“I was impressed by the passion of the PI team.”
Michael Albiez, CEO of Physik Instrumente (PI) and member of the HOERBIGER Executive Board responsible for the new Positioning Division, shares his first personal assessment after 100 days.
Michael, you have been CEO of PI for around 100 days. How does it feel?
How does it feel? Very intense and, at the same time, incredibly rewarding. I deliberately used this time to see as much as possible and listen: at the German PI sites, in the USA and in Asia. What impressed me most was the openness with which my new leadership team and I were welcomed everywhere, and the passion of the PI team for the company and the technology. This trust and this positive energy were tangible from day one. That’s energizing — and it makes us eager to shape the future together.
What priorities did you and your leadership team set in the first few months?
We started by listening — both internally and externally, especially to our customers. This was important in order to understand that customers greatly value our technological expertise and place a high level of trust in the PI brand. In particular, our piezo technology and the expert knowledge of our teams are recognized as genuine strengths. At the same time, we now also know where we can take action to align even more consistently with our customers. In parallel, as a team we began developing a shared understanding of our priorities and strategic direction: clear responsibilities, agile teams, and all of this with one hundred percent customer focus.
What does PI specifically bring to the HOERBIGER Group?
In my view, there are two things. First, PI opens doors for HOERBIGER to markets where the Group has not previously had a presence and which are structurally growing – such as semiconductor manufacturing, photonics, life sciences, medical technology, and aerospace. These are industries where the future is currently being shaped. Decisions made today in these industries will determine what technology looks like in ten years. Second, PI brings genuine mechatronic expertise – the interplay of high-precision mechanics, sensor technology, electronics, and software. This knowledge is a unique selling point for PI.
What do you think PI can learn from HOERBIGER?
What HOERBIGER has built up over decades is impressive: an operational excellence that is deeply anchored in the company’s DNA. A global footprint with strong, locally rooted teams that create proximity to customers and markets worldwide. And tremendous resilience, which makes it possible to succeed even in economically challenging times. So there is quite a lot we can learn from HOERBIGER.