SPEAKERS

Speakers 2024

The best and most advanced experts

Nicholas Baldwin

Enterprise Software Sales Executive | Rockwell Automation

  • Vita

    With over 7 years in software solutions for digital transformation, I'm currently the Senior Sales Executive at Rockwell Automation. Specializing in industrial automation, I assist clients in leveraging technologies such as MES, AR, Data Analytics and IIOT allowing to achieve up to 10% increased efficiency, 25% reduced material scrap or batch improvement, and 40% lower maintenance overhead. My expertise spans industries like Automotive, CPG, Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Pharma in Central Europe.


    Previously, I served as Market Sales Director at Hexagon AB in EMEA/APAC, advising on connected worker solutions in manufacturing, energy, and transportation. As a Business Development Manager at CK Hutchison, I developed IoT and 5G private networks for utility clients, focusing on digital transformation and network security. Earlier, at Cisco Jasper, I led sales in IoT cloud, guiding customers on leveraging IoT cellular connectivity for supply chain digitization and remote maintenance.


    Passionate about customer-centric solutions, I've published articles on topics like long-term data archiving and IoT trends. I'm a native English and German speaker.


Manuel Bögel

Head of Vehicle Assembly and Deputy Plant Manager at

the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth | Daimler Truck

  • Vita

    Manuel Bögel started his career at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim in 1999. There he was responsible for various functions in engine production. In 2011, Mr. Bögel moved to Esslingen in the central division of the global truck powertrain organization of Daimler AG. As Head of Powertrain Operations Development, he was responsible for the organizational realignment of the Powertrain Operations division into a global production network.


    Between 2013 and 2017, Mr. Bögel was Head of Equipment and Special Machinery Construction at the Mercedes-Benz sites in Mannheim, Kassel, Rastatt and Gaggenau. From October 2017 to May 2022, he was responsible for the bodyshell and paint shop production areas at the Wörth site. In his current position, Mr. Bögel manages vehicle assembly at the Wörth site with around 2200 employees for Mercedes Benz Actros, Arocs and Atego.

Gianluca Di Buo

founder and CEO | IDEA soc. coop

  • Vita

    Gianluca Di Buo' is the founder and CEO of IDEA soc. coop, an Italian company that develops innovative solutions for industrial automation. After graduating in Industrial Automation Engineering, he obtained a PhD

    in Computer Science, Management and Automation Engineering. At IDEA, Gianluca coordinates research and development activities. He is an expert in the integration of machine vision, robotics and artificial intelligence in manufacturing systems.

Arnd Grootz

Business Development and Sales | PSI FLS Fuzzy Logik & Neuro Systeme
GmbH

  • Vita

    Arnd Grootz has been with the PSI Group since May 2019 and has been responsible for Business Development and Sales at PSI FLS Fuzzy Logik & Neuro Systeme GmbH since 2022. The state-certified business economist and business consultant with several years of experience abroad in Spain was previously responsible for comparable international tasks in corporations and their subsidiaries in the

    automotive environment as well as in the field of safety technologies, e.g. at Tyco/Johnson Controls and Besam/Assa Abloy.

Sebastian Jonas

Head of New Production Concepts | Schaeffler AG

  • Vita

    In 2011, Sebastian Jonas started as a Technical Sales Specialist in the Schaeffler Group's in-house Special Machinery division. His tasks included designing assembly and automation concepts along the entire value stream. In 2017, Jonas set up a Center of Competence for collaborative robotics, known as cobots. The focus here was on benchmark studies of solutions on the market and the implementation of initial use cases in an open environment in production.


    Sebastian Jonas has been responsible for New Production Concepts since September 2020. The division develops technologies for robotics, vision and AI with internal and external partners.

