Craft businesses honored for special export successes
Lower Saxony Foreign Trade Award 2025 officially presented.
The Lower Saxony Foreign Trade Award 2025 was presented by Minister Olaf Lies at the state’s Foreign Trade Day at the beginning of April. The prestigious award recognizes companies from Lower Saxony for their entrepreneurial concepts and activities in foreign business.
“We are delighted that skilled trade companies are once again among the best this year. Even in challenging times, they are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by international business. Skilled crafts businesses are often innovative niche providers that successfully assert themselves on international markets through targeted strategies. Foreign activities make a decisive contribution to their business success and growth, which in turn benefits the overall economic strength of Lower Saxony,” emphasizes Dr. Hildegard Sander, Managing Director of the State Representation of the Chambers of Skilled Crafts of Lower Saxony.
Top quality craftsmanship from Delligsen to Dubai
The winner in the “Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)” category is Bornemann Gewindetechnik GmbH & Co. The owner-managed family business based in Delligsen manufactures high-quality, customized threaded spindles. Its history began in 1964 as a small, regionally active craft business. Today, Bornemann generates almost 50 percent of its turnover in over 50 countries according to the motto “from regional to global, from Delligsen to Dubai”. Among other things, they rely on the use of artificial intelligence, an online presence in 17 languages and innovative marketing ranging from social media to emotional storytelling. With its 55 employees, Bornemann offers certified top quality from Germany and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers in its segment.
Strong craftsmanship for strong agriculture worldwide
Also among the nominees was Urban GmbH & Co. KG from Wüsting. Urban has been developing, producing and selling efficient solutions for agriculture since 1984. They use their expertise for the sustainable and future-proof rearing of calves and lambs. Urban has already received an award for its innovations at the Eurotier 2024 trade fair. Among other things, a new disinfection technology for agriculture is currently playing a special role in its success: in order to minimize antibiotic-resistant germs in food production, Urban has made the disinfection with UV-C light known from the hospital sector applicable to agriculture and in particular to cow, calf and lamb husbandry. One year after the series launch, the technology is already being exported to over 15 countries. Urban is present on all five continents. This is made possible by a dealer network spanning 65 countries, scientific studies, customized products for every market and, above all, a dedicated team of around 100 employees.
Global understanding has its roots in craftsmanship
The winner in the “large company” category is Sennheiser electronic SE & Co KG from Wedemark. Founded in 1945 as a small craft business, the family-owned company has developed into the world’s leading manufacturer in the field of professional audio technology. Its innovative products combine craftsmanship and precision. Today, the product portfolio includes wireless microphone and monitor systems, wired microphones, conference and information technology, headphones for professional use, streaming technologies as well as 3D audio technologies and software. With a total of 21 sales subsidiaries and long-standing trading partners, the audio specialist is active in over 50 countries. Today, Sennheiser generates almost 90 percent of its turnover abroad. Sennheiser employs 2,180 people worldwide. People from 30 nations work in Lower Saxony.
The Lower Saxony Foreign Trade Award was presented for the 15th time.