Ziehl-Abegg wins prestigious MX Excellence Award

Joachim Ley (CEO, from left), Max Borek (Industrial Engineering Technologist), Marcus Engel (Head of Electronics Plant), Sandra Kallausch (Head of Global Audits), Matthias Hofmann (Head of Logistics Electronics Plant), and Markus Frankenbach (Head of Electronics Quality Management). (Photo credit: Marcus Krueger)

The high-tech company Ziehl-Abegg has been awarded the prestigious Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Award 2025. The jury particularly praised the company's innovative strength and manufacturing depth, as well as its consistent focus on digitalization, sustainability, and process optimization.

The award is presented annually by the Institute for Technology and Management at TU Berlin, in collaboration with partners such as VDMA, the Technical University of Berlin, the IMU at the University of St. Gallen, and the WZL at RWTH Aachen. The MX Award is one of the most significant industry awards in the German-speaking region and recognizes companies that set standards in production and production management.

Excellence in Manufacturing as a Guiding Principle

Ziehl-Abegg impressed in the quality management category through its deeply integrated manufacturing processes and innovative digital tools such as the Shopfloor Cockpit and highly automated SMD assembly with intelligent optical inspection.

"This award is a great testament that we are on the right track with our manufacturing strategy," says Joachim Ley, CEO of ZIEHL-ABEGG. "We combine craftsmanship know-how with state-of-the-art technology – always keeping the goal in mind to become better, more efficient, and more sustainable."

Passion for Excellence

The jury particularly highlighted in its report that at Ziehl-Abegg, not only are technologies at the cutting edge of the latest developments used, but the company also lives a holistic culture of continuous improvement – from the shop floor to management levels. Additionally, the company consistently pursues a zero-defect philosophy and relies on technologies for quality assurance, according to the jury. Close collaboration with suppliers and a cultural shift towards greater employee involvement sustainably strengthen quality.

"For me personally, this award is something very special," adds Ley. "As COO, I am particularly committed to excellence in production. The fact that our teams embody this high standard makes me proud – and grateful."

Benchmark for the Industry

With the MX Award, Ziehl-Abegg once again positions itself as a technology leader in air, control, and drive technology. The combination of technical depth, bionically optimized products, and sustainably oriented production forms the foundation for long-term success.

Marcus Engel, head of the Electronics division at Ziehl-Abegg, accepted the award in Berlin on behalf of the company and emphasized in his speech of thanks: "The MX Award is not an endpoint for us, but a milestone. We want to continue exploring new paths – together with our employees, partners, and customers."