracool circulation chillers. Since this year, the distribution of the thermoelectric thermostats from the US subsidiary LAUDA-Noah has been taken over. In 2015, LAUDA-Brinkmann expanded further and opened another location for the West Coast in Morgan Hill, California.

»For ten years, LAUDA-Brinkmann has strengthened our presence in the USA. What emerged in an incredibly short time in 2008 as a result of the sudden business closure of Brinkmann Instruments has become our most important distribution company over the years« says Dr. Gunther Wobser, who is also President of LAUDA Brinkmann. » We are proud of what our American colleagues are doing every day and look forward to the future together.«

About LAUDA

We are LAUDA - the world leader in precise temperature control. Our thermostatic circulators and heating and cooling systems are at the heart of many applications. As a complete one-stop supplier we guarantee the optimum temperature in research, production and quality control. We are your reliable partner, particularly in the fields of automotive, chemical/pharma, semiconductor and laboratory/medical technologies. We have been inspiring our customers for more than 60 years with our competent mentoring and innovative, environmentally-friendly
concepts - new every day and all over the world.

World market leader appoints Dr. Mario Englert as CFO

Lauda-Königshofen, 1st of July 2018– LAUDA, the world market leader for precise temperature control, is expanding its General Management as of July 1, 2018. The current Director Finances of the LAUDA Group, Dr. Ing. Mario Englert (33) has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG. From this point on, the doctorate in Business Administration will be responsible for the areas of Finance and Information Technology, and thus complete the management team with President and CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser and COO Dr. Marc Stricker. Dr. Stricker manages the areas of Operations, Research & Development, Quality Management and the Heating and Cooling Systems division. Dr. Gunther Wobser, spokesman for the management board, is responsible for the three divisions Temperature Control Units, OEM and Service, the areas HR and Marketing Communication as well as the twelve foreign subsidiaries.

Dr. Englert completed his studies in Business Administration and his doctorate at the renowned University of Mannheim. Before joining LAUDA on October 1, 2017, he worked successfully for several years as a consultant for the international management consultancy McKinsey & Company in Frankfurt am Main. Subsequently, Dr. Englert worked as Principal Supervisor at the European Central Bank, also in Frankfurt am Main. The born Würzburger is deeply rooted in the Main-Tauber region, because he graduated from the Martin-Schleyer-Gymnasium in Lauda-Königshofen and knows Dr. Gunther Wobser and the family business since that time. He had first contact with LAUDA in 2004 during an internship.

The President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser, is therefore particularly pleased about the growth in the management: »We have always kept the contact alive. When it came to reorganizing the company organisationally and preparing for the upcoming retirement of the current Finance Director, I approached him. I am very happy that he now works together with Dr. Marc Stricker and me to lead the fortunes of the company founded by my grandfather more than 60 years ago.«

The new CFO, Dr. Mario Englert, has a positive view of the new challenge: »Even my first professional contact with LAUDA in 2004 showed me the great potential of this family-owned company. I am very pleased to continue my career in an international family business and to give new impetus with my expertise.«

About LAUDA

We are LAUDA - the world leader in precise temperature control. Our thermostatic circulators and heating and cooling systems are at the heart of many applications. As a complete one-stop supplier we guarantee the optimum temperature in research, production and quality control. We are your reliable partner, particularly in the fields of automotive, chemical/pharma, semiconductor and laboratory/medical technologies. We have been inspiring our customers for more than 60 years with our competent mentoring and innovative, environmentally-friendly concepts - new every day and all over the world.

World market leader unveils brand new temperature control devices at leading trade fair

ACHEMA is regarded as the most important meeting place for the process and laboratory technology industry. This will be the 21st occasion on which LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG has exhibited at this leading international trade fair. This year, the world market leader is presenting its entire newly redesigned product range and a whole raft of new products to an international audience of specialists: new process thermostats and the Integral product line, plus new Ultracool process circulation chillers with intuitive operating concepts. The first LAUDA cloud-enabled temperature control devices underscore this temperature specialist's determination to actively help shape the digital transformation of its industry. Visitors from all over the world will be able to get a close look at LAUDA's newly redesigned equipment for the first time over the course of the five days of the trade fair. This important event will no doubt have the same worldwide significance and impact as the brand's relaunch earlier in the year.
 

Efficient process thermostats with intuitive operation

The high-performance process thermostats in the Integral product line have been an essential part of LAUDA's worldwide portfolio since the year 2000. The entire product line has been technically revamped and brought into the digital age for the product presentation at ACHEMA. For instance, the models in the T and XT series have an intuitive operating concept that allows monitoring and control via a smartphone or tablet. Alternatively, a modern OLED display allows straightforward operation directly on the device.

LAUDA's Integral T process thermostats ensure effective control of external temperature control processes in the temperature range from -30 to 120 °C. Integral T process thermostats with a reduced footprint have an adjustable heating and cooling capacity and small internal volume that enables fast temperature changes. Thanks to its open hydraulic system, the device vents quickly and without any functional restrictions, and is thus ideal for temperature controlling processes with frequent changes of consumer or item under test. Classic application areas include controlling reactions or climate simulations.

LAUDA's extremely dynamic, high-performance Integral XT process thermostats, on the other hand, operate with a cold oil blanket according to the flow principle and make it possible to use just one temperature control medium across an extremely wide temperature range. Thanks to an electronically controlled, magnetically coupled pump, the flow rate can be optimally thermally set for the requirements of pressure-sensitive consumers, as well as applications with high hydraulic resistance. An internally connectable bypass also increases flexibility.
 

LAUDA presents the world's first cloud-enabled circulation chiller

Thanks to the greater focus it has been placing on increasingly digitized work processes, LAUDA will be introducing new devices in its Ultracool line at ACHEMA. Newly developed from scratch and with a clear emphasis on energy efficiency, the new Ultracool devices reduce operating costs by as much as 50 percent. In future, remote monitoring will allow diagnostics and preventive maintenance of chillers. This is made possible for the first time ever in LAUDA's history by connection to the LAUDA cloud or an internal web server.

The advantages of digital technology are obvious. Support and troubleshooting can be carried out from any computer that has Internet access, thereby reducing downtime significantly. Important key performance indicators of Ultracool circulation chillers can be checked at any time, to monitor the efficiency or performance of relevant components, for instance. Distributed access to the historical data of every device in the LAUDA cloud enables predictive and preventive maintenance. As an option, the new circulation chillers can be equipped with an external control unit. LAUDA Ultracool devices comply with Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC and are individually customizable with many options. Ultracool devices have a high temperature stability of ±0.5 K and a working temperature range of -10 to 35 °C.
 

A glimpse into the future: LAUDA presents its new equipment design

LAUDA launched its brand new, award-winning brand image in early 2018, and is now taking the next logical step – making an appearance at this year's ACHEMA. All of the world market leader's temperature control technology product lines, from LAUDA Aquiline water baths through to circulation and process thermostats, such as the LAUDA Kryoheater Selecta, have been upgraded to reflect the new styling and unified into a single strong, logical and consistent system.

