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In October 2021, the Board of Directors of HOERBIGER appointed Dr. Thorsten Kahlert as CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board. Now, three years later, it is the right time for him to review and reflect on the path he has taken so far.
When it comes to talent acquisition, many mid-sized companies face the challenge of competing with large, globally renowned corporations. HOERBIGER is no exception. As a hidden champion in niche markets, the company must work extra hard to capture the attention of top talent. But once you’ve made it to HOERBIGER, you will quickly notice that things are different here.
Philipp Baldermann studied Design at the HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd and later founded his own consulting company. He then worked for a mid-sized company in marketing, sales and IT. He joined HOERBIGER in 2015 and has managed the Flow & Motion Control market segment in the Compression Division since 2019. Since 2023 he has been a member of the global management team in the Compression Division.
The emDOC electromagnetic dog clutch by HOERBIGER integrates the benefits of a mechanical clutch with the precision of an advanced electromagnetic actuator, enhanced by a position sensor. This intelligent three-in-one solution delivers wear-free actuation while optimizing space, weight, and cost efficiency.
HOERBIGER is driving forward the development of hydrogen refueling technology with its Refueling Data Interface (RDI), which reduces refueling times by up to 90%. Going further, the upcoming Vehicle Station Communication Interface (VSCI) aims to standardize the refueling process for medium and heavy-duty vehicles and contribute to the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure.
... actually work?
In 2008, Deublin Company, a member of the HOERBIGER Group, launched its own slip ring development, design, and production line. Slip rings are essential components in an increasingly electrified world. They allow electrical energy, analog signals and digital data to be exchanged continuously between a stationary source and a rotating machine. But how does this actually work? Erich Loacker, Director of Slip Rings at Deublin, explains.
With the Hydrogen Compressor Package 500, HOERBIGER, together with its partners, is setting new standards in the hydrogen economy. This innovative compressor system supports the development of a clean infrastructure and accelerates the shift towards emission-free mobility.
An underestimated danger and how we prevent them.
HOERBIGER is committed to setting the bar high with its products and services. The fact that this commitment becomes reality time and time again is proven by the use of HOERBIGER components in space.
In our digitally networked world, you might think that closeness is becoming less important in business. Physical closeness might seem to be a relic from a time when sales and service employees still had to travel to reach their customers.
HOERBIGER generated sales of 1.416 billion euros in the past fiscal year and has thus grown profitably for three consecutive years. This success confirms the strategic course the company has taken and motivates the 6,174 employees around the world to rigorously pursue their growth ambitions.
Dr. Bernhard Spiegl has been researching and developing at HOERBIGER since 2001. In 2023, he was appointed CTO and Head of Innovation & Technology of the HOERBIGER Group. Spiegl is overseeing innovation across the Group, as well as group-wide technological collaboration and the expansion and intensification of partnerships with external research institutions.
The energy transition and the fight against climate change have significantly boosted the battery market in recent years. Vehicle batteries for e-mobility and stationary energy storage solutions, known as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), are experiencing rapid growth. These technologies are essential for a sustainable energy future and offer immense economic opportunities. The high growth potential makes the market both attractive and competitive. HOERBIGER is capitalizing on these opportunities with innovative and performance-defining battery components.
...actually work?
HOERBIGER has been manufacturing high-precision piezo valves for demanding applications for over 30 years and is still constantly improving them. But how do these tiny switching controllers actually work? Philipp Baldermann, Head of the Flow & Motion Control Business Unit in Altenstadt, explains.
Innovative sealing system for reciprocating compressors enables high CO2 savings.
Marine engines that burn fuels with a low flash point pose a potential explosion risk within the exhaust system.
Hanns Hörbiger laid the foundation for today’s HOERBIGER Group in 1895 with the invention of the steel plate valve. The Hörbiger family of entrepreneurs not only contributed to the development of the Group, but also influenced societal, social and cultural development on many other levels.
