FRANKFURT, Dec. 16, 2025 – Ralph Lehleuter, managing partner at Mafu Group, is the new chairman of the VDMA Automated Solutions Board.
"Despite the current economic challenges, intense global competition, and ongoing customs uncertainties, we remain optimistic," said Ralph Lehleuter about his new role. "As Automated Solutions, we place a strong focus on innovation and technological expertise. Artificial Intelligence is particularly in the spotlight: our goal is to make this technology tangible and ready for practical use by our member companies–as a driver for efficiency and productivity. At the same time, we see the defence sector as an opportunity to leverage the technological capabilities of our member companies to strengthen national security.
"Confidence is essential, especially in these challenging times. With full conviction and commitment, I will work closely with the entire board, to sustainably strengthen the competitiveness of our industry and provide our member companies with clear recommendations for action. I look forward to further advancing the Automated Solutions division of the VDMA as Chairman of the Executive Board,"
With his appointment by the Automated Solutions Executive Board, Ralph Lehleuter succeeds Jörg Kipper (Managing Director of Festo Vertrieb GmbH & Co.KG), who is retiring. At the VDMA European Robotics and Automation Summit in Bologna in October 2025, Jörg Kipper was honored for his many years of dedicated service on the Executive Board of the trade association.
About the VDMA
The VDMA represents 3600 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies. The industry stands for innovation, export orientation and SMEs. The companies employ around 3 million people in the EU-27, more than 1.2 million of them in Germany alone. This makes mechanical and plant engineering the largest employer among the capital goods industries, both in the EU-27 and in Germany. In the European Union, it represents a turnover volume of an estimated 870 billion euros. Around 80 percent of the machinery sold in the EU comes from a manufacturing plant in the domestic market.
The VDMA Robotics + Automation Association (VDMA R+A) is a trade association within the umbrella of the VDMA with more than 415 member companies: Suppliers of components and systems from the fields of robotics, automated solutions and machine vision. The aim of this industry-driven platform is to support robotics and automation through a wide range of activities and services. Key activities include statistical analysis and market surveys, marketing activities, standards development, public relations, research, trend studies, trade fair policy as well as networking events and conferences.
