Warewashing equipment manufacturer once more among the 100 most innovative SME companies in Germany

HOBART scores a hat trick: for the third year in succession, the warewashing equipment manufacturer from Offenburg has been named one of the 100 most innovative SME companies in Germany. After previously receiving it in 2007 and 2008, HOBART has again this year been awarded the seal of approval of the renowned Top 100 business league table. Franz-Josef Mikler, CEO of the company, and Silvio Koch, director of sales and marketing, accepted the award at a ceremony in the Petersberg guest house in Königswinter, presented on June 26th, by Lothar Späth, former prime minister of the state of Baden-Württemberg and patron of the ongoing innovation study.

Ralf Hübner, CEO of HOBART Germany and vice president of HOBART Europe: "It is a great honour for us to be awarded this seal of approval for the third time in succession. I am particularly pleased that this award reflects the emphasis on the innovative power of the entire company, and by this I mean every single member of the company. We also interpret the award as a confirmation to our innovation offensive, which began in 2007 with the launch of our first PREMAX models." 

The PREMAX range of dishwashers is the most economical one on the market. Featuring extremely low water, energy, and detergent consumption, the dishwashers are also characterized by their strong performance. 

HOBART has applied for more than 100 patents for the various new technologies it has developed for this product line.

Innovation forms an integral part of the HOBART philosophy. The manufacturer organises regular brainstorming workshops and the ideas collected are evaluated by interdepartmental teams. If this results in a patent application, the person who contributed the idea is awarded a commensurate invention bonus. 

Another factor contributing to the climate of innovation that pervades the company is the inventor's award ceremony, which takes place every three years in a different major European city, by invitation from ITW. The aim of the event is to promote innovation and inventiveness by presenting developments and innovations from a wide range of business areas and honouring the inventors who were responsible for the development. 

The Top 100 business comparison table has been assessing the inventiveness of German SME companies since 1993. Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke, head of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Vienna University of Economics and Business, is responsible for the scientific details. 

The examinations are based on five criteria: innovation success; the degree of management promotion of innovation; the climate of innovation; innovative processes and organisation; and innovation marketing. It was HOBART's 'tailor-made innovation-based management' that satisfied the panel of eminent experts headed by Prof. Franke.