Dr. Martin Komischke, President of the Board of Directors of HOERBIGER Holding AG, looks back on the past fiscal year with great satisfaction. In this interview, he explains why he is convinced that the HOERBIGER team will be able to continue the planned profitable growth in the future despite difficult conditions.
Dr. Thorsten Kahlert, CEO and Chairman of the HOERBIGER Executive Board, wants to continue driving the transformation of the Group together with the 6,174 employees on an equal footing. The profitable growth in the past year, progress in innovation projects and the noticeable change in the corporate culture are an ideal basis for this.
As President of the Board of Trustees of the HOERBIGER Foundation, the majority shareholder of the Group, Dr. Andreas Hünerwadel is responsible for the long-term preservation and expansion of HOERBIGER. In this interview, he explains how the Foundation promotes research in the Group companies and why he, together with family shareholder Mrs. Christiana Hörbiger, is committed to the company’s nearly 130-year history.
The HOERBIGER Group’s focus is and remains profitable growth in promising niche markets. With our performance-defining solutions and our passion for innovation, we support customers from various industries in increasing the performance, efficiency and safety of their products and operations as well as saving energy and reducing emissions. In this way, we contribute to change for a better tomorrow while ensuring HOERBIGER’s long-term prosperity.
To implement our strategy, we also need to work on our culture. After all, people and success are inextricably linked. Every Division and Business Unit at HOERBIGER is characterized by people who are ambitious and entrepreneurial. Together, they single-mindedly pursue the strategy of the HOERBIGER Group and contribute significantly to its success. A common understanding of values, expectations and desired behavior is a central prerequisite for responsible action.
The Compression Division recorded a significant increase in sales in 2023 and secured its leading global position in compressor service. A new plant in China and new service locations in Saudi Arabia and the USA are supporting global expansion. Rapid progress is also being made in the field of hydrogen mobility.
The Automotive Division is back on the road to success. Consistent cost management, structural measures, operational excellence, the joint bearing of material and energy cost increases, and price adjustments with customers have all improved profitability.
The Rotary Business Unit successfully continued its profitable expansion in 2023. Although the Unit suffered a decline in sales due to the volatility of the semiconductor industry, normalization of the market since the end of 2023 gives Rotary confidence that it will return to its growth path in 2024.
With growth of 21.6 percent, the Engine Business Unit was able to continue the positive trend of previous years and can look back on a strong financial year. This is due to the surprising revival of the oil and gas industry and significant progress in innovation, particularly in the field of hydrogen.
Continuing its strategy of bringing value to customers with product innovation, global expertise, local support and increased competitiveness through operational excellence, the Safety Business Unit generated strong sales and profit growth in 2023. Safety is also expected to grow further in 2024.
By promoting a Group-wide culture of innovation and providing customized development opportunities for both experienced and new employees, HOERBIGER is making itself fit for the future.
As a foundation-owned, internationally operating technology group, HOERBIGER has a long tradition of ecological and social commitment. In the course of advancing standardization in the area of sustainability management, the company has made further progress and has committed to being climate-neutral along the entire value chain by 2039.
The increasing demand for clean and sustainable energy has shifted the focus to hydrogen as a key component for a green future. Hydrogen, for example, is of central importance in efforts to decarbonize industrial applications. In addition to established battery technology, hydrogen engines and hydrogen fuel cells could also play a decisive role in emissions-free mobility.
Agnieszka Zając has been managing the HOERBIGER plant in Bolesławiec since 2015, where 250 employees manufacture performance-determining products for various HOERBIGER divisions. Her focus is on close customer relationships and a culture in which everyone works toward a common goal.
...actually work?
Deublin, the world’s leading provider of rotary unions and part of the HOERBIGER family since 2019, has revolutionized the functionality and performance of rotating systems with its products. Frank Reimold, member of Deublin’s global leadership team and managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, explains what a rotary union is and how it works.
HOERBIGER Corporation of America (HCA) is celebrating its 60th birthday in 2023. Founded in a small suburb of New York City, today the company has more than 300 employees who ensure that the HOERBIGER brand is regarded as a seal of quality and excellence in North America.