The LAUDA Group's product range has been completely transformed in cooperation with Hamburg design studio, open fields, within less than two years. Prof. Detlef Rhein, an open fields partner, articulates the basic idea behind this development "Our primary intention was not to design products but to design smart, future-proof technology. The new look had to have functional and interactive qualities, rather than simply being a shell. A device has to be considered in the context of complex interfaces and relationships rather than in isolation."

The new stylistic idiom of LAUDA's portfolio is more than just a matter of design. Factors such as ease of service access, intuitive operation and simplified installation were some of the strategic objectives during the design process. The number of casing parts was minimized in the case of the new Integral devices; this has clear benefits for servicing and installation. The devices' electronic and mechanical ports were consolidated and consistently graphically coded. The user interface is no longer integrated in the casing in order to anticipate future device-independent operating methods, such as the use of mobile terminal devices. "Design is always a child of its time," explains Prof. Rhein. "The new LAUDA design is significantly pared down, but still convincing in terms of details and standards. This explicitness will remain tangible and relevant for a long time."
 

Customer-specific Heating and cooling systems at ACHEMA 2018

LAUDA's Heating and cooling systems division will have a stand of its own at the most important trade fair for the process industry. In Hall 5.1, Booth B76, trade visitors can experience the "Modular Engineering" principle, according to which LAUDA has been planning and building process cooling units, heat transfer systems and secondary circuit units to meet its customer's precise requirements on a process-oriented, tailor-made, and fully compliant basis for more than 50 years.

LAUDA's comprehensive heating and cooling system product portfolio ranges from monofluid systems down to -150°C with liquid nitrogen, through to molten salt systems for operating temperatures up to 550 °C, from refrigerating machines to fired heaters for services in the MW range, and from single devices through to extensive temperature control concepts for entire production plants.

The European F-gas Regulation is an important topic at ACHEMA. Operators of older refrigeration systems need to ask themselves whether, given the diminishing availability of certain refrigerants, the operation of their plant will remain secure in the future. The construction of new plant will need to cater for future operation using environmentally friendly refrigerants. LAUDA heating and cooling systems are certified according to DIN EN 378 and, thanks to comprehensive compliance with the European F-gas Regulation, ensure the smooth operation of any refrigeration system. LAUDA service engineers will be advising specifically interested trade visitors to ACHEMA on issues such as sustainable retrofitting, the modification of old systems or future-proof planning and implementation of new refrigeration projects.

About LAUDA

We are LAUDA - the world leader in precise temperature control. Our thermostatic circulators and heating and cooling systems are at the heart of many applications. As a complete one-stop supplier we guarantee the optimum temperature in research, production and quality control. We are your reliable partner, particularly in the fields of automotive, chemical/pharma, semiconductor and laboratory/medical technologies. We have been inspiring our customers for more than 60 years with our competent mentoring and innovative, environmentally-friendly concepts - new every day and all over the world.

Fair appearance of the world market leader for temperature control technology inspires with a new brand appearance

At this year's analytica, the International Trade Fair for Laboratory Technology, Analysis and Biotechnology, the world market leader for temperature control technology presents itself for the first time in a new guise. The completely redesigned trade fair appearance is an expression of the new LAUDA Corporate Design. At the trade fair, the company is presenting its portfolio of modern temperature control technology, including the latest circulation thermostats from the PRO line.

In Hall B2, Booth 502, trade visitors will experience ›360° THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF PERFECT TEMPERATURE CONTROL‹ on 108 square meters. Under this title, LAUDA combines all equipment lines from water baths to process thermostats of the Integral XT series. LAUDA presented its comprehensive new brand image at the end of 2017, placing the internationally used degree sign for temperature measurement with a red-blue color gradient at the heart of the brand's presence. The confident claim °FAHRENHEIT. °CELSIUS. °LAUDA conveys that LAUDA is the partner for precise temperature control.

The new brand presentation, which will be presented to the trade public for the first time at analytica 2018, was created in close cooperation with the renowned Munich agency Martin et Karczinski. »The new brand image implements our LAUDA mission statement in a modern, visual form,« explains the President and CEO, Dr. Gunther Wobser. »The logo unambiguously highlights the company's core competence - the development of intelligent and innovative temperature control solutions for virtually every application - and underscores our claim to be the world's leading provider of accurate temperature control with liquids«, Dr. Gunther Wobser continues.

Professional temperature control for a variety of applications

This year special attention will be given to the new PRO cooling circulation thermostats with cooling capacity up to 1.5 kW and temperatures from -90 to 200 °C. The models RP 290 E and RP 290 EC with a cooling capacity of 0.8 kW are ideal for external low-temperature applications. The models RP 250 E and RP 250 EC offer almost doubled cooling capacity with 1.5 kW. Typical applications include the testing of automotive batteries in electromobility and applications in other areas where rapid temperature changes are required. The LAUDA PRO devices all have a detachable control unit in the versions Base or Command Touch. The latter is equipped with a 5.7 inch touchscreen that allows touch, wipe and zoom operation even with gloves.

Another highlight of the LAUDA fair appearance is the LAUDA LOOP. The compact and versatile temperature control unit works completely without any refrigerant. The cooling capacity of 4 to 80 °C is achieved by the circulation thermostat using Peltier technology. Thus, the LOOP is an energy-saving, environmentally friendly addition to the LAUDA portfolio and thanks to its small dimensions, finds its place almost everywhere.

Well prepared for the future

The LAUDA Group generated total sales of around EUR 80 million in the 2017 financial year, with LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG headquartered in Germany alone accounting for EUR 60 million. A total of 430 employees work at the location in Lauda-Königshofen and the twelve foreign subsidiaries.

One topic that the family-owned company is intensively investigating is digitization. »Digitalization is changing people and work alike and will continue to gain momentum with the establishment of Big Data or Artificial Intelligence,« Dr. Gunther Wobser explains. »We want to actively shape the digital transformation in our industry. The newly founded LAUDA Innovation Lab, based in Silicon Valley, will support us in this regard as a source of inspiration from the world's most important location for the IT and high-tech industry.« In order to further advance digitalization within the LAUDA Group, the headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen created an independent digital division at the beginning of the year. This sees the family-owned company well prepared for the digital transformation and the associated challenges.
 

About LAUDA

We are LAUDA - The world leader in precise temperature control. Our constant temperature equipment and heating and cooling systems are at the heart of many applications. As a full-service provider we guarantee the optimum temperature in research, production and quality control. We are the trusted partner, particularly in the fields of automotive, chemical/pharmaceutical, semiconductor and laboratory/medical industries. For over 60 years we have been inspiring our customers with our competent consulting and innovative, environmentally friendly concepts. Every day – globally.

