Shows
The Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Leadership starts in your head
What really determines competitiveness today – technology or psychology? In this episode of the podcast ‘The Voice of Converting,’ editor-in-chief Martin Hirschmann talks to Wolfgang Drexler, managing director of foresmind GmbH, about neuropsychological leadership and why ‘people still think like they did in the Stone Age’ even though we live in an AI-driven world.
Between Generation Z, AI and the shortage of skilled workers
Drexler explains how his bioLogic method distinguishes between three basic modes of thinking – analytical and past-oriented, future-oriented and consequence-conscious, and impulsive and present-oriented – and why communication often fails not because of content, but because of...
2026-02-1630 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsStart-ups auf dem roten Teppich
At LOPEC, startups are more than an add-on – they are a driving force of innovation in printed and flexible electronics. In this episode of The Voice of Flextronics, we talk with Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director of LOPEC, and John Fahlteich, CEO of KETMarket, about how young companies are actively supported at the event and why the LOPEC Startup Award has become a key highlight in the programme.
From technology to market impact
The conversation explores how startups move from promising technologies to real market applications. John Fahlteich shares insights into the role of open innovation, cr...
2026-02-0523 min
COMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk#177 Composites Lounge Engineering Talks No 6: Composites meets ConvertingWas passiert, wenn sich zwei Industrien begegnen, die auf den ersten Blick wenig miteinander zu tun haben – die Converting-Industrie und die Welt der Hochleistungsverbundwerkstoffe? Beim M2N Converting Gipfel 2025 im East Hotel Hamburg wurde genau diese Frage gestellt – und in einer 90-minütigen Paneldiskussion eindrucksvoll beantwortet.Unter dem Titel „Converting meets Composites“ diskutierten führende Köpfe aus Maschinenbau, Materialentwicklung, Luftfahrt, Textiltechnik und Anlagenbau über die Schnittstellen, Herausforderungen und Chancen, die sich aus der Verbindung beider Welten ergeben.🧭 Drei Themenrunden – eine gemeinsame Vision1️⃣ Entwicklung & ProjektmanagementWie entstehen Innovationen entlang der Wertschöpfungskette? Die Panelgäste zeigten...
2025-07-241h 35The Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | "Converting meets Packaging"
From 23 to 25 September 2025, the packaging industry will once again gather at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg for FACHPACK, the European Trade Fair for Packaging, Technology and Processes. Around 1,400 exhibitors are expected to attend, spread across 11 exhibition halls. Trade visitors can look forward to a wealth of products and services related to packaging, as well as a high-calibre supporting programme.
“Converting meets Packaging” at FACHPACK
The ‘Converting meets Packaging’ pavilion in Hall 7, which is already fully booked with seven exhibitors, will celebrate its premiere at FACHPACK 2025. It has been organised by FACHPACK in cooperation with M2N Media, p...
2025-07-2327 minCOMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk#173 JHT GmbH: Präzision, 3D-Druck & Leadership – Maschinenbau trifft Composites-InnovationIn dieser zweiteiligen Spezialausgabe von #Composites360OnTour besucht Ilkay Özkisaoglu, Co-Founder der Composites Lounge, die JHT GmbH in Geilenkirchen – ein Unternehmen, das seit fast 25 Jahren Maschinenbau auf höchstem Niveau betreibt. Im Fokus: Imprägnier- und Beschichtungsanlagen für die Composite-Industrie sowie additive Fertigung als integraler Bestandteil moderner Anlagentechnik.Teil 1: Technologie, Innovation & NachhaltigkeitIm ersten Teil spricht Ilkay mit Alexander Houben, Geschäftsführer der JHT GmbH, über die technologischen Highlights der JHT-Anlagen. Von der präzisen Imprägnierung bahnförmiger Materialien über hochgenaue Trocknerstrecken bis hin zur energieeffizienten Trocknung mit Nahinfrarotstrahlern – JHT zeigt, wie Maschinenbau und Nachhaltigkeit...
2025-06-2019 minCOMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk#168 Converting und Composites – Wie passt das zusammen?Converting und Composites – Wie passt das zusammen?„Converting meets Composites“ heißt es beim 2. M2N Converting Gipfel, der vom 26.-27. Juni im East Hotel Hamburg stattfinden wird. Panel-Host Ilkay Özkisaoglu spricht mit Key Playern aus dem vielfältigen Sektor der Verbundwerkstoffe – und baut Brücken in die Converting-Industrie. Wir stellen Euch die Veranstalter des M2N Converting Gipfel und das Line-Up live vor:Ilkay Özkisaoglu (Moderation): Der Co-Founder der Composites Lounge ist nicht nur der Mann, der Deutschland LinkedIn erklärt, sondern verfügt auch über jahrzehntelange Erfahrung in der Composites-Industrie.Alexander Houben...