Johannes Weinert works on artificial intelligence (AI) in the automotive sector. His goal: to use innovative AI solutions to make production processes holistically more profitable and so increase both the quality and the sustainability of the products.
As a long-standing, successful family-owned company and with a foundation as its majority owner, HOERBIGER has a corporate culture that has always included long-term thinking. Sustainable management and future viability are central goals of the Group strategy. This applies not only to the company itself, but especially to solutions that HOERBIGER uses to enable its customers to run their operations in a more environmentally friendly manner.
Arek Dyrdol heads HOERBIGER Corporation of America since December 2020 and is responsible for the North America region at HOERBIGER. On the occasion of HCA's 60th anniversary, we spoke with him about the recipes for long-term success and the company's plans for the future.
In 1982, Martina Hörbiger established the HOERBIGER Foundation in Switzerland with the aim of preserving HOERBIGER’s independence and entrepreneurial legacy beyond her death.
HOERBIGER has been a global player from its very beginnings. Industry leaders around the globe quickly recognized the groundbreaking benefits of Hanns Hörbiger’s steel plate valve, and the company’s founder granted international licenses for the use of this key technology as early as the beginning of the last century.
Iris Schierhuber joined HOERBIGER in May 2022 after holding various positions in international human resources (HR) management. She is responsible for People & Culture in the Compression Division and is a member of the global P&C Leadership Team.
With its automation solutions, the German WEISS Group is one of the world’s leading system suppliers to the automotive industry, mechanical and plant engineering, life sciences and electronics. Its North American subsidiary, based in Willoughby, Ohio, USA, was looking for a reliable, easy-to-install electrical slip ring for car body production tables. WEISS engineers found what they were looking for at Deublin, a HOERBIGER company.
As renewable energy sources become increasingly important, battery energy storage systems provide a stable power supply, mostly using lithium-ion battery technology. The solutions offered by HOERBIGER’s Safety Business Unit protect people and the environment while complying with the associated regulations.
For optimum offroad capability, a German sports car manufacturer relies on a chassis height adjustment system from HOERBIGER for its “Dakar” limited-edition model. HOERBIGER technology makes the car just as dynamic on bumpy sand and gravel roads as on the racetrack.
A new plant currently being built in Changzhou will unite the production of the HOERBIGER Compression Division and the Safety Business Unit in China under one roof, starting in 2024.
Growth. A term that has once again become a persistent topic of discussion in the media – generally as something to be concerned about. High inflation, rising interest rates and a difficult geopolitical situation are slowing economic growth, we read everywhere. “The World Bank lowers its global growth forecast and warns of a possible recession,” claims another headline. And just at this time HOERBIGER is proclaiming a phase of growth – how does that fit together?
In the 2022 fiscal year, the HOERBIGER Group succeeded in achieving the highest sales in the company’s history despite a challenging economic environment. Now the company is setting its course for the future.
Dr. Martin Komischke, President of the Board of Directors of HOERBIGER Holding AG, has been intimately familiar with the HOERBIGER Group for three decades – twelve years of these from the perspective of CEO. During the interview, he rates the past fiscal year, describes – from his perspective – the most important success factors for the future, and ventures a business outlook for 2023. Personally, he has set important goals for himself for the coming years.
2022 marked the first full year for Dr. Thorsten Kahlert as CEO and Chairman of the HOERBIGER Executive Board. In this interview, he provides more in-depth insights about the past fiscal year and speaks about the criteria of future growth that are important to him, about innovation as a growth driver, and why he and his colleagues on the Executive Board are convinced that now is the right time to reinvent HOERBIGER in many areas.
Despite a precarious worldwide situation, the Compression Division reported a great fiscal year. Thanks to the employees’ technical expertise and a strong focus on the customer in a difficult environment, the Division successfully grew again and developed new markets.
…HOERBIGER provides electricity and heat to more than 100 million North American homes?