New low temperature circulation thermostats for a maximum cooling capacity of 1.5 kW and temperatures as low as -90 °C

The LAUDA PRO has been inspiring users with specific temperature control requirements since 2016. LAUDA has now extended its PRO portfolio to include two new low temperature circulation thermostats designed for the specific requirements of test benches, reactors, climatic chambers and distillation plants in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, mineral oil, automotive and electrical engineering industry.

With a temperature range of -90 to 200 °C and a cooling capacity of 0.8 kW, the RP 290 E and RP 290 EC low temperature circulation thermostats are ideal as a substitute for dry ice in external low-temperature applications, for monitoring organometallic reactions, for determining pour and cloud points during mineral oil analyses and as a cooling source for Brookfield tests, to name but a few examples. The new RP 250 E and RP 250 EC models offer a cooling capacity of 1.5 kW, almost twice the capacity of the RP 245 (0.8 kW), which was previously the most powerful LAUDA PRO low temperature circulation thermostat – with the same space requirements. They are the first choice for static temperature control tasks that require a high cooling capacity and involve extremely rapid temperature changes within a range of -50 to 200 °C. Typical application areas include reaction monitoring in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries as well as long-term temperature tests, function and stress tests, climate simulations and battery tests in the electric mobility sector. All new devices have a heating output of 2.5 kW. A minimum filling volume of 2.4 liters and an additional expansion volume of two liters serve as a buffer to counteract thermally induced volume expansion, even on larger consumers. The standard use of natural refrigerants and a powerful, adjustable pressure-suction-pump round off the range of technical equipment together with a hybrid cooling system that cools the air of the refrigerating machine and simultaneously allows water cooling to reduce the dissipation of heat into the environment.

All LAUDA PRO devices are fitted with a detachable, intuitively operated control unit: The Base model provides a bright, high-contrast display OLED display with softkeys, while the Command Touch operating unit (all model variants with additional letter ›C‹) offers individual programming, password-protected user management and a USB interface for data exports. The bright 5.7 inch touch screen can even recognize the touch, swipe and zoom gestures of users wearing gloves – a valuable benefit in the laboratory.

About LAUDA

We are LAUDA - The world leader in precise temperature control. Our Constant temperature equipment and Heating and cooling systems are at the heart of many applications. As a full-service provider we guarantee the optimum temperature in research, production and quality control. We are the trusted partner, particularly in the fields of automotive, chemical/pharmaceutical, semiconductor and laboratory/medical industries. For over 60 years we have been inspiring our customers with our competent consulting and innovative, environmentally-friendly concepts, anew every day – globally.

An important milestone for the future

LAUDA is a global leader in precision temperature control in medical technology, material testing, bio-technology, laboratories, research and production. A new corporate design is intended to portray the uncompromising quality and comprehensive expertise of LAUDA all over the world. The company image has been completely overhauled by Munich branding agency Martin et Karczinski adequately to represent LAUDA’s market position, reinforced by outstanding innovation.

The core of the new brand identity is the recently developed word/image logo, together with a new claim. The logo consists of the degree character (°) used internationally for temperature measurements in a red/blue color gradient. The core expertise of the company “Development of closed systems for controlling cold and hot temperatures” is imparted visually and intelligently, and is easy to understand. The new claim, “°FAHRENHEIT. °CELSIUS. °LAUDA.” also reinforces this. In a timeless and confident manner, the message conveys that LAUDA is the partner for precision temperature control thermostating.

In order to ensure a degree of consistency and integrity in all company communication, the new color scheme and visual language are heavily influenced by the word/image logo. Accents in the primary colors of red and blue create an unmistakable tonality for the LAUDA brand, while relevant image content is emphasized with a sharp focus. The new visual language reinforces the brand values: “focused” and “comprehensible”. Noble ice gray in the typography creates a consistent, progressive style.

The new LAUDA corporate design is intended to lay the foundations for a successful future.

The thermoelectric circulation thermostat for quality assurance

The new, innovative LOOP L 250 thermoelectric circulation thermostat by LAUDA is proving its performance as an elegant all-rounder in quality assurance at VACUUBRAND. VACUUBRAND GMBH & CO. KG, from Wertheim, Germany, manufactures the most comprehensive range of vacuum generation, vacuum measurement and vacuum control products worldwide for coarse and fine vacuums in laboratories.

When certain workpieces are measured for dimensional accuracy during quality assurance, the temperature must remain constant to ensure comparability. Since the ambient temperature in the production hall varies considerably at different times of the year, the measuring equipment and workpieces are maintained at a constant temperature of 19 °C on a copper plate with water flowing through it. For this purpose, the LAUDA LOOP L 250 is switched on via an external timer at five am to pre-heat the plate. The device is switched off automatically at six pm. "The LOOP meets our requirements perfectly," says Martin Scheurich, who is responsible for technical services at VACUUBRAND. "It is extremely compact and works without any refrigerant whatsoever – that saves us a lot of technical testing, which would otherwise be necessary". The device is less maintenance-intensive and highly energy-efficient; even though it runs for 13 hours per day." The LAUDA LOOP has been available on the market since spring 2017, making it the most recent product development from LAUDA in Lauda-Königshofen. This external thermostatic circulator was developed for the requirements of modern laboratory work processes: The highly flexible thermoelectric circulation thermostat accurately maintains a constant temperature between 4 and 80 °C. The air-cooled LAUDA LOOP is ideal for laboratories with limited space, thanks to its compact design and low noise emissions, whilst still achieving impressive cooling performance. The smaller version, the L 100, has an output of 120 Watts at 8 kilogram, while the larger L 250 offers 250 Watts at 12 kilogram. With the LAUDA LOOP, LAUDA is the first leading manufacturer of thermostatic circulators to employ Peltier technology without the use of refrigerant. This provides benefits in operation and maintenance, in safety of the work processes and the environment. The LAUDA LOOP is used primarily in laboratory applications in a wide variety of industries: from bio-technology to life sciences, as well as the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, and even production.

About LAUDA

We are LAUDA - The world leader in precise temperature control. Our Constant temperature equipment and Heating and cooling systems are at the heart of many applications. As a full-service provider we guarantee the optimum temperature in research, production and quality control. We are the trusted partner, particularly in the fields of automotive, chemical/pharmaceutical, semiconductor and laboratory/medical industries. For over 60 years we have been inspiring our customers with our competent consulting and innovative, environmentally-friendly concepts, anew every day – globally.

True to the motto of "lifelong learning", the new LAUDA Academy was officially opened in July as part of the annual World Jour Fixe together with the business managers of LAUDA’s twelve foreign subsidiaries and the management and employees of our headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen. In addition to in-house training and customer training, core elements of LAUDA’s new field of activity are cooperation and networking with colleges, universities, associations and other institutions, as well as further exploration of topics such as health, nutrition and work-life balance. "The LAUDA Academy will prepare us to meet future challenges and support us in recognizing your potential," said Dr. Gunther Wobser, managing director of LAUDA – which celebrated its 60-year company anniversary last year – as well as the conceiver and initator for the company’s in-house academy. "The confidence that future issues will present us with more opportunity than uncertainty can only develop if these issues as well as proposed solutions are known," he emphasized in his opening speech. This will be the essential task of the academy, which the managing director also referred to as the cornerstone for future development.