2025-05-061h 08The Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | PLACE Conference
PLACE stands for Polymers, Laminates, Adhesives, Coatings and Extrusion. The conference has been taking place every two years since 1991 in different European cities. The next conference will be on 26-28 May 2025 at Le Méridien Hotel, Munich. For this issue of The Voice of Converting, we sat down with Anna Helgert (Dow), European PLACE Committee Chair, Peter Gellerich (Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG), Technical Programme Chair, and Prof Dr Sven Sängerlaub (Munich University of Applied Sciences), Chairman of the Board of bdvi (German Association of Packaging Engineers).
Bringing together specialists from science and industry
Ann...
2025-05-0621 minCOMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk#167 Innovation, Technologie und Nachhaltigkeit auf der ICE Messe in München mit CoatemaWie können kleine, flexible Systeme die Zukunft der Beschichtungstechnologie revolutionieren und gleichzeitig nachhaltiger sein?Ich hatte das Vergnügen, Thomas Kolbusch, VP Sales und Marketing bei Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH, zu interviewen. Thomas hat uns spannende Einblicke in die neuesten Entwicklungen und Innovationen von Coatema gegeben.🎨 Auffällige Kampagne: Thomas und sein Team haben eine kreative LinkedIn-Kampagne gestartet, um ihr neues Produkt zu präsentieren. Mit einem auffälligen orangefarbenen Hoodie auf der Messe haben sie definitiv Aufmerksamkeit erregt und viele Selfies gesammelt!🔧 Technologische Fortschritte: Coatema hat in nur sechs Wochen ein neues, flexibles B...
2025-05-0507 minCOMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk#166 M2N Converting Gipfel 2025: Ein Muss für die Converting-IndustrieWie können innovative Converting-Technologien die Zukunft der Composite-Industrie revolutionieren? Entdecke die Schnittstellen und Synergien beim M2N Converting Gipfel 26.-27. Juni 2025Der M2N Converting Gipfel bietet eine einzigartige Gelegenheit, sich mit führenden Experten der Branche zu vernetzen und tiefgehende Einblicke in aktuelle Trends und Technologien zu gewinnen.Im folgender Podcastfolge:🔹 Konferenzprogramm:Der Gipfel bietet ein umfangreiches Speaker- und Panelprogramm, das von Martin Hirschmann, Editor in Chief und CEO bei M2N Media GmbH, vorgestellt wird. Hier sind einige Highlights:Thomas Weiser (CEO, INNO TAPE GmbH) wird...
2025-04-3010 minCOMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk#162 Vorstellung Jagenberg Converting Solutions und Lebbing Automation & Drive anlässlich der ICE MünchenTauchen Sie ein in die Welt der Batterietechnik und Oberflächenveredelung Anlässlich des M2N Media GmbH Converting Gipfel 2025 freue ich mich, die Erkenntnisse von Thomas Lebbing, Guido Lebbing und Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Eggerath (MBA) von Jagenberg Converting Solutions zu teilen. Auf der ICE Messe in München sprachen sie über die neuesten Entwicklungen in der Batterietechnik, Oberflächenveredelung und Automatisierung.Kernthemen: Thomas Lebbing betonte die Bedeutung der Elektrodenfertigung als Herzstück der Batterietechnik. Jagenberg Converting Solutions bietet sowohl nass- als auch trockenbeschichtete Elektroden an, wobei die Nassbeschichtung derzeit dominiert. Guido Lebbing erläut...
2025-04-2814 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Cordula Schulz (Schulz Flexgroup)
In our podcast ‘The Voice of Converting’, we spoke to Cordula Schulz, Owner and Managing Director of Schulz Flexgroup. To celebrate her birthday, the entrepreneur invited us to the company site in Roth near Nuremberg, Germany. In an exclusive interview, we discussed birthday wishes, female leadership and the importance of digitalisation and AI.
Innovation Day with high-calibre guest speakers
The first mayor of the town of Roth opened the Innovation Day of Schulz Flexgroup with his words of greetings, followed by a speech from Cordula Schulz herself. After these introductory remarks, representatives of leading companies from...