In 2022, the Automotive Division not only struggled with difficult market conditions, but also faced the largest structural transformation in automotive history. The track for tomorrow’s mobility must be set up today.
…one in four cars is on the road thanks to key components from HOERBIGER?
The Rotary Business Unit laid the foundations for another year of growth with technological enhancements, strengthened customer relationships and key positions strategically filled by internal talent.
…HOERBIGER ensures that one million people can read the New York Times on weekends?
The business of ignition and control systems, valves, and injectors for gas engines has regained its prior strength in the last two years and thanks to the hydrogen trend is now in pole position to put the fuel of the future on the road.
…HOERBIGER ensures safety on board on all seven seas?
With planned product innovations, improved process flows in the value chain and successful M&A activities, the Safety Business Unit generated successful sales and profit growth in 2022. Safety is also expected to grow further in 2023.
…HOERBIGER helps premature babies take a step into life?
Dr. Andreas Hünerwadel has been a Member of the Board of Trustees of the HOERBIGER Foundation since 2009, and its President since 2016. In this interview he explains why, to him, HOERBIGER remains a family business, what influence values and culture have on the success of a company, what the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are – and why he is setting goals for himself for the next few years as President of the Board of Trustees, but does not have any priorities for the 2023 fiscal year.
…wind turbines produce clean power thanks to HOERBIGER?
As an internationally operating technology group, HOERBIGER follows a long-standing tradition of ecological and social commitment. As part of the progressive standardization in the area of sustainability management, the Group today faces the task of formalizing its existing activities to meet the multifaceted interests and needs of its employees, business partners and the general public.
…HOERBIGER promotes the researchers of tomorrow?
In the WaVe innovation project, the Commercial Vehicle Cluster (CVC) developed a hydrogen-powered device carrier as a prototype. The Minister of Economics of Rhineland-Palatinate visited the development center in Wörth for a test drive.
This year’s ConExpo in Las Vegas was full of surprises and amazing news. Among the stars of the exhibition was the hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) from HD Hyundai Infracore equipped with H2PFI injectors made by HOERBIGER.
IEP Technologies has added a new explosion protection solution for process vessels to its portfolio: The flameless explosion vent can be used where standard devices are no longer sufficient.
On 15 December 2022, HOERBIGER commissioned its first on-site solar plant in India. The ground-mounted power plant was officially inaugurated during the visit of the Executive Board to HOERBIGER India Pvt Ltd. (HIPL) in Kondhapuri village.
With the groundbreaking of the new site in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, HOERBIGER strengthens its presence in China and lays the foundation for further growth in an important market for the company.
Doctors and nurses make an enormously important contribution to health care during the Corona crisis. HOERBIGER supports them in this and manufactures protective walls for medical practices, which provide employees with more safety from infection in everyday life. In the training workshop, apprentices produced the first 50 movable walls, which HOERBIGER is donating to 23 medical practices in the region.
13 young researchers from the foothills of the Alps have qualified for the state competitions in Vilsbiburg and Dingolfing in "Jugend forscht" and "Schüler experimentieren". This means that nine of a total of 57 projects were awarded first place in the regional competitions sponsored by HOERBIGER. In addition to the regional wins, the jury awarded 48 other prizes or placements to the participants. in 2019, 102 young researchers took part in the regional decision in Schongau.
The HOERBIGER trainees' energy-saving competition has come to an end. Eight teams with 36 participants from Schongau and Penzberg spent three months working intensively on the question of areas in which the company can conserve resources. The winners were four apprentices from the Drive Technology and Compression Technology divisions. They investigated the energy-saving potential of HOERBIGER Kompressortechnik GmbH in Schongau and each received 100 euros in prize money for their outstanding results.
Zug / Oulunsalo - Effective February 1, 2018, IEP Technologies, a HOERBIGER Group company, has acquired the business, portfolio, patents and trademark rights of Atexon Oy, a specialist in spark detection for industrial explosion protection based in Oulunsalo, Finland.