After earning a degree in technical cybernetics in Stuttgart and a Ph.D. in control engineering at the University of Groningen (Netherlands), Florian Kerber has served as a professor of control engineering at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences and as the scientific director of the Flexible Automation Technology Transfer Center in Nördlingen since 2014. His research focuses on the field of flexible robotic automation.

Norbert Strohmaier is the Global Business Process Owner for Configuration and is responsible for engineering data at Lapp Service GmbH. A graduate in mechanical engineering (University of Stuttgart), he specialized early on in technology management and the digitalization of development processes.
His career includes many years of experience in CAD, ECAD, and PLM consulting, as well as a role as Product Owner for cloud-based CAD solutions. Today, he applies this expertise at the intersection of IT and design to the global harmonization of data structures and configuration processes. In addition, he is actively involved in teaching: at the DHBW Stuttgart, he instructs aspiring engineers in the subjects of design and development engineering as well as design management.

Avnish Gupta is CEO at Enemtech Capital Inc, a Family Office & Private equity investor.
Its portfolio of companies includes IT services, Industrial Automation & Digitalisation, Industrial Solutions in Energy & water efficiency, Tech enabled Engineering services, Blockchain technology and B2B Insuretech.
Avnish is also the co-founder & CEO at Trimasys Control Solutions and has served at Emerson Automation Solutions as the Business Unit Head for Emerson Virgo India.
Avnish holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and completed Management Development Programs in Business Strategy & Management from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Ross school of Business at the University of Michigan.

Karolina Braun is Account Manager for the parts management solution “ENTERPRISE 3Dfindit” at CADENAS GmbH.
With her many years of experience in the aluminum and zinc die casting industry, she skillfully bridges the gap between physical component manufacturing and modern software development. This well-founded dual perspective makes her an authentic consultant who understands both worlds. Karolina impresses with her friendly, approachable manner and lives by the motto: “Movement is movement, standing still is death” – a drive that she brings to the digital transformation of her customers every day.

Noah Blechinger is Account Manager for ENTERPRISE 3Dfindit at CADENAS GmbH and has been with the company for four years. His focus is on advising companies in the field of parts management. He supports engineering teams in finding components faster, reusing them efficiently, and making better use of existing data.

Dirk Langenohl is 2023 International Sales Development Manager at norelem Normelemente GmbH & Co. KG. Previously, he worked in the Key Accounting department since 2016, also at norelem Normelemente GmbH & Co. KG. Other positions he has held include Misumi Europa GmbH, THK GmbH, PRI-Automation, Synthetica GmbH, Kostal Ireland and Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG

Christian Durst has been working in mechanical engineering for more than two decades. He has been working in sales at Robotunits for six years, combining engineering thinking with B2B sales and strategic approaches in digital sales.

While studying computer science in the mid-1980s, I stumbled upon engineering topics in process plant construction by pure chance, and the subject has stayed with me ever since.
Since then, I have gradually built up a small group of companies and products that have made a name for themselves internationally in the field of engineering software and projects. The vision behind this has always been to create a unified, collaborative approach with a focus on overall efficiency and reliability.
I myself have undergone a transformation from software developer to solution specialist and facilitator, turning the knowledge of our experts and partners into products and services.

Alexander acts as a trusted advisor and interim manager for digital engineering.
After many years at CADENAS, he now combines in-depth process knowledge in parts management with open-source principles to shape the systems engineering of the future.

Benjamin Zorn is Vice President Business Development at DSC Software AG and has over 20 years of experience in the IT and software industry. He also has extensive know-how from the various IT perspectives of a company. He supports companies in the concrete implementation of digitization strategies in the area of product data and lifecycle management with SAP.

Markus Poppinghuys has been responsible for the Essen location at CADENAS since 2004 and works in project sales and customer consulting. With over 20 years of experience in the field of parts management, he supports and assists national and international PARTsolutions and 3Dfindit customers and interested parties of CADENAS in his function as Vice President Enterprise 3Dfindit.

Prof. Dr. Markus Sause
Director, Center for Future Production, University of Augsburg & AI Production Network
For more than 15 years, Prof. Dr. Markus Sause has been a visionary driving forward data-driven technologies. In his role as Director of the Center for Future Production at the University of Augsburg, he is already implementing Industry 5.0 together with an interdisciplinary team. The focus is on the best possible cooperation between humans and automation, the consistent use of AI technologies, and the development of sustainable and resilient technologies for production.

My name is Vanessa Kraus. I work as a consultant at LuArtX IT GmbH and lead the layout and factory planning subproject in the DIAMOND research project.
I am a trained technical draftsman/designer in the field of HVAC and energy technology. My focus is on the MicroStation drawing program with the CARF add-on for all modules in the areas of building services engineering, FTLT, calculations, and IFC in all project phases.
I actively and administratively pass on my expertise, our program innovations, and implementations to our customers and users in order to bring their projects to a successful conclusion in the best possible way.
Motivation, ambition, and success are my top priorities.