Dr. Gunther Wobser named digitization as a particularly crucial challenge and task in general, and for LAUDA especially. "We live in a time in which digitalization, in particular is changing the world of work and business, reaching into all areas of business with increasingly rapid cycles of change," the managing director explained. This results in all our employees as well as our managers living in a field of tension between "normal terrain" and the challenge of being open to new and ever more rapid developments. There is no alternative to change. Even if this is not easy for some, everyone can manage it. "To do this, we require knowledge and skills," he stressed. The LAUDA Academy aims to not only prepare employees for the future, but also to make the company attractive to prospective employees and future applicants. Through this, the company also displays its intention to develop its role as a world market leader as well as its awareness of its responsibility for the region, emphasized Dr. Gunther Wobser. "The main thing now is to fill the academy with life," he pointed out. It is important to include all levels of the company, as far as possible. A taste of what might be offered under the roof of the LAUDA Academy was, firstly, an informative, exciting and entertainingly pointed lecture by Niels Pflaging, consultant and lecturer, on "Modern forms of organization in companies" and “The future of work". Secondly, a workshop developed together with the Jeunesses Musicales Germany, created a greater awareness and understanding of the interaction of voice and personality. Among other things, this workshop explored the art of self-presentation, for instance through expression and nuances of the voice – whether in discussions with colleagues or in team meetings, conversations with customers or during a presentation in front of an audience. Head of the LAUDA Academy is Matthias Mohr, who was already part of the extended management team at LAUDA as a project manager for LAUDA heating and cooling systems from 2002 to 2012, as well as being the deputy head of the business division of that sector from 2009 to 2012. In concept development and organization, he works closely together with Kirsten Schumacher, who has been working for the company for three years. They have both completed several training and advanced training courses in the fields of coaching, employee development and learning concepts, among others, and have worked extensively in these areas. "Expert knowledge acquired through training, study and professional experience is very often out of date after only a few years," says Matthias Mohr. In addition, organizations and world market leaders such as LAUDA in particular, have to respond and adapt to constantly changing customer requirements and market conditions ever faster and with ever more flexibility. "This is why individual further training and continued learning on the part of the employees is essential," Dr. Gunther Wobser and Matthias Mohr are convinced.

Dr. Ralf Hermann started work as the new General Manager Constant temperature equipment on June 1, 2017 at LAUDA, the global leader in the manufacture of Constant temperature equipment and systems. With his extensive experience and comprehensive specialized knowledge gained from many years in a managerial capacity at Eppendorf AG, as well as his PhD in biology, he will continue to expand the most important Constant temperature equipment sector covering thermostats, circulation chillers, and water baths. He will be leading approximately 80 agencies and coordinating the total of nine sales companies abroad. Dr. Ralf Hermann worked at Eppendorf AG in Hamburg for around 13 years, last acting as the vice president of global marketing and a member of the board of management. Before that, he also held management roles at Qiagen and Sartorius. “We are very excited to have Dr. Ralf Hermann, a proven expert with outstanding experience, join us. Constant temperature equipment is our largest business unit and holds the greatest potential for growth with new equipment. Furthermore, the most recently acquired product groups will need to be integrated into our overall portfolio,” according to Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA.

Heating and cooling up to 550 °C with molten salt

LAUDA, leading manufacturer of Constant temperature equipment and systems worldwide, is now offering temperature control systems that function using liquid salt. The advantages: unique working temperature range up to 550 °C and high operational safety for seamless production processes.

After successful test runs and customer approval in-house at LAUDA, the first high-temperature system to use molten salt as a heat carrier was loaded for transport to the customer's facilities. LAUDA has been designing specialized Heating and cooling systems for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for over 50 years. They provide precise temperature control thermostating for reaction vessels, evaporators, dryers and filters using heat transfer liquids – primarily thermal oil. If extremely high temperatures are required, such as in aluminum oxide or melamine production, lye evaporation, and other high-temperature reactions, molten salt offers some real advantages as a heat carrier compared to thermal oils, which are limited to an operating temperature of around 400 °C. In comparison, the salt mixture used by LAUDA permits temperatures up to 550 °C. They are liquid under operating conditions, have ideal use characteristics, such as low viscosity and high heat capacity, and ensure non-pressurized operation.

The principle of operation: A pump conveys the liquid salt mixture from a heated bottom tank to a heater (either a combustion heater or an electric heater) that heats it to the desired temperature. If necessary, a cooling module can be integrated that will cool the salt mixture down to a temperature just above its solidification point, precisely and to the correct degree. This makes it possible to realize a constant temperature system with a unique working temperature range. When the pump is turned off, the salt mixture automatically drains back into the tank. This prevents solidification in the system and ensures high operational safety.

All LAUDA systems are delivered to the customer as modules, ready to be connected and with a controller included. Extensive tests in the LAUDA testing facility make starting up on-site a quick process, thus reducing standstill times during installation.

About LAUDA

LAUDA is the world's leading manufacturer of constant temperature equipment and applications for research, applications technology and production. Its product range includes Constant temperature equipment, Measuring instruments and Heating and cooling systems. Customers in the medical technology, semiconductor and biotechnology industries, among others, count on the high-quality products made in Lauda-Königshofen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The company, founded in 1956, nowadays has around 430 employees and twelve foreign subsidiaries. With more than 60 years of experience behind it, it offers a unique product range, including compact laboratory thermostats, industrial circulation chillers, and customer-specific heating and cooling systems having over 400 Kilowatts of cooling capacity. As a result, LAUDA is the only company serving more than 10,000 customers worldwide to guarantee optimum temperatures throughout the value added chain. The high-quality products maintain constant temperatures to the nearest five-thousandth °C, or regulate the temperature within a range of -150 to 550°C with a high degree of accuracy. Production processes are accelerated or made possible via active cooling or heating.

Future-oriented innovations for temperature control solutions in Paris

For LAUDA, the world's leading manufacturer of temperature control devices and systems, this year's Forum LABO, which took place in Paris from March 28 to 30, 2017, has been very successful with numerous interesting technical discussions. A very special highlight for the trade visitors was the presentation of LAUDA LOOP, a novel thermoelectric circulation thermostat based on Peltier technology. By means of a current flow, the LAUDA LOOP temperature is generated by semiconductors and can be used for either heating or cooling, simply by reversing the current direction. The air cooled LAUDA LOOP device types L 100 and L 250 are suitable for external applications in a temperature range of 4 to 80 °C. For the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology sector, LAUDA LOOP provides real added value thanks to its compact and space-saving design. LAUDA LOOP can be flexibly used for the temperature control thermostating of refractometers, bioreactors, electrophoresis chambers or for sample preparation. In industrial cooling applications, LAUDA has presented the Ultracool UC Mini compact process circulation chiller for cooling outputs between 2 and 5 kilowatts. The size of the device has been reduced considerably compared to the established previous models. The square design with a side length of only 64 centimeters allows the customer to spatially position the Ultracool UC Mini in a very flexible manner. The impressive product portfolio at the fair was rounded off by the LAUDA PRO product line. For the first time, there are powerful bath thermostats for exact, internal temperature control from -100 to 250 °C and efficient circulating thermostats for dynamic heating and cooling of external applications from -45 to 250 °C. During the three exhibition days in Paris, these new devices also underlined the new benchmark for uncompromising temperature control from LAUDA.

