futronic‘s Wolfgang Lachmann celebrates 25 years at the company

Prior to embarking on his professional career, Wolfgang Lachmann took a degree in Electronics Engineering in the field of Communication Technology at Ravensburg-Weingarten University for Applied Sciences.Already as a student Lachmann, a native of Bad Waldsee, had offered engineering services. In the process he dealt with quite curious tasks: Thus, at the end of the 1970s, he developed for Escher Wyss the information technology part of a measurement device to measure the thickness of cigarette paper. Then he introduced the first Personal Computer ever to this enterprise, which was directly used at the factory for efficiency calculations of a water turbine - an absolute novelty that time. 

A quarter of a century at futronic: Wolfgang Lachmann. (Foto: futronic/Lisa Berger)

Affected by the Glass Virus

Actually Lachmann could have moved on like that, being independent after the studies - if there would not have been an "irresistible offer", Lachmann tells. 1980 the technicians of the glass manufacturer Oberland in Bad Wurzach looked for someone to push computer engineering. A friend from the Escher-Wyss-Projects recommended Lachmann. Lachmann got the invitation to visit the factory in Bad Wurzach, where he gathered some spectacular impressions of the production, and right then "was gripped by the Glass Virus", Lachmann explains. In the developing division, where at that time a certain Bernt Küstner was responsible for the Electronics Department, he was in charge of technical computer applications and automation solutions in the production - and soon became the contact person for suppliers and external service providers. „At that time I came to know futronic", Lachmann remembers.

Lachmann pushes industrial automation

1986 Oberland bought the control systems specialist and sent Küstner to Tettnang to take over the management of futronic. Two years later Küstner took the young communication engineer to Tettnang as Head of the Technical Department.  When Küstner retired in 2004 Wolfgang Lachmann took over the helm at futronic together with Michael Preuß. In this management duo Preuß is responsible for sales and distribution and Lachmann for the technical management. A personal milestone is, for example, the development of the FMT24S. The FMT - initiated by Küstner - was the first Control System for a Glass Production Machine with IP-Technology in the world. In the following years Lachmann promotes the expansion of industrial automation in a significant role, and thus also the product portfolio. With success - futronic expands, the number of employees increases. The move to a larger building complex in Bürgermoos industrial park in 2008 marks an important milestone in the company's history.

Keeping eyes on the wellbeing of the employees

Today Lachmann is still technician through and through; he even can let go, "finally we have a really good staff." Together with his partner Preuß he always keeps in mind the company in its entirety and its success, the aim is clear: to secure the existence of futronic and thus secure jobs. The wellbeing of the employees and a good working atmosphere are especially important to him, Lachmann explains. Streamlined hierarchies and the gentle management of the duo may contribute to this atmosphere. The colleagues show their gratitude in loyalty - over decades in some instances.

Wolfgang Lachmann, born in 1954, is married and has two grown-up children. Since about 20 years he has been a member of the church choir of Mariabrunn and as a cofounder of the Lions Club Tettnang is also involved in social areas. His personal Credo: "Face the daily changes, work on the resulting risks and seize the relevant opportunities, that's what moves us ahead."