Hans Beckhoff, founder and Managing Director of Beckhoff Automation, has been awarded the prestigious Rudolf Diesel Medal 2025 for Outstanding Innovation Achievement. The award ceremony took place at the MAN Museum in Augsburg on July 10, where Beckhoff was honored for his pioneering role in advancing automation technology.
Recognized as one of Europe’s oldest and most respected innovation awards, the Rudolf Diesel Medal celebrates individuals and companies whose work has significantly improved society and strengthened Germany’s innovation culture. Presented by the German Institute for Inventions (D.I.E. e.V.), the award acknowledges inventors and entrepreneurs whose contributions drive progress and inspire future generations.
Hans Beckhoff was selected by the award’s Board of Trustees, a group of around 60 technology leaders from medium-sized global firms, for leading innovations that have shaped modern industry. His introduction of PC-based control technology in 1985 revolutionized the automation sector, turning Beckhoff Automation into a global leader in industrial control systems. Under his leadership, the company has developed many technologies that have become international standards in automation.
Today, Beckhoff Automation employs approximately 5,300 people across 41 locations worldwide, recording revenues of €1.17 billion in 2024. The company focuses on software-driven control systems, integration of IT with automation, high-speed communication solutions, advanced drive technologies, and embedded artificial intelligence—offering solutions that support industries ranging from manufacturing to scientific research and large-scale event productions.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hans Beckhoff expressed gratitude to the Board of Trustees and acknowledged his team of over 600 developers and product managers for their role in the company’s innovations. He credited customer collaboration as a vital part of Beckhoff’s success, emphasizing that many product improvements were shaped through client feedback and real-world applications.
Beckhoff is now working on its latest project, the Automation Brain, aimed at giving machinery advanced intelligence akin to human thought processes. Sharing advice with young engineers, Hans Beckhoff encouraged them to embrace invention for the sheer joy of discovery: “Inventing is a source of happiness. That moment when an idea becomes reality is unforgettable. Keep pushing forward—it’s worth the effort.”