Official opening of the new office building and 60-year company anniversary

There were two occasions at LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO KG in Lauda-Königshofen last Wednesday afternoon at a festive event with a large number of honored guests. On the one hand, a new administration building with offices and conference rooms could be officially opened a mere six months and a few days since the cornerstone was laid at the beginning of March and, on the other hand, the official ceremony formed part of the celebrations to commemorate the company's 60th anniversary.

"We are celebrating 60 years of successful company history. With the dedication of our new office and meeting rooms we are also working to shape our future. To me maintaining a balance between Honoring the achievements up to now while keeping an eye on the future at the same time," emphasized President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser, who was able to welcome a large number of honored guests from business, community and politics. They included such guests as MdB Nina Warken, MdB Alois Gerig, Landrat Reinhard Frank, Bürgermeister Thomas Maertens, Dr. Harald Unkelbach, President of IHK Heilbronn-Franconia, the two executive chairmen of Sparkasse Tauberfranken, Peter Vogel and Wolfgang Reiner, Architect Klaus Schreiner, the managing directors of the Faul and Bethäuser construction company, Herbert Bethäuser and Norbert Groß, former LAUDA managing director and current advisor and shareholder Dr. Gerhard Wobser, former managing director Karlheinz Wobser and shareholder Christine Koschker.

The six-decades of company history did not just have highly successful phases, but it also had difficult ones, admitted Dr. Gunther Wobser. The company faced a crisis in the 1990s due to high investments and dwindling sales. "This experience has humbled us," he emphasized. For this reason, the company has been pursuing the "STEP" site development program for the past ten years, which LAUDA is implementing to modernize step-by-step from the inside out. This includes the now completed new construction, with which the existing administration wing is being expanded by the addition of floors to the production hall built in 2013.

LAUDA is more than just a business enterprise, however; it is also committed to art, emphasized Dr. Gunther Wobser. A total of 124 art exhibits have been put on display since 1995. As a highlight, the president & CEO referred to an exhibit of the internationally renowned Professor Ben Willikens, whom he was also able to welcome to the festive event as an honored guest.

"What does the year 1956 mean to you? was one of the themes based on LAUDA's founding year, which was included in a round of podium discussions with Warken, Gerig, Maertens, Unkelbach and Dr. Gerhard Wobser. "LAUDA is an important part of the hometown and business history of this city and region," emphasized Maertens as an example in the discussion round moderated by Michael Dickescheid, Head of Marketing and Communication at LAUDA.

Unkelbach then awarded an honorary certificate of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) to Dr. Gunther Wobser on the occasion of the anniversary and for the company's special commitment to the economy. Maertens also presented an art gift to Wobser on behalf of the city of Lauda-Königshofen. In turn, Dr. Gerhard Wobser and Karlheinz Wobser were honored by the President & CEO with the first award of the Golden Dr.-Rudolf-Wobser medal, dedicated to the company founder, for their special services in the ongoing expansion of the company, which they took over in 1977, after the sudden death of their company founder and father.

"The sphere of architecture emerges wherever technology is genuinely fulfilled", said architect Klaus Schreiner, quoting the famous architect Mies van der Rohe, since his belief according to this quote applies perfectly to the new LAUDA office building. Schreiner mentioned the construction of around 4000 cubic meters of converted space, and the installation of 38 tons of steel components, 800 square meters of concrete flooring, and 850 square meters of glass facade surface with internal solar protection as examples of the building's technical data.

Towards the end of the festivities, the new building wing was formally blessed by the two clergymen Stefan Märkl and Volker Lenz. "I am proud to be able to be here at LAUDA", emphasized Dr. Marc Stricker in his closing words.

The festive event was musically framed by the fascinating and enthralling beat-boxing, sound effects and vocal acrobatics of "Robeat“" alias Robert Wolf from Stuttgart.

Following the celebration, LAUDA officially opened its third "Worldmeeting" in the Lauda vineyard on Wednesday evening with employees from both the headquarters in Lauda and the international LAUDA subsidiaries. As part of this multi-day meeting, the agenda included such activities as a company tour with all of the foreign guests and a large internal celebration of the 60th company anniversary on Thursday evening in the Lauda City Hall.

As a further and final highlight of its 60-year enterprise, LAUDA will be holding an open house on Sunday, 9 October, 2016 from 10 am to 5 pm, to which all interested citizens are invited. A company tour will provide the visitors with insight in the production and working world of the global market leader. The opportunity will also be offered to view the new administration wing with offices and conference rooms.

The LAUDA Group in facts and figures

• The temperature specialist LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG was founded on March 1, 1956 by Dr. Rudolf Wobser in Lauda, as a measuring device factory.
• Today, the company is the world's leading manufacturer of innovative constant temperature equipment
  and installations for research, application technology and production, and high-quality measuring devices.
• With more than 60 years of experience and the unique product range of compact laboratory thermostats, via industrial circulation chillers up to customer-specific projected heating and cooling systems, having more than 400 Kilowatt cooling capacity mean that LAUDA is the only company that can guarantee their customers (numbering more than 10,000 worldwide), the optimum temperature throughout the added value chain.
• At the current time, around 420 staff are employed by the company, together with its twelve foreign companies, and around 320 of them are located in the headquarters in Lauda.
• Group sales amount to around 70 million Euros.

The full spectrum of LAUDA product lines in one brochure

The new complete LAUDA brochure for thermostats, circulation chillers and water baths for 2016/2017 is now available. Its 120 pages provide readers with information and technical data on all LAUDA temperature control devices. The full spectrum of LAUDA product lines is illustrated and described in detail with informative images, graphics and diagrams. The compact layout of the brochure makes it easy to find the information you need. The clearly structured page layout makes it even easier to choose the right device. The technical descriptions are rounded off with an overview of the main temperature control-related terms and their definitions. The brochure is available in German, English, French and Spanish. Additional language versions in Russian and Chinese are available in a digital format. To complement this brochure, there is also a new LAUDA brochure for heat transfer liquids for thermostats, circulation chillers and water baths. Users can choose the right heat transfer liquid from a range of 16 products. The new brochures are free and can be requested directly from LAUDA at sales-cte@lauda.de.

