KARLSBAD - Thomas Herrmann, chairman of the Management Board of ultrasonic welding specialist Herrmann Ultraschall has been named as Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 by Ernst & Young.

Herrmann was named in the Innovation category with the jury acknowledging his creativity and commitment as entrepreneur within the German SME sector.

"This award belongs to the global Herrmann Ultraschall team. My thanks go to all 600 colleagues," said a delighted Thomas Herrmann on the evening of the award ceremony.

Herrmann Ultraschall impressed the jury with its pioneering spirit, which has repeatedly produced innovative major advancements in ultrasonic welding. With a strategic focus on internationalization and modern personnel development, Thomas Herrmann has given the company an essential boost. Above all, Herrmann Ultraschall's Why, Bonding – More Than Materials, is worthy of note; it’s not just about bonding materials, but also about strong connections between people, according to jury member Natalie Mekelburger (Coroplast Fritz Müller GmbH & Co. KG), who presented the award in Berlin on November 4.

A total of 36 entrepreneurs reached the finals this year. An independent jury of experts selected the winners in the categories "family business", "innovation", "sustainability" and "young companies". The evaluation criteria included the sustainability of the business model, innovation, transformation, employee management and social responsibility.

Thomas Herrmann, who studied mechanical engineering, took over global management in 2007 from his father Walter, who founded the company in 1961. Prior to that, he had built up the first big subsidiary in the USA. With him, global employee numbers and sales have quadrupled. This is also thanks to the major intercompany cultural change, the "Culture Journey," which he initiated at the beginning of 2017. The company now operates 26 locations in 20 countries supplying solutions for a range of industries inclduing automotive, medical, hygiene and packaging.