Hesse GmbH wins OWL Innovation Award 2025/26 in the “Market Visions” Category
Hesse GmbH, based in Paderborn, Germany, was awarded the OWL Innovation Award 2025/26 in the main category “Market Visions” on April 30, 2026. The company was honored for its “Smart Welder,” an advanced system for ultrasonic metal welding that enables the industrial production of novel welded connections in power electronics modules
Petra Pigerl-Radtke (IHK Ostwestfalen zu Bielefeld, jury spokesperson), Wolfgang Marquardt (OWL GmbH), Landrat Christoph Rüther (Kreis Paderborn, deputy chair of the OWL GmbH shareholders’ meeting), Katharina Lüke (MicroBubbles GmbH), Jörg Timmermann (Kraft group, chair of the OWL GmbH shareholders’ meeting), Roland Damann (Managing Director MicroBubbles GmbH, winner sustainability category), Dr. Matthias Hunstig, Dr. Hans Hesse (both Hesse GmbH, winner main category „market visions“), Alper Imamoglu (MicroBubbles GmbH), Tobias Rebert (Tentris GmbH, winner start-up category), Regierungspräsidentin Anna Katharina Bölling (Bezirksregierung Detmold) und Jürgen Noch (Westfalen Weser); Source: OWL GmbH/ Stork Media
The process replaces conventional soldering methods and thus enables more powerful modules using modern wide bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride. These modules are used, for example, in solar and wind power systems as well as in electrically powered passenger cars, trucks, and trains, making them a key factor for successful electrification.
The “Smart Welder” was developed entirely in Paderborn and is manufactured exclusively there. It was developed in cooperation with Infineon Technologies AG in Warstein, Germany. Infineon has already produced around 1 million modules using the Smart Welder. Numerous other companies worldwide are now using or evaluating this innovative joining technology.
The jury particularly recognized the technological leap achieved, as well as Hesse’s international market leadership in this segment. “Hesse has achieved a breakthrough that will lead to a technological shift in power electronics. The level of innovation is outstanding—especially considering the size of the company,” explained Jürgen Noch, Managing Director of Westfalen Weser, on behalf of the jury. “The new process will not only make a significant contribution to the success of the ‘Energiewende’, but will also open up new markets for the company.”
“The Smart Welder exemplifies our ambition to push technological boundaries and rethink industrial processes for the benefit of our customers,” said Dr. Hans Hesse, Managing Director of Hesse GmbH. “This award confirms the success of our development efforts and the exceptional commitment of our entire team.”
The OWL Innovation Award is one of the most prestigious business awards in the region and is presented every two years by OstWestfalenLippe GmbH. In the 2025/26 competition round, 76 companies from the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region submitted applications.
Founded in Paderborn in 1995, Hesse GmbH is a family-owned company with approximately 260 employees in Paderborn and Bielefeld, as well as subsidiaries in the United States, Hong Kong, and Japan. The company develops and manufactures fully automated ultrasonic wire bonders, ultrasonic welding systems and laser welding systems, software systems for process monitoring, as well as customer-specific tools and machines.
Link to the official press release by OstWestfalenLippe GmbH:
https://www.ostwestfalenlippe.de/projekte/owl-innovationspreis/eine-buehne-fuer-die-innovationskraft-von-owl/
Welding of a Power Module (visualization)
Smart Welder SW1089
Smart Welding of a Module with Pin-Sleeve
Module with Pin-Sleeve Connections (© Infineon)