LAUDA Heating and cooling systems designs heat transfer systems for temperature control of liquid water up to 230 °C

LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems has received a special type of order from Max-Planck-Institute of Plasma Physics. The Institute of Garching, which is engaged in the basic research for fusion power plants, plans for a future power plant to allow hydrogen atoms to fuse into helium - a similar process as produces solar energy. For the temperature control of tungsten bricks, which are needed as an energy absorber in diverters of fusion reactors, the temperature specialist LAUDA was commissioned to develop a heat transfer system for use at the ASDEX Upgrade [Axially Symmetric Diverter Experiment] experiment in Garching. The unusual thing about this system: The heat carrier used is fully de-ionized (DI) water, and the temperature range of the system is between 20 and 230 °C - which requires a resistance to high pressures. This requirement had to be carefully considered in the planning of all components in regard to materials and properties.

A significant advantage of LAUDA heat transfer units of the ITH series lies in their modularity. The system consists of replaceable individual components such as radiators, circulation pumps, expansion tanks, and additional heat exchanger modules. For system, as an example, a tubular heat exchanger was used. The air flowing through the cylinder medium is at 20 °C here; the hot water flowing through the pipes is up to 230 °C. A further technical challenge was the need for the components to resist the high nominal pressure of PN 63. For example, the pump has to compensate for high pressure drops in the system at a lifting height of 175 meters at 20 °C. There are three different operating modes: The high pressure region works with 32 bar in the temperature range of 20 to 230 °C. Low pressure of 10 bar is possible in the range of 20 to 150 °C. Each circuit is monitored with various safety components. A third possibility is a cold-drive without pressure in the temperature range of 20 to 70 °C. This mode is necessary for filling of the system and for complete water deionization as well.

The open communication between the Max-Planck-Institute and LAUDA was of particular importance, due to the specific technical requirements. An illustration of the complex system in 3D simplified communication enormously in terms of plant layout and future maintenance. Before delivery, the system was tested in the LAUDA test area in the presence of the customer. Included in the scope is the functional testing of all components and settings, heat carrier pressure and leakage tests, cabinet tests, and control accuracy. During the FAT (Factory Acceptance Test), a first test was carried out successfully, directly according to customer parameters.

Karlheinz Wobser, who is well known throughout the region as the long-serving former President & CEO of LAUDA and for his service to the community, celebrates his 80th birthday this Tuesday.

Karlheinz Wobser was born in Dresden on 28 June 1936 as the first child of Dr. Rudolf Wobser and Dorothea Wobser, née Nitzki. In 1942, the 4th year of the war, he started school in Medingen around 20 kilometers away, where his father had been given the task of setting up an apparatus engineering department in the Medingen testing instrument factory. Wobser frequently had to throw himself into the roadside ditch to evade attacks from low-flying aircraft on his way to school, a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometers. The night of 13 February 1945, when Dresden was reduced to ash and rubble, was a traumatic experience. The communist-dominated school system in the Soviet-occupied zone after the end of the war in 1945 also made its mark on the education of the young Karlheinz, who stayed at Medingen elementary school until 1950, learned Russian and was a "Young Pioneer". He passed the Abitur (high-school diploma) at Dresden-Süd high school in 1954. Like most others, Wobser was also a member of the so-called "Free German Youth (FDJ)" and the "Sport and Technology Association (GST)". He studied mechanical engineering at Dresden Technical University from the fall of 1954, specializing in precision mechanics. During an internship semester, Wobser learnt practical skills at the Medingen testing instrument factory, amongst other places.

In May 1955, his parents took the decision to leave the GDR, since the political pressure on his father had been steadily increasing. During an internship in Berlin-Teltow organized especially for this reason, he managed to take a total of 13 suitcases to relatives in the west of Berlin, which had not yet been divided by a wall. The Wobser family escaped to West Berlin in August 1955 and took a flight to Frankfurt-on-Main one month later. The family found accommodation in Schwenningen on the Neckar for a while. Karlheinz Wobser worked as a mechanic in the Wigo factory in Schwenningen until March 1956, whereas the rest of family had moved to Burlafingen near Neu-Ulm in the meantime. During this time, his father was on a nationwide search for investors and had found a site and potential customers for his own company and met with interest from the city government of Lauda as well as the factory owners Erich Widmann and his friend Paul Hagspiel. The measuring instrument factory of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER KG, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, was founded on 1 March 1956.

In the meantime, Karlheinz Wobser was threatened with deportation back to the GDR after the failure of his admission proceedings for the Federal Republic of Germany. However, he obtained an identity card, and therefore Federal German citizenship, more or less by chance several years later. The foregoing uncertainties were a major reason why Wobser did not resume his studies. Nevertheless, he played a key role in the development of the new LAUDA measuring instrument factory of his father. As one of the first employees, he learned the theoretical and technical basis of refrigeration engineering, amongst other things. The fact that low-temperature thermostats from LAUDA gained an excellent reputation throughout the world in the years that followed is mainly down to Karlheinz Wobser.

Karlheinz Wobser met his future wife, Gudrun Schüssler from Tauberbischofsheim, in January 1957. The wedding took place four years later in October 1961. They had three children, Andrea (1962), Gabriele (1963) and Ulrike (1964). All three daughters have their own families and children in the meantime. In addition to this, two of his daughters work at the company. A continuous upward trend now began for the young company with a newly developed and revolutionary program, more and more employees were taken on and new construction was followed by new construction. Wobser was the technical director of the company from 1957 to 1977. When the company founder, Dr. Rudolf Wobser, died on 17 June 1977 at the age of only 66 after a short serious illness, his two sons, Karlheinz Wobser and Dr. Gerhard Wobser, became managing directors of the LAUDA company. Karlheinz Wobser retired at the end of 2002. His nephew, Dr. Gunther Wobser, who currently runs the family-owned company in the third generation, was appointed as the new President & CEO. He ran the company together with his father, Dr. Gerhard Wobser, until 2010, when the latter also retired after 39 years.

Apart from his work and family, numerous honorary activities have shaped the life of Karlheinz Wobser. He was member of the executive committee of the Sparkasse Tauberfranken bank from 1985 to 2008, a lay commercial judge of the Chamber for Commercial Affairs at Mosbach Regional Court from 1996 to 2004 and a member of the Representatives' Assembly of the AOK health insurance provider for many years. He is also a member of several clubs in Lauda and has done a great deal for the Lauda tennis club and the Bauland aviation sports club as a long-standing committee member. He has been a member of the Glashofen-Neusaß golf club near Walldürn for several years. Apart from playing golf, other hobbies of the birthday boy include traveling, e.g. river cruises, playing the accordion and keyboards, the upkeep of his koi fish ponds, sports boating on the lakes of Mecklenburg, especially with his four grandchildren, as well as painting, which he took up recently. He celebrated his golden wedding anniversary with his wife Gudrun five years ago.

Wobser followed the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche in his hometown of Dresden with great interest and made substantial donations to the friends' association, of which he is still a member. As a result, Wobser was also a guest at the dedication ceremony of the Dresden Frauenkirche in October 2005. "Despite all the difficulties, my childhood in Medingen was a happy time, even if it has been romanticized by memory", says Wobser, who continues to maintain contact not only with his old home but also with old school friends after he had great pleasure in attending the first class reunion in the fall of 1985, i.e. still during the time of the GDR. "Live and let live” is a key guiding principle for Wobser, which has him helped in the eight decades of his life and has always been very important to him.

