Michael Koch GmbH from Ubstadt-Weiher was awarded the „Premier Plaque of Honour“ at the national gala of the „Großer Preis des Mittelstandes“ competition. Only three companies in the whole of Germany have been honoured with this award.
This unique and therefore very special honour was presented to the managing partners Christine and Michael Koch in a festive setting. Their company from Mittelbaden has not only established itself on the market, but has also stood out from the competition. „Grand Prix of the Mittelstand“ The company has worked its way up step by step. After receiving honours at state level in 2006 and the Grand Prix in 2007, it achieved its first award at national level in 2011 and the „Premier“, so to speak, the German championship of medium-sized companies in 2016.
If a company then continues on its successful path, it can be honoured after two years at the earliest with a „Premier badge of honour“ be honoured once again. Michael Koch GmbH has now succeeded in doing so.
„Simply fantastic, unbelievable - the result of the work of a wonderful team,“ says the surprised Michael Koch straight to the point after the award ceremony.
Koch has established itself on the market since its foundation in 1997 with innovative and customisable products and a high level of service. The safe braking resistors and active energy storage systems for the Electrical drive technology can now be found in many stationary, electrically driven machine types in almost all branches of industry.
As a supplier to globally active drive technology companies as well as many well-known machine manufacturers, Koch has managed to make its mark in the industry as a reliable company. Competent employees, customised application engineering and high-quality products are just some of the reasons why Koch is a reliable supplier. three reasons that have made this success possible. The employees are fully behind the ambitious targets because, in addition to job security, they share in the company's success.
Simultaneously driving forward internationalisation while strengthening regional commitment and focusing on innovation in conjunction with reducing negative environmental impact sounds like squaring the circle: the Kochs rely on active employees and the unshakeable conviction that the impossible is possible after all. For years, the company has been operating CO2-neutral.
[infotext icon]Nominated by the municipality of Ubstadt-Weiher, Michael Koch GmbH ultimately prevailed against a total of 5,339 companies from Germany. Two jury stages of the Oskar Patzelt Foundation were able to be convinced in a total of five criteria groups for the evaluation: Overall development of the company over the last five years, creation and safeguarding of jobs and apprenticeships, innovation and modernisation, commitment to the region and in the customer-oriented areas of service, customer proximity and marketing.
With strong growth in turnover and jobs over the past five years, the company impresses with the dynamism of medium-sized businesses. With currently six trainees and two students at the Cooperative State University in Mannheim, numerous internships for pupils and students and direct contacts with regional schools, Koch makes it clear that small companies are particularly committed to the future of young people and the region. This also includes the diverse voluntary commitment the owner and employee in numerous organisations and associations. Find out what drives Michael Koch as an entrepreneur and as a person in our Interview [/infotext]
„We didn't expect this rare honour at all - I was completely surprised and am over the moon!“, expresses Christine Lieber-Koch expressed her delight at receiving the award. „We smaller companies - like us women, by the way - always have to achieve something extraordinary in order to be recognised in public. It is very important that there is such a SME initiative exists!“
Prize awarded by the Oskar Patzelt Foundation
This refers to the work of the Oskar Patzelt Foundation, which has been awarding the „Großer Preis des Mittelstandes“ for 25 years now. Although the prize is not endowed, more and more companies are taking part in the competition. The company is considered as a whole, not just individual aspects such as innovation or growth.
Every year, companies with outstanding development and a strong commitment to the region are sought across all sectors in industry, trade, services and commerce. The initiative is organised entirely on a voluntary basis and privately financed, without a single euro of taxpayers' money.
The award is a boost for Michael Koch GmbH. The signs for further positive development of the company and the prospect of further awards are good.
„Despite the current economic outlook and the international confusion, we still see good opportunities to develop further and create even more opportunities for ourselves,“ entrepreneur Koch is convinced.
Source: Michael Koch GmbH
