"Industry, and therefore also the automation sector, is undergoing a profound change due to digitalization and Industry 4.0," says Ralf Laber. "By expanding the management team, we are setting the course to tackle this change head-on and further expand our market position in automation technology in Germany."

Pascal Borusiak started in 2016 as Head of Human Resources and Organizational Development. For him, SMC is characterized above all by its corporate culture: "The passion, sustainability and expertise of the people here at SMC are second to none. The mission statement we have developed defines clear brand and corporate values for each and every one of us, according to which we act, work together and manufacture high-quality products. Everyone who spends time with us feels this!"

In his new position, the 40-year-old industrial engineering graduate is driving the transformation process forward and is responsible for the areas of HR and organizational development, training, marketing, communication and digitalization, IT, production and materials management as well as controlling. "Our focus as a company is on our employees, customers, applications and products. Building on this solid foundation, we are continuing to develop in the direction of Industry 4.0. We are therefore at the start of a fundamental change and I am delighted to have the confidence to help shape this course."

Karl-Heinz Fuchs is also looking forward to tackling the tasks ahead: "All managers in our company are responsible for two central duties - firstly, to develop their own area and secondly, to develop their employees. This is also my focus as Head of Commercial." In his new position, the 57-year-old economics graduate will be responsible for Human Resources, Quality, Environment, Health and Safety, Compliance, Contract and Data Management as well as Finance and Facility Management. "Together with my colleagues at SMC Germany, I want to master the challenges of the future, such as Industry 4.0 and demographic change. Our culture, which is characterized by respectful and collaborative interaction, but also a focus on performance and results, will help us achieve this."

Networked production is gaining ground

"Thanks to our broad product range of 12,000 basic models and more than 700,000 variants, we are already helping to shape the future of networked production," explains Ralf Laber. SMC is one of the few manufacturers in the world to develop and produce complete IO-Link systems from master to actuator/sensor from a single source. The automation expert also offers a valve terminal for wireless Industrial Ethernet - currently unique on the market.

"Lean engineering is another keyword for the future of automation. We are asking ourselves how we can make it easier for the designer to work with our product. In the coming years, we will be able to make even better use of the data that is generated over the entire life cycle of a component," says Laber. One thing is certain for the new management: SMC's successful course will continue in the future.