Lubert Winnecken Takes Over as Chairman of VDMA Valves

At their general meeting in Cologne, the members of the VDMA Valves Association elected a new executive board. Lubert Winnecken, CEO of KEUCO GmbH & Co. KG, was elected chairman. He succeeds Axel Weidner, a partner at Mankenberg GmbH, who had shaped the association as chairman for eight years. Winnecken will lead both the trade association and the VDMA Building Valves Division in the future. He will be supported by Andreas Laschke, President Segment Valves at KSB SE & Co. KGaA, as Vice Chair. Laschke was also elected Chair of the VDMA Industrial Valves Division.

Rounding out the Valves Executive Board are Elisa Sasserath-Kentsch of Hans Sasserath GmbH & Co. KG, vice chair of VDMA Building Valves; Oliver Bertram of Perrin GmbH, Kitz Group, vice chair of VDMA Industrial Valves; Michael Everwand of Everwand & Fell GmbH; and Michael Rimm of IMI Hydronic Engineering Deutschland GmbH.

Investment Caution Marks the Start of the Year
As he takes office, Winnecken aims to bring the concerns of the valve industry even more strongly into political decision-making processes and to raise the profile of the industry.

“Our companies are facing increasing pressure from international competition. Now is the time to once again consistently prioritize industrial competitiveness: with reliable political framework conditions, competitive energy costs, and a regulatory environment that enables innovation rather than hindering it,” says Winnecken.

In addition to advocating for national interests, the trade association aims to further strengthen its voice at the European level. Many key framework conditions for the valve industry are now set at the EU level—from regulatory proposals and sustainability requirements to issues of industrial competitiveness.

The valve industry makes a significant contribution to industrial processes, energy efficiency, security of supply, and sustainable building technology. In the new chairman’s view, this potential must be more widely recognized by policymakers and the public. The trade association will therefore continue to actively engage in political discussions and represent the interests of its member companies to relevant decision-makers.

Pooling Industry Expertise
With manufacturers of building and industrial valves, the trade association brings together different market segments under one roof. The new board intends to leverage this broad expertise even more effectively in the future to address common challenges early on, exchange experiences, and provide impetus for the industry’s further development.

In particular, the focus will be on current issues such as competitiveness, securing a skilled workforce, technological transformation, and regulatory requirements.

Well-Positioned for the Future
The Managing Director of VDMA Valves, Dr. Laura Dorfer, welcomes the election of the new Executive Board: “With Lubert Winnecken, Andreas Laschke, and the newly elected Executive Board, we are gaining a team with a high level of technical expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and a broad perspective on the challenges facing our industry. I would also like to extend my special thanks to our long-standing chairman, Axel Weidner, who has played a decisive role in shaping the association’s development over many years and has championed the interests of the valve industry with great dedication. We can build on this strong foundation. With over 190 member companies and a clear national and European focus, the trade association is stronger today than ever before. We intend to use this strength to advance key issues for the future, maintain close collaboration with our member companies, and consistently incorporate their concerns into our association’s work.”

The newly elected Executive Board will actively support the trade association’s work in the coming years and provide important impetus for the further development of the German valve industry.