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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.«