Gerhard Keller

Head of Auto & Industry Germany | Google Cloud

  • Vita

    Gerhard Keller is responsible for the collaboration of Google's cloud business with a wide range of companies in automotive and industry in Germany. Google Cloud's strategy is to accelerate every organization's ability to digitally transform their business and industry. Gerhard's long career has been in IT solutions, where he worked in various roles at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and NetApp before joining Google in 2020. He lives with his family in Stuttgart, Germany and holds a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering from ETH Zurich.

Harald König

Lead Account Executive | Shyftplan 

  • Vita

    As Lead Account Executive at shyftplan, he supports industrial companies in digitizing their shift planning and automating processes. With many years of experience in the tech industry, he has in-depth knowledge of customer support and consulting with regard to the introduction of new technologies. Previously, Harald König was able to gain extensive experience in management and personnel responsibility in leading operational functions. He is looking forward to sharing his expertise and experience with you.

Thomas Krämer

Head of Advanced Production Technology | Schaeffler AG

  • Vita

    In 2001, Thomas Krämer joined the Schaeffler Group's Corporate Technology Department as a specialist in manufacturing technologies. His focus was on the development and industrialization of forming technologies in the supplier's production plants.

    From 2006 to 2016, he held management positions in the area of joining and connection technologies, lean management and Six Sigma rollout as well as the development and implementation of advanced technologies for production and manufacturing processes.

    From 2017, the topics were merged and expanded to include production development and industrialization of complex production systems. The focus here included the development and industrialization of e-axle transmission production and mechatronic roll stabilization. In 2019, Thomas Krämer took over the operations function (COO) for the E-Axles division, followed by the takeover and establishment of the Advanced Production Technology division in July 2020. The department develops cutting-edge technologies and pilots them in the Schaeffler Group's plants.

Bernd Mangler

Senior Vice President Automotive, Battery, Projects | Siemens AG

  • Vita

    Professional experience


    • 2024: Siemens AG, Nuremberg, Germany - Senior Vice President Automotive, Battery, Projects
    • 2015 - 2023: Siemens AG, Nuremberg, Germany - Senior Vice President Solutions, Automotive, Aerospace (Assembly), Logistic Projects
    • 2014: Siemens AG, Nuremberg, Germany - Senior Director Automotive Industry
    • 2010: Siemens Ltd., Beijing/China - General Manager Industrial Automation Systems
    • 2007: Siemens AG, Nuremberg, Germany - Director Business Development Asia, Africa, Middle East, Industrial Automation Systems
    • 2004: Siemens AG, Nuremberg, Germany - Director Strategic Marketing Industrial Automation Systems
    • 2002: Siemens AG, Nuremberg, Germany - Manager Product Marketing Remote IO
    • 1999: Siemens Energy & Automation, Johnson City, USA - Manager PROFIBUS/PROFINET Interface Center

    Education


    • Master of Business Administration, Friedrich-Alexander University, Nuremberg, Germany
    • Master Electrical Engineering, Fridericiana University, Karlsruhe, Germany

Dr.-Ing. Olaf Sauer

Deputy Head of the Institute, Automation and Digitalization Division | Fraunhofer IOSB

  • Vita

    Dr.-Ing. Olaf Sauer studied industrial engineering at the University of Karlsruhe. After working at Fraunhofer IPK in Berlin, Bombardier Transportation in Aachen and Berlin and the METROPLAN Group in Hamburg, he headed the Control Systems division at Fraunhofer IOSB from 2004 to 2012, where he is now Deputy Director. He is a lecturer at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of Kassel and a member of the board of the Wirtschaftsstiftung Südwest.

Moderation

Claus Peter Köth

Editor-in-Chief »Automobil Industrie« | Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG

  • Vita

    Köth, who studied industrial engineering, initially volunteered for two years at a specialist publisher. He then worked as an editor for the logistics magazine “Materialfluss” for two years. He has been working in the “Automobile Industry” editorial team since September 1998 and has been deputy editor-in-chief since July 2001. From 1998 to 2001, Köth was also active as Managing Editor Europe of “automotive business international”. Köth is very well connected in the industry and brings with him a wide range of technical experience as well as management know-how.

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