Congratulations on 111 years of Vahle! Looking back: What was the most significant technological development of your company?

Achim Dries: Looking back on this impressive period, we can undoubtedly regard the invention of the copper conductor rail by our founder and namesake, Paul Vahle, more than a century ago as the milestone of all time and the basis for everything that followed. This groundbreaking innovation laid the foundation for the development of our company.

Vahle has had its finger on the pulse for more than 111 years, which we celebrated this September together with our employees, stakeholders and shareholders. This pioneering spirit has continued to this day. Our success is not only based on the past, but also on our DNA of developing and advancing new technologies. Whether it is the development of non-contact (inductive) energy transmission, secure data communication through SMG slotted waveguide technology, our advanced control technologies or the resulting application solutions that combine energy, data and positioning in one system, Vahle has always driven progress.

A current example is the Smart Collector, the world's first predictive maintenance tool for conductor rail systems. With such innovations, we remain true to our role as an enabler of efficiency and progress for our customers - both in the past and in the future.

Is there an absolute 'bestseller' and what makes it so?

Dries: Our product portfolio is now so broad that it is difficult to single out a single product without diminishing the importance of other sectors or product segments. Nevertheless, I would like to try to name a bestseller.

As the global market leader in conductor rail systems for conveyor and process systems in the automotive industry, our product system consisting of the Vahle U10 conductor rail, SMGM data communication, positioning and control in an electrified monorail system could be described as our perceived bestseller. This product bundle plays a decisive role in the production of automobile factories and is therefore responsible for keeping automobile production 'running'. Of course, we are the leading enabler of energy and data transmission solutions in many other industry segments such as port and crane technology.

Our products are valued worldwide and we are proud that they help to make processes in many industries more efficient. Although we highlight this 'bestseller', we are aware that all our products make an enormous contribution to meeting the diverse needs of our customers, keeping industrial processes energized and data flowing.

It's not all rosy in 111 years - what do you think was the most difficult time for the company?

Dries: In what is now my tenth year as Managing Director of the Vahle Group, there have of course been some less positive experiences. The necessary staff cuts, without which Vahle would not have been able to successfully overcome the coronavirus pandemic and the economic downturn caused by the war in Ukraine, are certainly among them - such cuts certainly don't leave me cold. However, in such exceptional situations, it is important to think about the big picture: without these difficult measures, we would not currently have such a good market position and be on a successful growth path. Implementing such measures is therefore also a management task and part of entrepreneurship. However, I am again grateful that all employees were placed in new jobs in a timely manner

What does the roadmap for the next ten to 15 years look like?

Dries: The roadmap for the next ten to 15 years is indeed of strategic importance, and Vahle is pursuing a clear approach for this future perspective. Our strategy comprises a large number of measures that are of an infrastructural, organizational and developmental nature. Nevertheless, we are deliberately planning these steps for the medium term and focusing on the next five to ten years at the most.

"While goals are undoubtedly our focus, the path to them is just as important to us."

It is important to emphasize that our measures are not set in stone. We take an agile view of them and are prepared to question them regularly and adapt them to changing circumstances where possible and necessary. In a rapidly evolving world, this flexibility is vital to ensure that we are always at the cutting edge of technology and meeting the needs of our customers.

While goals are undoubtedly our focus, how we get there is equally important. We strive to walk this path with care and foresight to ensure that our strategy focuses not only on short-term goals but also long-term success. With our commitment to excellence and innovation, we will continue to shape the future and consolidate our position as a leading provider in the field of energy and data transmission.

What technological trends do you see that are or will be important for Vahle?

Dries : In recent years, the buzzword Industry 4.0 has shaped an entire industry, and we have actively contributed to making this development a reality with our product systems.

We are also aware of the importance of other megatrends that are shaping the technology landscape, including the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, sustainability, the further development of data transmission technologies, predictive maintenance and cyber security. These trends will inform our development strategy as we strive to continuously optimize and evolve Vahle solutions.

Our focus is always on our customers and their requirements. We want to offer solutions that make their applications better, more efficient and more sustainable. This focus enables us to transform technological trends into practical innovations that create real added value for our customers. Vahle will continue to shape the future by seizing the opportunities presented by these megatrends and contributing to the development of forward-looking solutions.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge in the coming years, business and/or technical?

Dries: To be honest, the current geopolitical and socio-cultural global situation does not allow for an independent view. These have a significant impact on the market and technology. The impact of these factors can be both negative and positive and require us to rethink the way we plan and implement our activities.

It is crucial to integrate the megatrends into our actions in order to best incorporate the conditions on the market and in our niche. In doing so, we must be aware of external factors such as skills shortages, geopolitical unrest, conflicts and so on, which can influence our goals. This requires a high degree of adaptability and the ability to align our actions with current global political and socio-cultural conditions.

"It is crucial to integrate the megatrends into our actions."

A key aspect is to find the momentum to steer our activities in such a way that they not only pursue economic and technological goals, but also realize coexistence with the world's challenges. This requires an open and agile approach in order to take on the challenges and at the same time recognize the opportunities that can arise from these changes.

In this complex environment, it is crucial that Vahle takes the right steps to find the balance between business success and the impact of global political and socio-cultural developments. This requires close monitoring of current events, strategic planning and a willingness to adapt in order to be successful in the long term.