Wolfgang Lachmann, futronic's Managing Director, is retiring after 30 years at the German glass manufacturer.
Lachmann started working at futronic in the role of Technical Manager and became Managing Director together with Michael Preuss in 2004.
Preuss said: “[Wolfgang has] steered the company through ups and downs with considerable skill and rock-solid engineering expertise.”
Preuss will now continue as the sole Managing Director of the automation specialist company. Stephan Pies will take over the sales responsibilities and Frank Ebersbach, Lachmann’s successor, will become the Head of Development.
Lachmann said: “There’ll always be a place in my heart for futronic and I’ll be around to support the firm as a consultant on future projects where necessary.”
Prior to joining futronic, Lachmann studied for a degree in Electrical Engineering, specialising in Communications, at Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences in Württemberg. He then began offering student-engineering services to local firms while still at university.
He developed an IT component device for measuring the thickness of cigarette paper in the late 70s for Swiss industrial company Escher Wyss. He also introduced the same company to its very first PC.
Lachmann received an invitation from Oberland, a glass manufacturer in Bad Wurzach. He was then “bitten by the glass bug” when he took a look around the factory and its production processes. He was put in charge of technical computer applications and production automation solutions in the company’s R&D department.
Lachmann became a respected contact for suppliers and external service providers like futronic, which became as subsidiary of Oberland Glas in 1986.
Lachmann is an engineer who has had a passion for automation solutions in container glass manufacturing for almost 40 years.
Throughout his years at futronic, he has developed many new technologies. For example, in 2004, the FMT24S became the world’s first ever control system for glass machines to feature IP technology. He also inspired the company to branch out into the development of automation solutions and products for customers in other industries, such as bulk materials, handling, assembly and beverages.
Lachmann will retire on 1 February 2018.
For more information, visit www.futronic.de
