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Bergisch Gladbach, 20 July 2023

Green innovations: INDUS portfolio companies use R&D to drive sustainability

- Third issue of sustainability magazine SUSTA[IN] published
- Promotion of sustainable innovations anchored in ‘PARKOUR perform’ strategy

Stock exchange listed INDUS Holding AG has published the third issue of its sustainability magazine SUSTA[IN], which provides a direct insight into the ESG activities of the Group. The magazine focuses on innovation as a key factor in sustainable business.

“The combination of innovation and sustainability is the game changer when it comes to tackling environmental and social challenges – and at the same time driving economic growth,” says Dr. Jörn Großmann, member of the INDUS Board of Management in charge of sustainability. Both approaches are firmly anchored in INDUS’ ‘PARKOUR perform’ strategy in the form of the “Driving Innovation” and “Striving for Sustainability” initiatives. “We are absolutely convinced of the need for sustainable action,” says Jörn Großmann. “Our sustainability development bank supports projects aimed at conserving resources and reducing emissions, while our innovation development bank provides funding for sustainable product development in the future field of greentech. And we have set up working groups to promote green innovations through exchanges within the Group and with external experts.”

Product innovation: New materials and applications for greater sustainability

In addition to circular economy approaches, INDUS portfolio companies are exploiting the sustainability potential of new materials. BETEK, a manufacturer of carbide-tipped wear tools, has developed the carbide material PROmatrix. The improved wear resistance reduces the lifecycle carbon footprint by up to 12%. INDUS subsidiary MBRAUN is focusing on new applications in the renewable energy sector; the manufacturer of inert gas glovebox systems offers a portfolio of products for the production of perovskite solar cells. SUSTA[IN] also provides insight into market opportunities in energy-efficient building technology, an important growth industry: MIGUA Fugensysteme has developed a replaceable and recyclable aluminum joint system. The headquarters of SCHUSTER Klima Lüftung is a reference object that demonstrates the possibilities of a zero-energy house. As a manufacturer of ambient air heat pumps, REMKO also focuses on sustainable air conditioning technology.

INDUS working groups: Networks for sustainable innovation

Future fields are clearly at the heart of the INDUS strategy, as reflected in the “Sustainable Construction” working group initiated in 2022. In cooperation with the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN), the INDUS working group ‘Hydrogen’ is investigating the market potential and challenges of hydrogen technology and hydrogen storage. At the INDUS ‘Artificial Intelligence’ theme day, INDUS portfolio companies analyzed the potential and applications of AI in everyday business in cooperation with the Fraunhofer IPA.

Process optimization along the value chain: Reducing Scope 3 emissions

A sustainable and transparent supply chain is a key lever for reducing the carbon footprint. SUSTA[IN] presents best-practice examples of how indirect emissions are recorded and reduced; VULKAN INOX, a manufacturer of granulated blast abrasives, has analyzed the greenhouse gas equivalents of its processes – and significantly reduced them by using only renewable electricity and optimized raw materials. OBUK, a specialist in front door panels, took a close look at its packaging concept and optimized its packaging solutions along the value chain according to environmental and economic aspects.

Sustainability ranking: Prime status again in the ISS ESG

In 2023, INDUS achieved a “C+” rating and hence “Prime” status in the sustainability ranking of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. for the eighth consecutive time. “With ‘PARKOUR perform’, we have clearly aligned our corporate strategy with the megatrend of sustainability,” says Dr. Jörn Großmann. “We thus actively support our portfolio companies in developing future fields such as energy technology, energy efficiency, circular economy and waste management. These successful strategic initiatives are also reflected in the sustainability rating.”

The SUSTA[IN] sustainability magazine is available for download here.

Axel Meyer

COO Engineering
Axel Meyer (German citizen, born 1968) has been a member of the INDUS Board of Management since October 2017.

Until joining INDUS, he held various management positions at Schuler AG, most recently as Managing Director of Schuler Pressen and Head of the Service Division of the Schuler Group, Goeppingen, Germany.

Previously, Axel Meyer worked as a member of the Board of Management of the international management consultancy IMAGIN Prof. Bochmann AG, Eppstein im Taunus, Germany. He started his professional career in the Schuler Group's Solid Forming Division, initially in global sales and later as Division Manager.

Axel Meyer studied industrial engineering in Germany and the USA and earned a Master of Mergers & Acquisitions (LL.M.) at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management while working. 

Gudrun Degenhart

COO Materials Solutions
Gudrun Degenhart (German citizen, born 1970) has been a member of the Board of Management of INDUS since October 2023.

She has more than 20 years of experience in the management and development of portfolio companies in Europe, USA and the Asia-Pacific regions.

Before joining INDUS, Gudrun Degenhart was CEO for the German portfolio companies of the international service group ISS. She previously worked for the thyssenkrupp Group, including as CEO of the international business unit for special lifts and as CEO of Materials Western Europe and Asia-Pacific. She gained experience in medium-sized companies as a board member of the construction technology company Schöck.

A graduate in business administration, she began her career by building up the Central and Eastern European activities of the construction specialist Lindner Group. 

Dr. Jörn Großmann

COO Infrastructure
Dr. Jörn Großmann (German citizen, born 1968) has been a member of the INDUS Board of Management since January 2019.

Up until joining INDUS, he worked for the Dutch group Aalberts Industries, with his last position being the sole managing director of Impreglon, Lüneburg, Germany.

He previously held various positions at the Georgsmarienhütte Group, initially becoming managing director of Mannstaedt, Troisdorf, Germany and later managing director of GMH Edelstahl Service Center Burg and GMH Engineering. Before Dr. Großmann became the managing director of Buderus Feinguss, Moers, Germany, he worked as a development engineer and as a technical director for Doncasters Precision Castings, Bochum, Germany.

He studied material sciences and earned a doctorate in the field of natural sciences.

Dr. -Ing. Johannes Schmidt

CEO
Dr. -Ing. Johannes Schmidt (German citizen, born 1961) has been a member of the Board of Management of INDUS since January 2006. He has assumed the position of CEO since July 2018.

Dr. -Ing. Schmidt was previously the sole managing director of ebm-papst Landshut, Germany, a manufacturer of ventilation motors and fans. During his tenure there, his main achievements included advancing the development of new product platforms and the internationalization of production sites.

Dr. -Ing. Schmidt began his career at Richard Bergner, a manufacturer of electrical instruments from Schwabach, Germany. He initially led product development before rising to the position of managing director during his 12 years at the company.

Schmidt, who studied mathematics, gained an engineering doctorate in mechanics from the Technical University of Darmstadt. 

Rudolf Weichert

CFO
Rudolf Weichert (German citizen, born 1963) is the CFO of INDUS.

Before joining the INDUS Board of Management in June 2012, he was a Partner at KPMG for nine years. He spent three of these years in Detroit, Michigan, United States, where he worked mainly with companies in the engineering, and materials trading industries.

Mr. Weichert, who holds a masters degree in business administration, worked for KPMG for about 20 years, primarily in the firm’s Duesseldorf office, where he worked mainly with multinational manufacturing corporations.