Rudolf Kaiser is responsible for the B2B division in sales at Viega GmbH. In his role, he designs and manages digital interfaces and processes for customers.
His focus is on the consistent digitalization of sales and customer processes in the B2B environment. His goal is to achieve sustainable efficiency gains and create measurable added value for customers through intelligent process optimization.
With a clear focus on customer benefits, data integration, and scalable digital solutions, he drives the further development of modern B2B services.

Karsten Spiess is responsible for “Data Management MEP/BIM” and heads the CADENAS BIM Competence Center branch. Mr. Spiess has been involved in product data management in the heating, sanitary, ventilation, air conditioning (HSLK), electrical (ET) and building automation (GA) trades for over 20 years. Karsten Spiess is author of various VDI guideline series 3805 for product data exchange, in addition he holds the position of deputy chairman VDMA ARGE BIM as well as deputy chairman of the committee VDI 3805 ET and GA, DIN SPEC 91555 on the topics of classification and standardization for the life cycle planning-building-operation. He is also project manager of TP1.3 (building planning and technical building services) of the DIAMOND research project “Digital plant modeling with neutral data formats”.

Johannes Geyrhalter is the Technical Partner Manager at EPLAN and an expert in industrial standardization. His focus is on ECLASS and the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) to realize the digital twin through consistent, automated data flows in engineering.

As Head of Project Management at D&TS, Pierre Häcker is responsible for the strategic implementation of complex master data projects. His focus is on the implementation of international standards such as ECLASS and the development of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS). By linking technical classification with automated data flows, he creates the basis for the digital twin in industrial value creation. As an expert, he supports companies in setting up their engineering data in a future-proof and efficient manner.

Started at PVA Industurial Vacuum Systems GmbH in July 2015 as a trainee technical product designer in mechanical design and successfully completed further training to become a state-certified technician. After 8 years of working in mechanical design, the desire for new challenges has arisen. Since July 2023 supporting as Data Manager in the IT-EDM team of PVA TePla AG. The activities here relate to administration, holding internal training courses, master data maintenance in the applications Sage b7, Windchill PDMLink and Creo Parametric and support for the use of CADENAS standard parts management, among others

Started as a CAD/PLM administrator at PVA TePla AG in July 2021, and now head of the IT-EDM department with a specialized team of ePlan, Creo Parametric, data management, and Windchill PDMLink experts. In addition to my duties as an administrator, I also act as a project manager or project team member, sometimes with solutions architect functions.

As one of the pioneers of “Electronic Engineering Software”, Joachim began his career as a software engineer with the development of CAD software for electronics (PCB routing and PCB layout for electronics). In 1987, after completing his studies in computer engineering, he co-founded CIM-Team GmbH in Ulm, which developed E3.series, one of the leading solutions for electrical engineering software. Since 2006, Joachim Frank has been part of the management team at Zuken for the E-CAD software E³.series with over 4,500 customers worldwide. In cooperation with CADENAS, Zuken E3 supports the establishment of 3Dfindit as the standard for the provision of electrified components by manufacturers. The current focus is on managing the partnerships with nVent/Hoffman and the Smart Cabinet Building Initiative.

Achim Stirner has been responsible for pre-sales and after-sales projects for E³.series at Zuken since 2005 and has been product manager for E³.series since 2017. Together with partners Weidmüller, Komax, Armbruster Engineering, and nVent, he is driving forward the Smart Cabinet Building Initiative. After studying electrical engineering, he worked for eight years as an electrical design engineer at TRUMPF in Ditzingen, Germany, and therefore knows the requirements of customers from his own experience.

Bernd Postaremczak has been with the SMS group since 2000 and has been working with CADENAS since 2002, initially in his former position as CAD administrator at the then SMS Eumuco in Leverkusen. From 2006, he was responsible for parts management at the Hilchenbach site and built up an international team. Since 2021, he has been the Material Compliance Officer of the SMS group. In addition, he is a lecturer on the subject of data management in material compliance at Ingolstadt Technical University.

Markus Poppinghuys has been responsible for the Essen location at CADENAS since 2004 and works in project sales and customer consulting. With over 20 years of experience in the field of parts management, he supports and assists national and international PARTsolutions and 3Dfindit customers and interested parties of CADENAS in his function as Vice President Enterprise 3Dfindit.

Benjamin Lechler is the owner and CEO of cueconcept GmbH in Herzogenaurach. As an experienced business development expert and graduate engineer in event and production technology with an MBA in event marketing, he combines technical expertise with strategic thinking. He is passionate about innovative technologies and impressive customer experiences. Together with his team, he develops forward-looking immersive 3D experience and dialogue solutions that bring communication worlds together – across formats and channels. His goal is to transform data-driven communication and collaboration in a sustainable and inspiring way through advanced technologies.

Van Phuc Tran supports companies in Key Account Management at CT CoreTechnologie on their path toward digital process optimization. As a specialist in CAD interoperability, he combines technical expertise with practical solutions for data exchange. His goal is to relieve engineering teams from manual data repair and geometry simplification and to ensure digital deliverability and the protection of know‑how through automated data preparation.

