Hans Jörg Ohler and Christoph Franz take over management at laser-monitoring system manufacturer 4D
Industrial-laser monitoring systems maker 4D Ingenieurgesellschaft für Technische Dienstleistungen mbH (4D; Isernhagen, Germany) now has new management: the company's founders, Drs. Jens Mommsen and Martin Stürmer, handed over the reins to Hans Jörg Ohler and Christoph Franz. The two founders will move to the supervisory board, following their 23 years of company development.
4D develops, manufactures, and distributes systems for observing and monitoring laser processes as part of the processes' quality assurance. Its technology of photodiode-based process monitoring is at the core of its systems for inline QA of laser welding and brazing. Its high processing speed makes 4D's WeldWatcher system well-suited for remote and scanner-based processes like in-seat production, e-mobility, and electronics.
4D's customers come from the automotive industry and include suppliers such as Faurecia, Brose, Continental, and others. The company's revenues come in almost equal shares from markets in Europe, North America, and China.
The company notes that its founders have carefully prepared this succession process. In 2014, they sold a majority of the company to DIH Beteiligungen GmbH (Deutsche Industrie Holding). DIH is an owner-managed investment company with a long-term strategy. Hans Jörg Ohler was introduced as CEO in 2016. He is an expert in high-volume manufacturing and previously worked with ThyssenKrupp Tailored Blanks. Christoph Franz is an expert in process monitoring. Before joining 4D in 2018, he led a business unit for remote laser solutions at Scansonic.
In addition, the company will move into new premises by the end of the year.
Source: 4D
John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)
John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.