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July 2026
Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Ebling has presented the Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Prize. The winner in the crafts category is Automation Steeg und Hoffmeyer GmbH from Budenheim.
For the 38th time this has happened Ministry of Economic Affairs Rhineland-Palatinate together with the working groups of Chambers of Commerce and Industry as the Chambers of Crafts the Innovation Award Rhineland-Palatinate The awards were presented this year by Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Ebling at the Koblenz Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The awards recognized companies and craft businesses whose developments make a significant contribution to competitiveness, sustainability, and technological future viability.
"With their developments, they are setting new standards and strengthening the Innovation hub Rhineland-Palatinate", according to the ministry. The prices are with 20.000 euros each endowed in total EUR 60.000. One prize each was awarded in the categories "Company," "Crafts," and "Special Prize of the Innovation Agency 2026" on the topic of "Robotics and Automation." The minister also presented two commendations.
Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Ebling honored the award winners as outstanding examples of the country's innovative strength:
"The award-winning companies impressively demonstrate how the future is being created in Rhineland-Palatinate: with courage, technical expertise, and the will to transform challenges into opportunities. This year's winners are developing solutions for a climate-friendly energy supply, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and unlocking new potential for automation and the circular economy. They represent the innovative strength of our state and make a significant contribution to economic transformation."
Operations management
The Chambers of Crafts in Germany - Koblenz Chamber of Crafts
Operations management
The winner of the innovation award in the "Companies" category is the Vision Electric Super Conductors GmbH from Kaiserslautern, who Superconducting systems for efficient and environmentally friendly energy transmission developed. According to the jury, the technology developed by the company together with research institutions and industry partners enables the virtually lossless transport of electrical energy.
Background: Superconducting cables require significantly less space than conventional high-voltage lines and can play a crucial role, particularly in the electrification of energy-intensive industrial processes. The jury especially commended the successful transfer of high-temperature superconductor technology from research to a marketable product.
The award received recognition PMB – Präzisionsmaschinenbau Bobertag GmbH from Kaiserslautern for the "AddMassJet" processThis innovative process allows even the smallest imbalances in high-speed components to be precisely compensated. Tiny droplets of a UV-curing material are applied to the rotor without contact.
The technology opens up new possibilities for applications with particularly high rotational speeds and improves the efficiency and operational reliability of numerous technical systems.
The winner of the innovation award in the "Crafts" category is the Automation Steeg and Hoffmeyer GmbH of Dr.-Ing. Markus Steeg from Budenheim for the Project "Maskoplast". This development enables the automated production of fiber composite components using a particularly compact and energy-efficient laser system.
The jury stated that the significantly lower investment and operating costs make this technology economically viable for small and medium-sized enterprises for the first time.
The special prize of the Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Agency goes to the Thielen Automation GmbH from Badem for a Automatic robotic sorting system for industrial laundriesThe system uses camera technology and artificial intelligence to sort large quantities of textiles automatically, hygienically and reliably.
"This protects employees from physical strain and health risks. At the same time, the solution significantly increases productivity and almost completely eliminates misallocations," the jury stated. In their opinion, the technology also offers... great potential for automated textile recycling and thus supports the development of a sustainable circular economy.
The award received recognition Rohmann-Automation GmbH from Ingelheim for their adaptive multi-tool laser robot cell For machining rotationally symmetrical large components. The system combines several manufacturing processes in one automated system and, through digital simulation and optimization of robot movements, enables particularly efficient, safe and economical production.
Source: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Tourism, Climate and Energy of Rhineland-Palatinate
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