The Voice of Converting & Flextronics

For our podcast The Voice of Flextronics, we met with Thomas Kolbusch, Vice President at Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH in Dormagen, Germany. A conversation about future technologies, networks and current major projects. From the niche to the high-tech industries ‘Until 2018, we were a family-run, medium-sized plant and mechanical engineering company that, due to global competition, specifically looked for niches in which we had a competitive advantage,’ explains Kolbusch in our podcast. ‘We entered the fuel cell sector at the end of the 1990s with our first pilot systems for coating, printing and lamination. We entered these markets very early on and brought a great deal of expertise with us - not just on the systems, but also on the products and markets. We have multiplied this approach and positioned ourselves in a wide range of high-tech and deep-tech markets.’ Three major projects As part of the podcast, Thomas Kolbusch presents three current major projects involving Coatema: the cooperation with the ALTANA start-up HELIOSONIC, the construction of a large-format OPV production plant in Greece and the IDEEL project, which is highly relevant for the battery sector. https://www.coatema.de

In this episode of The Voice of Converting, we talk to Lena Lührmann, strategy consultant for medium-sized companies specialising in "innovation and securing the future". Securing the future Lührmann says: "Securing the future is actually a general term for the fact that, in my opinion, companies should know their expiry date. In other words, what threatens me, which technologies, which future regulations or political developments will influence and perhaps jeopardise my business area in the future? And that you always push this date of your own obsolescence as far away from you as possible. Securing the future is therefore actually necessary for all areas of the company: Personnel, skilled workers, business model, products, services, digitalisation, etc. Innovation is only a small part of safeguarding the future, but it is not enough to push this expiry date further away and always anticipate what could affect your company next." Image and reality of GenZ Another focus point of our interview: the perception and image of GenZ in the German economy. Lührmann states clearly: "SMEs have everything that GenZ needs and wants. SMEs are actually predestined to see people for what they are, to remain loyal to them, to give them security and variety. But this is simply not yet being used strategically. Conversely, GenZ also needs to understand that adaptation is not a one-way street."

In this episode, we welcomed Alexander Houben, CEO of JHT Jakobs-Houben Technologie GmbH. The company from Geilenkirchen, Germany, has its core competencies in coating and engineering. In The Voice of Converting, Houben talks about making his company future-proof and the new management structure that had been announced at the beginning of the year. New management team As of 1 January 2024, Alexander Krause took over the positions of Deputy Managing Director and Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Moreover, Steffen Lambertz now heads up product development at JHT as Chief Product Officer (CPO) with immediate effect. The company management sees JHT as a key player in the roll-to-roll finishing sector in the future. The energy transition is a particular focus: the demand for battery electrodes, catalyst-coated membranes and other products is constantly increasing. JHT’s machines have established themselves in these and other industries. Together with partners from industry and research, the process and system technology will be further developed and optimised in cooperation projects. Creativity and flexibility In our Podcast, Houben also emphasises the lean and flexible structure of his company. JHT thrives on creativity, he is certain. https://jht.eu

Who are we - what are our goals? Welcome to our German-speaking pilot episode! We launched the PRO Converting and PRO Flextronics media hubs just over a month ago. A lot has happened since then. After a lot of positive feedback from the industry and even more work in the background, it's now time to ignite the next stage of our newly launched rocket! Welcome to our podcast! For the pilot episode, the three founders, Nina Pirchmoser, Nadine Bauernfeind and Martin Hirschmann, sat down together and give an outlook on the coming months. So before we start with the factual topics (it's almost time!), we would first like to introduce ourselves. Competent, personal and entertaining - just as we want our podcast to be in the future. Podcasts are all the rage As a classic "incidental medium", podcasts have become serious competition for radio. Whether in the car, to fall asleep or by candlelight in the bathtub - many people can no longer imagine their everyday lives without this audio infotainment. However, reporting on the converting industry has so far been very thin on the ground. That is now changing! Look forward with us to many hours of information and entertainment with exciting personalities and experts on the subject of converting.