Best future prospects for the world leading manufacturer of Constant temperature equipment and systems

The international business leaders of what are meanwhile twelve foreign corporations already met last week at the fourth LAUDA World Jour Fixe, the annual management meeting. Together with the German management team in the headquarters in Lauda-Königshofen, the participants presented and discussed both the former business developments and also comprehensive future projects. The extensive exchange of information here also served to particularly intensify the collaboration with the foreign corporations active in the world market and included workshops to bring new topics from the areas of sales and marketing communication onto the comprehensive agenda.

"An intensive and trustful communication culture at all levels is one of the LAUDA key success factors, which we place great value on. This annual event provides solid evidence of this. In this, our 60th anniversary year, we can even expand our international network further with two new foreign corporations in Brazil and Spain and emphasize our leading position in the world market. We see ourselves as well prepared for the future and will also keep doing everything possible to continue our successful path," explains Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO at LAUDA.

An evening meal in the stylish ambient of the vineyard, the opening of the new art exhibit at the LAUDA factory gallery, and the joint visit to the drupa, the world's largest professional trade show for printing media in Düsseldorf, successfully rounded out this effective and intensive work week.

Global market leader impresses with innovative lab equipment in Munich

The 25th analytica trade show in Munich was a complete success for LAUDA. The global market leader recorded a more than 30 percent increase of visitor's to its booth this year than two years ago. Analytica is the leading international trade show for the lab technology, analytics and biotechnology industry. The overall number of visitors to the trade show remained the same.

LAUDA specializes in temperature control technology and showcased, across its roughly 110 square meter booth, the new bath and circulation thermostats from the LAUDA PRO product line as well as the LAUDA Loop, a thermo-electric circulation thermostat based on energy-efficient Peltier technology. To truly do justice to its innovations and its application potential, rotating presentation screens and special lighting effects were used. The company’s subsidiary LAUDA Scientific was also represented for the first time at analytica with its own booth. There, it unveiled a new and innovative measuring instrument that’s attracting a lot of attention.

“The constant crowd of visitors at the booth during all four days of the trade show demonstrated impressively that through our pioneering spirit in instrument development, we can inspire our industry visitors again and again, especially in this 60th anniversary year since our founding. In addition to the high number of visitors to our booth, even the quality of the conversations that took place was a clear indication that we are well-positioned for the future in terms of our instrument product lines,” says Dr. Gunther Wobser, President and CEO of LAUDA.

LAUDA underlines its global expertise

This year at the 25th International Trade Fair for Laboratory Technology, Analysis and Biotechnology in Munich, global market leader LAUDA presented a host of new products and features for temperature control in laboratories and pilot plants. Over an area of 108 square meters in hall B2 / stand 502, LAUDA showed trade visitors innovative temperature control technology such as the new bath and circulation thermostats from the LAUDA PRO product line and the compact Ultracool Mini circulation chiller series. With the presentation of the new LAUDA Loop, a thermoelectric circulation thermostat based on energy-efficient Peltier technology, LAUDA has demonstrated its innovative strength and pioneering spirit in meeting the challenges faced in manufacturing the perfect temperature control solution. In hall A2 / stand 427, subsidiary LAUDA Scientific made its debut appearance at analytica with a separate exhibition stand. During the “analytica Live Lab Show”, daily live demonstrations on the subject of solution viscosity and polymer analysis emphasized the application spectrum and possibilities of the Measuring instruments.

Optimized to meet user requirements

As a general rule, customers only have to manage either internal or external applications in practice. In order to cover both application areas adequately, some compromises in the selection and arrangement of components are usually unavoidable. “This does not happen with the new LAUDA PRO product line because LAUDA focuses uncompromisingly on ensuring that the specific individual requirements of users are met with a high degree of flexibility in internal temperature control and high efficiency in external applications”, explains Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA. Powerful bath thermostats for precision internal temperature control from -100 to 250 °C and efficient circulation thermostats for dynamic heating and cooling of external applications from -45 to 250 °C underscore the orientation of the LAUDA PRO product line to both applications. Three high-temperature and six low-temperature bath thermostats with different bath volumes of 10, 20 and 30 liters are available for internal temperature control. All devices guarantee a high level of temperature stability and homogeneity. One heating circulation thermostat and two cooling circulation thermostats offer impressive efficiency for external applications. Extremely low filling volume combined with a powerful vario flex pump facilitate dynamic temperature control with minimum energy consumption. A convenient operating concept and a display that rotates 360 degrees and can be detached allow the user to select between the “Base” and “Command Touch” variants. The LAUDA PRO is easy to operate at the push of a button on the “Base” operating unit. The user always has a clear overview of the most important parameters on the bright OLED display. Even more convenience is offered by the “Command Touch” operating unit, with its large, versatile color multi-touch screen.

Compact cooling

LAUDA has developed the new Ultracool UC Mini compact process circulation chiller for cooling outputs between 2 and 5 kilowatts in industrial cooling applications. The size of the device has been reduced considerably compared to the established previous models. The square design and a lateral length of only 640 millimeters make the device easy and flexible to position. “Floor space costs money that users would rather spend on implementing their applications. We therefore always focus on optimizing the device geometry for industrial applications”, highlights Managing Director Dr. Marc Stricker. The UC 2, UC 3 and UC 4 variants of the process circulation chiller operate within a temperature range between -5 and 25 °C. The chiller can be operated safely and reliable at ambient temperatures of 0 to 50 °C. One completely new feature is the option of installing the circulation chiller outdoors at ambient temperatures of up to -15 °C.

Energy-efficient Peltier technology

One addition to the LAUDA product range is the new LAUDA Loop thermoelectric circulation thermostat based on Peltier technology, which generates temperature by passing a current through semiconductors. The LAUDA Loop is suitable for external applications with a temperature range of 5 to 50 °C. The user can set the device to heat or cool simply by reversing the polarity of the current direction. Measuring only 301 millimeters high and 146 millimeters wide, the new LAUDA Loop has a modern design and is extremely compact. The thermoelectric circulation thermostat was designed for controlling the temperature on refractometers, polarimeters and electrophoresis units as well as for the preparation of test specimens.

Precision and reliability for more than 60 years

Global market leader LAUDA considers the 25th analytica exhibition in Munich an important meeting point for representatives from the international laboratory technology, analysis and biotechnology industries. Founded 60 years ago in Lauda-Königshofen, the global company now operates twelve overseas subsidiaries and is a recognized pioneer in the branch of temperature control technology.

Philipp Neumann Dipl.Ing (FH) has taken over the Sales management of the Measuring instruments of LAUDA Scientific GmbH, a subsidiary of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG since the 1st April 2016. He replaces the long-term Sales manager, Dr. Armin Hofmann, who has since taken retirement.