2025-03-2511 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Esa-Matti Aalto (Matthews International)
In our podcast ‘The Voice of Converting’, we spoke to Esa-Matti Aalto, Senior Vice President and General Manager Coating & Converting Industries at Matthews International. We discussed industry trends, barrier papers and the upcoming ICE Europe.
Megatrends
“One megatrend is clearly sustainability, which is now permeating all industries and layers of society,” says Aalto. “We are addressing this topic by implementing various applications and projects in industry. Another big topic for us is digitalisation. It has already caused disruptions in many industries – and the converting industry will be no exception!”
Lighthouse project
Asked about ou...
2025-02-1921 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Flextronics | Armin Wittmann & Manfred Salat (LOPEC)
For our podcast The Voice of Flextronics, we spoke with Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director LOPEC, and Manfred Salat, Exhibition Manager LOPEC from Messe München.
Novelties in 2025
LOPEC, the leading trade fair and conference for printed electronics, next taking place in Munich from 25-27 February 2025, will be even more practice-oriented. The conference will now feature special lecture sessions for application experts on the focus topics of Smart Living and Mobility, providing industry-specific specialist knowledge in a compact format.
Each year, LOPEC offers a complete market overview of flexible, organic and printed electronics, and b...
2025-01-1028 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Sara Alexander (BOBST)
In this episode of The Voice of Converting, we spoke with Sara Alexander, Marketing & Communication Manager Flexible Packaging at BOBST Italia. One major focus of our interview is BOBST’s sustainability strategy.
General market trends
Sara Alexander sees innovations happen in the areas of automation, digitalisation and AI, among other things. “The hottest topic is sustainability,” she emphasises. “We want new materials, new structures, new applications, and at the same time we want to get rid of the excess.”
Major changes ahead
According to the industry expert from BOBST, “The flexible packaging wo...
2024-09-3021 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Heike Slotta & Phuong Anh Do (FACHPACK)
For our podcast The Voice of Converting, we spoke with Heike Slotta, Executive Director Exhibitions at NürnbergMesse GmbH, and Phuong Anh Do, Manager FACHPACK. NürnbergMesse is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year – and FACHPACK is celebrating with it.
Many novelties in the anniversary year
Phuong Anh Do looks ahead at FACHPACK 2024 (24-26 September): “We have just reached the final phase of preparation for our supporting programme – and there are actually quite a few things that our visitors can look forward to! Firstly, there is our PACKBOX, which has been firmly established for years and is k...
2024-09-1033 minCOMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk#133 M2N Gipfel 2024: Technologie-Trends im Batterie-Sektor - Auswirkungen auf die Converting-IndustrieDu brauchst nur diesem Event beiwohnen und kennst danach die Technologie-Trends im Batterie-Sektor sowie deren Auswirkung auf die Converting und anderen Industrien.Am 28.6.2024 moderierte ich anlässlich des M2N Media GmbH Converting GIPFEL 2024 ein Panel zum Thema Technologie-Trends im Batterie-Sektor im Hamburger EAST Hotel.Es war das zweite High-Calibre Panel zu Batterietechnik nach der ILA Berlin - Pioneering Aerospace. Damals ging es um die Flugzeuge im internationalen Kontext, diesmal jedoch Industrieübergreifend.Das deutschsprachige Panel besprach die Auswirkungen unter anderem auf die Converting Industrie und wir streamen es nun nach einem moderaten Edit Li...
2024-08-051h 28The Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Julia Fuhrmann & Patricia Sailer (Digital Transformation)
For our podcast The Voice of Converting, we spoke with Julia Fuhrmann and Patricia Sailer. Julia Fuhrmann is Systemic Advisor for Digital Transformation & Sustainable Organisation Development, while Patricia Sailer is Owner of INSUI GmbH – Digital Transformation Consult & INSUI Online Shop “Natural Healthy”. A conversation about the digital potential of SMEs.
Achieving strategic goals
With our two guests, we are talking about the question of where, when and how the possibilities of digitalisation can be useful for a company’s strategic goals. With over 22 years of experience in digitalisation, Fuhrmann and Sailer boast a systemic understanding of the i...
2024-06-1126 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Flextronics | Thomas Kolbusch (Coatema)
For our podcast The Voice of Flextronics, we met with Thomas Kolbusch, Vice President at Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH in Dormagen, Germany. A conversation about future technologies, networks and current major projects.
