Baden-Württemberg Minister-President Cem Özdemir visited the headquarters of ventilation, motor and drive technology specialist Ziehl-Abegg in Künzelsau, southern Germany, to discuss energy efficiency, innovation and the future competitiveness of German industry. During the visit, Özdemir met Ziehl-Abegg Executive Board members Joachim Ley, Wolfgang Mayer and Marco Altherr, as well as Works Council Chairman Rinor Imeri. Discussions focused on the challenges facing German industry and the role of energy-efficient technologies in supporting climate protection and economic growth.
Özdemir, who has served as Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg since May 2026, toured Ziehl-Abegg’s InVent development centre and production facilities. He was shown the company’s latest developments in fans, electric motors and drive systems, along with technologies for data centres, heat pumps and energy-efficient buildings.
The programme also included a visit to the company’s large fan testing facility, including the world’s largest combined fan test chamber.
“Climate change may no longer be quite as fashionable a topic as it once was. But we must not push it aside or ignore it,” Özdemir said. He described Ziehl-Abegg as an example of how climate protection and economic performance can work together.
He also highlighted the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy, noting that both can help reduce energy consumption and costs.
Joachim Ley said innovation remains central to Ziehl-Abegg’s competitiveness. “Our greatest protection is innovation,” he said, adding that the company’s expertise in energy efficiency and low-noise technology helps it compete in international markets. The discussions also covered the need for closer cooperation between policymakers and industry. Özdemir stressed that reducing bureaucracy and speeding up approval processes would be important for maintaining Germany’s position as an industrial location.
The Minister-President praised Ziehl-Abegg’s approach to innovation and its commitment to manufacturing in Germany. He described the company’s employees as people who are focused on finding solutions through research, development and hard work. Mr Ley said the visit demonstrated Ziehl-Abegg’s combination of innovation, international operations and strong roots in its home region.
The visit highlighted the growing importance of energy-efficient technologies for reducing emissions, improving energy security and supporting industrial growth. It also reinforced the need for continued investment in research and development and stable conditions for companies operating in Germany.
Founded in Berlin in 1910 by Emil Ziehl, Ziehl-Abegg is a family-owned company headquartered in Künzelsau. It develops ventilation, control and drive technology, as well as electric motors for applications including elevators and medical equipment. The company has around 5,800 employees across 17 production plants, 30 companies and 114 sales locations. Its approximately 30,000 products are sold in more than 100 countries, with annual turnover of more than €1 billion.