As a trained business economist, Matthias Radner has been active in the sales of complex products in the B2B and B2C sectors for almost a decade. His previous position as managing director enabled him to apply his in-depth knowledge of electrical and communications engineering in a practical setting. 

At Resolto Informatik GmbH, he combines this experience with his enthusiasm for digital technologies to create customized product configurators that streamline processes and deliver sustainable added value.

Paulo Ferreira is the managing director of D&TS GmbH in Schwelm. He supports industrial companies in master data management, data quality, and classification—especially according to standards such as ECLASS—and in the standardization of unstructured product information into system-compatible engineering data. He has been working closely with CADENAS for many years to industrialize digital product data chains and prepare connections to CAD, PLM, and ERP systems such as Siemens Teamcenter and SAP. His projects lay the foundation for scalable processes and a consistent database.

Felix Schulte is Head of Marketing & Business Development at CADENAS GmbH. In his role, he works intensively with eCATALOGsolutions customers in the area of marketing opportunities. He has a special focus on the further development and optimization of these.

Frank Epple has been working at CADENAS GmbH since 1997. Since 2000 he has been the Head of Software Development and thus responsible for the technical side of PARTsolutions and eCATALOGsolutions.

Alexander Scholz gained his first experience with CADENAS PARTsolutions while studying for his bachelor's degree at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University. After completing his bachelor's degree, he worked in both design and PLM consulting and went on to complete his master's degree. He has been employed by LISSMAC Maschinenbau GmbH since 2023 and, as a PLM/CAD administrator, his professional activities focus in particular on CAD and PLM processes, manufacturing interfaces, and process automation. As part of this role, Alexander Scholz led the implementation project for CADENAS ENTERPRISE 3Dfindit as a standard and custom parts library in 2025.

Jürgen Rundel first came into contact with the then still young CADENAS PARTsolutions during a student project in 2005. The qualified Dipl.-Ing. in Vehicle System Engineering gained experience in special-purpose machine design as well as in project management and has been employed at LISSMAC Maschinenbau GmbH since 2015. In this role, he realized that efficient design and project management are only possible with well-maintained master data. Consequently, his area of responsibility increasingly shifted toward data management, ultimately leading to his role as Purchased Parts Key User and Master Data Coordinator during the implementation of PRO.FILE, as well as project management for the introduction of CADENAS ENTERPRISE 3Dfindit.

I completed my studies in Vienna, Chicago, and Birmingham (UK) – Master's degree in International Business. After several years with two global IT companies, I finally returned to my home town of Klagenfurt on Lake Wörthersee. I then joined our family business, KRAUS Betriebsausstattung und Fördertechnik GmbH, in the area of corporate development and digitalization, and have been managing director since summer 2024. In this role, I consistently drive digitalization and innovation and align the company with a focus on the future. In addition to my professional activities, I am the proud father of two sons and combine entrepreneurial responsibility with regional ties and an international mindset.

Responsible for CAD and PDM systems as well as software implementations and the integration of third-party systems at the Rutesheim site.
Initiator, designer, and developer of several CAD product configurators.
The presentation focuses on the use of Part Project from CADENAS - from problem identification to design and programming to rollout and continuous development in productive use.

Tilman Schäfer is Head of Digital Experience & Digital Product Content and Data at Festo SE & Co. KG, the global automation and technology group based in Esslingen. Since 1999, he has been shaping Festo's digital sales strategy with a focus on e-commerce and digital sales solutions. In his role, he drives digital transformation in sales, combines technological innovation with practical market relevance, and supports cross-functional teams in the development of digital platforms. Tilman Schäfer lives and works in the Stuttgart region and has been committed to digitalization in the industrial environment for many years.

Jürgen Herr is Head of Customer Engineering Data at Festo SE & Co. KG and is responsible for the end-to-end process of creating, quality assuring, and globally providing engineering data for Festo's entire product portfolio. At Festo, he is actively involved in the digital twin and the further development of data-based product models for digital engineering processes. In doing so, he enhances the digital experience of our customers—both on the Festo platform and in external engineering environments.

After completing a vocational training program in electrical engineering and subsequently studying electrical engineering, Thomas Nieborg began his professional career at an electrical installation company in Münster. In 2000, he moved to Hamburg to work for a LonWorks manufacturer, initially as an application engineer and later as a product manager and support manager. He has been with Wieland Electric GmbH in Bamberg since 2005. Here, too, he started as an application engineer. His area of responsibility for pluggable electrical installation concepts developed from Germany to Europe and finally worldwide. For the past four years, he has been responsible for the digital twins of the gesis® and RST® product families as Product Information Manager in Product Management, while also supporting the further development of the 3D planning tool Building Solutions Designer BIM.

After training as a goldsmith, studied industrial engineering. Several stays abroad for an automobile manufacturer and development of a general contractor approach for several production plants. Responsible for the cable entry systems division since 2019 and overall responsibility for product management at Murrplastik since 2025.