From the niche to the high-tech industries
‘Until 2018, we were a family-run, medium-sized plant and mechanical engineering company that, due to global competition, specifically looked for niches in which we had a competitive advantage,’ explains Kolbusch in our podcast. ‘We entered the fuel cell sector at the end of the 1990s with our first pilot systems for coating, printing and lamination. We entered these...
2024-05-2926 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Ilkay Özkisaoglu (Der Social CEO)
In this episode of The Voice of Converting, we talk to Ilkay Özkisaoglu, one of the leading German-speaking voices in the LinkedIn network. A conversation about B2B content creation, reach and algorithms.
“One cannot afford to not be on LinkedIn”
Özkisaoglu says: “Of course, I believe, one cannot afford to not be on LinkedIn. But there are different personalities. Some people like to show themselves in public and some people don’t like to show themselves in public. One of the main reasons is FOPO, “Fear of People’s Opinion”, i.e. the fear of being ju...
2024-05-1035 minCOMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk#122 M2N Gipfel Announcement während TechTextilM2N Media GmbH zu Gast bei Composites Lounge in der Techtextil, eine Fachmesse der Messe Frankfurt GmbH (Teil 2/2).Zunächst einmal bin ich auf der Durchreise von der HANNOVER MESSE nach München um eine DeepTech Company sensXPERT - Optimizing Plastics Manufacturing während der Hashtag#Composites360OnTour zu interviewen. Da Nina Pirchmoser und ihr Compagnion Martin Hirschmann auf der Techtextil ihre Formate, Showcase Magazin und den M2N Converting Gipfel lancieren dachte ich, mach ich gleich einen Zwischenstopp in Frankfurt, um mehr darüber zu erfahren.Composites werden häufig nur mit Baute...
2024-05-0218 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Lena Lührmann (Consultant at Visionsalive)
In this episode of The Voice of Converting, we talk to Lena Lührmann, strategy consultant for medium-sized companies specialising in “innovation and securing the future”.
Securing the future
Lührmann says: “Securing the future is actually a general term for the fact that, in my opinion, companies should know their expiry date. In other words, what threatens me, which technologies, which future regulations or political developments will influence and perhaps jeopardise my business area in the future? And that you always push this date of your own obsolescence as far away from you as possible...
2024-04-2430 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Michael Welsch (AI expert at Octopus Digital GmbH)
In this episode of The Voice of Converting, we talked to AI expert Michael Welsch, who brings generative models such as ChatGPT to the production lines of the converting industry with his company Octopus Digital GmbH.
From mechanical engineering to artificial intelligence
Welsch started out his career as a mechanical engineer. Then, in 2016, when he was working on his PhD, he met a colleague who had just returned from a conference in Las Vegas.
He found the conference itself boring, but there was a hackathon on machine learning at the same hotel. At first...
2024-03-2825 min
The Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Alexander Houben (JHT)
In this episode, we welcomed Alexander Houben, CEO of JHT Jakobs-Houben Technologie GmbH. The company from Geilenkirchen, Germany, has its core competencies in coating and engineering. In The Voice of Converting, Houben talks about making his company future-proof and the new management structure that had been announced at the beginning of the year.
New management team
As of 1 January 2024, Alexander Krause took over the positions of Deputy Managing Director and Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Moreover, Steffen Lambertz now heads up product development at JHT as Chief Product Officer (CPO) with immediate effect.
The...
2024-02-2327 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Social Media & GenZ
Teresa Walter-Leitzgen is our current guest on The Voice of Converting
Teresa Walter-Leitzgen has been working in digital and content marketing since 2015. Before focussing on digital strategic consulting for companies, Teresa studied ethnology, law and political science at Goethe University in Frankfurt. Through her passion for triathlon and running, she has built up her own brand on social media and also implements multi-channel campaigns for regional and international clients.
Public image on the social web
In her podcast interview with Martin Hirschmann, Teresa tells us how she turned her passion for triathlon into...
2024-02-1525 minThe Voice of Converting & FlextronicsThe Voice of Converting | Who are we?
Who are we – what are our goals?
Welcome to our German-speaking pilot episode! We launched the PRO Flexconvert and PRO Flextronics media hubs just over a month ago. A lot has happened since then. After a lot of positive feedback from the industry and even more work in the background, it’s now time to ignite the next stage of our newly launched rocket!
Welcome to our podcast!
For the pilot episode, the three founders, Nina Pirchmoser, Nadine Bauernfeind and Martin Hirschmann, sat down together and give an outlook on the coming months. So b...
2024-02-0620 min