DIGITAL LEADER AWARD: Lorenz honored as national frontrunner for digital transformation

Lorenz GmbH & Co. KG has won the first place of the renowned "Digital Leader Award" in the category strategy. At a gala ceremony in Berlin, the family-owned company was honored by the "Digital Leader Initiative" under the patronage of Dorothee Bär, Minister of State for Digitization, as a nationwide digital pioneer.

Lorenz is honored for "Germany's best digital transformation strategy". The jury paid tribute to the transition from the formerly traditional manufacturing company to today's pioneer for industry 4.0 and intelligent measuring devices. Today, Lorenz is a " key company for smart metering and water supply 4.0". With " persistence, engineering excellence, willingness to change and innovative concepts" Lorenz has tripled turnover and number of employees within the last 15 years in the course of its own digital transformation. Today, the company employs more than 160 people, produces one million quality water meters Made in Germany every year and generates revenues of around 20 million euros.

Medium-sized family business in line with global corporations

The jury of the Digital Leader Award consists of digital transformation experts from business, science and media. On the basis of a comprehensive criteria catalogue, including both technology and other factors such as corporate and innovation culture, a total of 111 participating companies were examined in detail and independently decided who are Germany's "digital leaders".

As a classic "hidden champion", Lorenz ranks in line with global corporations: Other award winners from this and past years include Daimler, Lufthansa Innovation Hub, Axel Springer and FC Bayern Munich.

"The Digital Leader Award is an incredible joy and honour for our entire team", said Lorenz CEO Wilhelm Mauß happily. "We feel encouraged to continue on our path of relying on cutting-edge technology, resource efficiency and local production, and we hope that this award will also enable us to attract a large number of specialists who can fully develop in the course of our expansion. We are urgently looking for more talent at all levels."

Smart factory for intelligent water meters

In a newly built, intelligent factory, Lorenz produces highly individualized, smart water meters that create the basis for the digital water supply of the future through highest accuracy and full connectivity in combination with innovative services. The Smart Meters consist of a water-bearing hydraulic unit made of lead-free brass and a highly sensitive electronic counter with highest measurement accuracy and stability. With a starting flow of 4 l/h (= dripping tap), even minimal flow rates are registered, which were previously lost as shrinkage quantities in purely mechanical meters.

An industry-wide unique, highly modular platform concept for software and electronics enables maximum variant diversity, comprehensive radio system compatibility and full IoT readyness while maintaining cost-effectiveness and recyclability. Lorenz water meters are developed from the outset for use over several product lifecycles and are taken back by Lorenz, recycled and reintegrated into the production cycle even after use and calibration-related removal. This reduces energy and material costs as well as CO2 emissions by up to 80 %.

Further awards for environmental protection and corporate sustainability

In the past, Lorenz has received several further awards for research and development, corporate responsibility and sustainable management. In mid-May an international jury selected the Lorenz smart residential water meters as "Product of the Year 2019" of the MOVECO Innovation Award presented in Linz by the Economy State Minister of Upper Austria. In June, the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) and the Regional Network Units for Sustainability Strategies (RENN) selected Lorenz as one of 40 winners among 500 participants as " Project Sustainability 2019".