Philipp Neumann was employed by LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG as Sales manager for Asia/Middle East from 2009, and was primarily responsible for the LAUDA Constant temperature equipment. He moved to the subsidiary in August last year, in order to work hand-in-hand with Dr. Hofmann during the transition period.

LAUDA Scientific develops, manufactures and distributes devices for determining the viscosity, surface tension and interfacial tension of polymer solutions, oils and tensides. For example, the Duo.Visc double Ubbelohde viscometer can be used to carry out two independent viscosity measurements in separately controlled thermostat vessels, with a very small footprint and thermally insulated baths, or the boundary stress and surface tension can be determined on-site without the need for a computer using the TD4 automatic tensiometer.

Restructuring of the international sales network and the development of new markets will enable LAUDA Scientific GmbH to meet the future challenges of a global market and to support its customers in satisfying the ever-growing demands.

Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of the family-owned LAUDA company, adds: “Philipp Neumann is a member of staff who is very familiar with Measuring instruments and we are pleased that we have been able to acquire his services for our new subsidiary.”

There were two occasions for particular enjoyment at LAUDA in just one week. After the company was able to celebrate its 60-year existence with the entire staff on March 1, 2016, a groundbreaking ceremony followed two days later for a new administration building with offices and conference rooms.

The new construction expands on the existing administrative wing by adding on to the production hall which was newly built in 2013. "The groundbreaking and expansion must be seen in the context of our own site development program "STEP", explained President & CEO Dr. Gunther Wobser and COO Dr. Marc Stricker on the occasion of the official groundbreaking ceremony attended by a large number of invited guests, including Mayor Thomas Maertens, Architect Klaus Schreiner, the Managing Directors of the Faul und Bethäuser construction company, Herbert Bethäuser and Norbert Groß, Elmar Löffler, Regional Director of Sparkasse Tauberfranken, and LAUDA Advisor and Shareholder Dr. Gerhard Wobser and Shareholder Christine Koschker.

LAUDA has been using "STEP" to gradually modernize from the inside out for around ten years already. This has included such things as a reorganization of the logistics and production processes of high-quality devices and systems to enable the company to remain a world market leader at optimal costs in the future. As a first step, a newly built production hall for heating and cooling systems was officially opened in September, 2008. Following the strengthening of pre-existing areas, particularly the premises of the former powder coating system, the next step was the construction of a new logistics center and the new "B 11" production hall, including a connecting structure between them, completed from December 2011 to December 2013 on a surface area totaling around 2800 square meters.

"We have considered again and again just how boldly we should build", continues Dr. Gunther Wobser. More than ten million euros were invested in the course of a decade for the aforementioned "STEP" actions. The company is increasingly facing cramped conditions with the future new construction of offices and meeting and seminar rooms. "Innovative ideas and creativity require a pleasant and suitable atmosphere", explains the President & CEO with confidence. In addition to this, a laboratory is being set up in the building to enable such activities as the presentation of current new developments and innovations to customers. The new construction project also completed the final "STEP" action. In summary, Dr. Gunther Wobser emphasizes "With our development program in the past ten years, we have already set the pace for a continuing modern, efficient, and sustainable company site in Lauda-Königshofen."

According to Dr. Gunther Wobser in consultation with the architect and the contracted construction company, the architecturally attractive new construction with two building units on the roof of production hall "B11" is set for completion by September 2016. "Just in time for the official large celebration of our 60-year company anniversary in mid September and for our Open House for the public in October", pointed out the President & CEO with optimism, especially since the planning by Architect Schreiner has already been completed and the required building permits from the city of Lauda-Königshofen obtained. At the same time, Dr. Gunther Wobser thanked all of the players of participating companies, the city, and the company shareholders for their excellent and efficient collaboration.

"When LAUDA builds, this is a very important event for the city of Lauda-Königshofen", states Mayor Thomas Maertens with pleasure. "Those who invest so boldly demonstrate their confidence in the future", additionally emphasizes the Mayor. Concurring with Dr. Gunther Wobser, he also pointed out that the time for building investments is very favorable due to the continuing low interest rates. The fact that the Heilbronn-Franconia region is among the particularly dynamic and successful regions in Baden-Württemberg, can be particularly attributed to the many growing mid-sized companies and world market leaders such as Lauda. "We congratulate you on this decision and are proud to have this company in our city," emphasized Maertens in conclusion.

The new LAUDA PRO bath and circulation thermostats

Correct temperature control is a critical requirement for countless applications in research laboratories and industrial production. Progressive technical development is exponentially increasing the demands placed upon temperature control technology. Demand for universal devices is quickly giving way to the need for solutions to specific challenges. With the market introduction of the new product line of bath and circulation thermostats, LAUDA PRO, the worldwide leading manufacturer of constant temperature equipment and systems once again proves its ability to innovate while simultaneously meeting growing market demand for individual products and more variety.

Powerful bath thermostats for precise internal temperature control from -100 to 250 °C and efficient circulation thermostats for dynamic heating and cooling of external applications from -45 to 250 °C underscore the orientation of the LAUDA PRO product line to a wide variety of applications. Three high-temperature and six low-temperature thermostats with different bath volumes of 10, 20 and 30 liters are available for internal temperature control. All devices guarantee the highest level of temperature stability and homogeneity. One heating circulation thermostat and two cooling circulation thermostats ensure 100 percent efficiency in external applications. Extremely low filling volume combined with a powerful vario flex pump facilitate dynamic temperature control with minimum energy consumption.

The operating concept also allows for individuality in a big way. The user may select between two completely redesigned LAUDA PRO control units. The Base model option provides the user with all of the important parameters on an ultra-bright and high contrast OLED display. Individual program items are easy to control using softkeys and cursor. Five available languages (English, German, French, Spanish and Italian) and clear menu guidance enable the intuitive and confident operation of the Base control unit. The functionality of a second model developed by LAUDA, the Command Touch operating unit, is even more user-friendly and comprehensive. The Command Touch model is equipped with a large and brilliant 5.7” multi-touch screen and provides the option to individually organize the menue icons. This makes it possible for the user to structure the control menu according to individual and very specific requirements. Other benefits include a zoomable graphics display and eight languages in total (the Command Touch control unit additionally offers menu guidance in Chinese, Japanese and Russian). Setpoints and actual values of key parameters are clearly displayed on the screen. Swipe and zoom features make the visualization of temperature profiles and individual parameters easy. The popular smartphone “finger touch principle” even works with lab-gloves, a special comfort appreciated by lab professionals.

Whether the Base or Command Touch model, both operating consoles are removable and provide users with flexibility in terms of device positioning and control. An optional cable length of up to 50 meters provides an extremely high degree of flexibility for the set-up of LAUDA PRO devices.

Environmental awareness also played a role in the development of the new product line. All cooling circulation thermostats purchased in the European Union and Switzerland are supplied with natural refrigerants. This makes the new LAUDA PRO bath and circulation thermostats the new standard for temperature control without compromise.