R+T Innovation Award

Martin Auerbach, Wuppertal
Managing Director of Association of Interior Privacy & Sun Shades Industry (VIS)

Martin Auerbach is the CEO of the German Home Textiles Industry Association (Verband der Deutschen Heimtextilien-Industrie e.V.) and, within the framework of the cooperation with the Association of Interior Privacy and Sun Protection (Verband innenliegender Sicht- und Sonnenschutz e.V.) (since 2013) and the Mattress Industry Association (Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie) (since 2019), also their managing director. After commercial training and working in a medium-sized wholesale company, he studied law in Trier and Bonn. After working as a legal advisor in a housing association, he moved to the Heimtex-Verband in 2003 in the same position. At the end of 2009, he was appointed General Manager there. In the Textile+Sun Protection Competence Centre, the joint office in Wuppertal, he has brought together the competences of the three industry associations. Within this framework, the associations have also made their valuable networks accessible to each other. This has triggered a "turbo effect", especially in the field of circular economy, as networking with institutes, authorities and all stakeholders involved in the value chain up to disposal and recycling is indispensable for success here.

Stefan Elgaß, Geretsried
Editor-in-Chief of Metallbau

Stefan Elgaß (56) has been managing partner of PSE Redaktionsservice GmbH in Geretsried since 1990. The publishing house publishes various trade publications such as the e-paper www.metall-markt.net, the trade newspaper ALUMINIUM KURIER and the youth magazine MEINMetall. The idea of linking print objects with the Internet was born there early on. Today, with its publications and events, the publishing house is one of the leading platforms for metal and steel construction, windows and facades.

Stefan Elgaß had already gained diverse professional experience as a photographer and editor at daily newspapers and PR agencies before he went into business for himself with PSE. As an editorial service provider, the publisher and editor-in-chief of PSE has been successfully producing targeted press and PR work for companies in the window and façade industry for 30 years now.  For small and medium-sized companies, PSE develops individually tailored PR and press concepts and implements them professionally together with the partners.

Stephan Engert, Stuttgart
Editor-in-Chief of Bauelemente Bau

After graduating from high school, Stephan Engert studied social education at the Stuttgart University of Cooperative Education, graduating with a degree in social education. This was followed by his civilian service as a group leader in the Rupert-Mayer-Heim youth welfare facility in Göppingen. During a one-year stay in Tuscany, Mr. Engert was able to gain a lot of experience before he started working as a group leader at the Paulinenpflege youth welfare facility in Kirchheim/Teck for ten years. Since 1995, he has now been working as an editor for the trade journal Bauelemente Bau at the Verlag für Fachpublizistik. Since 2003, he has now been the editor-in-chief of the trade publication.

Kai-Uwe Grögor, Ratingen
Managing Director of the National Federation of Door and Gate Manufacturers (BVT - Verband Tore)

After studying economics at the University of Hamburg, Kai-Uwe Grögor worked as a consultant and department head for various associations in the real estate industry , long-distance freight transport and the mineral oil industry. Since April 2013, he has been Managing Director of BVT - Verband Tore and Fachverband Metallzauntechnik e.V. in Ratingen.

Maren Meyerling, Düsseldorf
Editor-in-Chief of publisher Handwerk GmbH

After graduating from high school, Maren Meyerling studied German language and literature, psychology and education at the University of Wuppertal, graduating with a Magistra Artium in 2003. Since then, she has worked mainly for various professional journals. Among other things, she has been editor-in-chief of RTS Magazin for over 10 years, which has been published by Verlagsanstalt Handwerk GmbH since 2013.

Gerd-Joachim Müller, Frankfurt
Managing director of expert office Müller

1975: Business school leaving examination 

1976 - 1981: Studies at the Technical University of Darmstadt in the field of structural engineering, graduated as Diplom-Ingenieur (graduate engineer) 

Ph.Holzmann AG ,Frankfurt 

Managing partner of J. Müller Metallbau GmbH in Netphen
with branches in Erlangen and Münster and sales offices in Nejkerk (NL), Liege (BEL) and Dornbirn (AT), specialising in awnings (approx. 16,000 units/year), roller doors, roller grilles, sectional doors, sliding doors, high-speed doors (approx. 2000 units/year). 

Developments and patent applications: 1986 screwless sectional door TA-38; 1987 high-speed door Transrapid; 1987 computer-aided control for Transrapid 

Managing partner of J.Müller Markisen und Torbau GmbH in Frankfurt/Main

2004: Public swearing-in as an expert by the Frankfurt am Main Chamber of Industry and Commerce and commencement of work as an expert, initially on a part-time basis. 

