Massing/Munich. A huge success for Stela Laxhuber GmbH from Massing and its 220 employees: The specialist in drying systems received the Bavarian SME Award for the first time—and this, of all years, in the year of the company’s 100th anniversary. It is the highest honor the company has received to date.
The award ceremony took place at the Künstlerhaus on Lenbachplatz in Munich. The prize is awarded by the European Economic Forum and the University of Applied Management (HAM) in collaboration with the Summit Forum, and this year was held under the patronage of State Parliament President Ilse Aigner and Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger.
Laxhuber Dedicates Award to Its Employees
“Stela Laxhuber GmbH has demonstrated that highly energy-efficient belt dryers enable more economical and lower-emission drying and that climate neutrality can be achieved,” stated the laudatory speech at the award ceremony. It continued: “The optimal drying concept is developed to meet the individual needs of customers. This led, among other things, to the creation of the widest belt dryer system in the world. Thanks to custom-made components, it is now possible to operate the dryer in this new format without any loss of performance and with high efficiency.” It should also be noted that the new company headquarters and the headquarters of Stela Steuerungstechnik are heated entirely with renewable energy. The company’s vehicle fleet is being completely converted to electric and hybrid vehicles, and a photovoltaic system is currently under construction on the production building.
“We are, of course, very proud of the award,” explains Managing Director Thomas Laxhuber in an interview with the local newspaper. The company has long been committed to renewable energy, both in its products and within the company itself. The SME Award is above all a tribute to past achievements, “but we naturally see it as our duty not to stand still in the future,” says Thomas Laxhuber, emphasizing the company’s commitment to further development. This progress is driven primarily by the employees: “We accepted the award in Munich on behalf of all of them,” emphasizes Thomas Laxhuber.
Since 2007, over 400 companies have been nominated for the Bavarian SME Award, and 41 have been honored. “The focus is on medium-sized companies based in Bavaria that serve as role models as pillars of society and the SME sector. The goal of the competition is to recognize exceptional entrepreneurial achievements across the entire spectrum of medium-sized companies based in Bavaria and to present them to the public as role models,” according to a press release. According to a study, 83 percent of all apprentices in the SME sector are prepared for the working world, more than 50 percent of employees are employed there, and nearly half of all hidden champions are German SMEs. To highlight the relevance of these companies and recognize their contribution to society, the “Bavarian SME Award” was presented for the first time in 2007.
Goal: Highlighting Excellence
“The Bavarian SME Award is presented to companies that overcome special challenges with unconventional approaches. Through cross-industry comparison, excellence is highlighted, innovative approaches are clearly emphasized, and special achievements are communicated as an incentive for others within the network and beyond. “As a practice-oriented university, we are delighted to be part of this network of companies, associations, and policymakers, so that we can jointly advance future-oriented topics,” explains Prof. Dr. Peter Steinhoff, co-organizer of the award and professor of corporate management and international management at HAM.
The award winners are selected by a jury consisting of former award winners, representatives of the sponsors, distinguished members of the “Wir Eigentümerunternehmer” association group, and professors from the University of Applied Management (HAM). The criteria for awarding the prize include achievements in the areas of future viability and innovation, robustness and resilience, sustainability and responsibility, market success and customer focus, and human resources policy.