2005: Relocation of the expert office to Kelkheim and expansion of the activity to the main profession.

2006: Special expert opinion on the shading behaviour of a fixed louvre system in the course of the seasons, taking into account the light penetration values into the building. 

Main areas of activity from Baden-Württemberg to Saxony-Anhalt: 

• Consultancy for the manufacturing industry 
• Relocation to new premises and setting up of a test laboratory [strength tests on textile materials, engine test bench, testing of fires at the microswitch. etc.]. 
• Since 2007: Cooperation in the circle of experts of the Federal Association of Gates 
• 2008/2009: Expansion of activities into other European countries (Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, England, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, etc.) 
• Appointment to the expert group on sunshades at Stiftung Warentest (German consumer organisation) 
• 2010: first publications of technical articles on changing topics 
• 2011: collaboration with Sicht- und Sonnenschutz magazine, 3-4 publications per year 
• 2013: significant increase in special reports on external venetian blinds, screens and sails 
• November 2013: Appointment as associate arbitrator at LVS Hessen 
• 2014: First expert opinion on the problem of wake vortex damage 
• 2015: Involvement of the public prosecutor's office and the RP to determine the causes of accidents. 
• 2016: Special expert opinion on BauVO 305/2011/EC; BauPG in connection with market surveillance NRW (DiBt) 

Numerous publications and lectures on the following topics:

• Bestandsschutz nein Danke (Gates on the occasion of ASR A1.7) 
• zip-Screens kinematics and requirements for motor control 
• Wind loads on window shading systems, proof in cooperation with the RWTH or Karman Institute for Fluid Technologies, B that no wind load is applied to the blind in accordance with the regulations. 
• Wind load damage in sun protection systems and its detection, lecture by insurer 
• Wind concerns [sliding gates etc.], lecture by BVT group of experts 
• Defects in gates, technical lecture for BVT on the occasion of R+T 2018 
• etc.

Lars Rippstein, Fulda
Managing Director of the Industrial Association of Technical Textiles Roller Shutters Sun Protection e.V.  (ITRS)

Lars Rippstein has dedicated his entire professional life to the textile industry and sun protection. Initially, his focus was on international sales, after which he was responsible for the fate of a German sales branch for technical textiles as managing director for over 20 years. In 2018, he moved to the management of the Industrieverband Technische Textilien - Rollladen - Sonnenschutz e.V. (ITRS) and now knows exactly the possibilities, demands and wishes of the industry.

Yvonne Schneider, Köln
Editor at Charles Coleman Verlag

Yvonne Schneider has a degree in journalism and studied technical journalism at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences in Sankt Augustin. She is a co-founder of the ten-year old industry competition "Deutscher Metallbaupreis" (German Metal Construction Award) and is responsible for it as well as the event "Metallkongress" (Metal Congress) at Charles Coleman Verlag in Cologne. She has been a member of the editorial team for the trade medium M&T since 2007.

Sebastian Schott, Stuttgart
Creative director of Architektur blocher partners

Professional experience

since 2019: Creative Director Architecture blocher partners, Stuttgart

2012 - 2019: Owner of Sebastian Schott Architects, Stuttgart

2013 - 2019: Academic assistant in the teaching area for innovative building and spatial concepts at the State Academy of Fine Arts, Stuttgart

2016 - 2017: VT prof. for Fundamentals of Design and Constructive Design at HBC University of Applied Sciences, Biberach

2012 - 2013: VT Prof. for Computational Design in Architecture at Trier University of Applied Sciences

2008 - 2012: Senior architect at LAVA Laboratory for Visionary Architecture, Stuttgart

2006 - 2007: Architect at UNStudio van Berkel & Bos, Amsterdam

2004 - 2005: Architect at Massimiliano Fuksas Architects, Frankfurt am Main

Studies

2004 - 2006: Postgraduate Master of Arts in Advanced Architectural Design MA AAD at the Städelschule Frankfurt am Main

2000 - 2004: Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Architecture at the University of Applied Sciences Holzminden

Dr. Claus Schwenzer, Mönchengladbach
Honorary Chairman of the National Federation of Door and Gate Manufacturers (BVT - Verband Tore)

After his studies in mechanical engineering, he completed a doctorate at the RWTH Aachen. Following a leading position in development at BMW AG, in Munich, Claus Schwenzer has been Managing Director of Effertz Tore GmbH in Mönchengladbach since 1993. From 2002 to 2021, he held the office of Chairman of the BVT Association of Door Manufacturers in Ratingen. He is currently honorary chairman of the BVT.