Growth opportunities in the USA: Success strategies for German companies in the manufacturing industry and logistics sector.
This workshop is aimed at German companies in the manufacturing industry and logistics sector looking to penetrate the American market. Our experienced panelists, including representatives from German companies that have successfully expanded into the USA, will share their insights.
We will delve deeply into the challenges and opportunities German companies face when entering the American market, including site selection, adaptation to local business practices, supply chains, workforce availability, and coping with regulatory requirements. Ensuring a resilient supply chain is one of the main challenges for many manufacturing companies.
The panel will illuminate the relevance of geopolitical developments in combination with site selection decisions to prepare you for this challenge. Additionally, we will discuss potential risks and growth opportunities to assist you in making informed decisions and successfully implementing your expansion into the USA.
Unsere Sprecher
Christoph Wesner
Head of Sales Americas | WAGNER Group GmbH
Christoph Wesner, Head of Americas at WAGNER Group GmbH, is responsible for the subsidiaries of WAGNER Group GmbH in the USA and Canada. Together with local teams, Mr. Wesner oversees market development, technical support, and serves as the interface between the subsidiaries and the parent company. Additionally, Mr. Wesner is currently the Managing Director of the Canadian branch.
Before joining WAGNER Group GmbH, Mr. Wesner played a leading role in the sales development and support of the U.S. branch of a mid-sized company.
With nearly 20 years of experience in sales and technical roles in North America, Mr. Wesner brings extensive expertise to his position. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Wilhelmshaven.
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Stefan Schäfer
CEO | Expectus GmbH
Stefan Schäfer has been involved in logistics and freight forwarding for over 35 years.
He held leading positions at global players in the logistics industry in Germany and the USA before founding Expectus GmbH in 2000 and its US branch in San Francisco, California, in 2007.
In 1998, Mr. Schäfer was transferred to Silicon Valley to establish and manage the logistical coordination of internet hardware components from NAFTA for the Deutsche Telekom Group. His expertise includes transportation (international and domestic), warehousing, US customs, strategic locations, insurance, packaging, and more. Mr. Schäfer and his team provide European companies with valuable information about logistical requirements and processes before they establish a new branch or company in the USA.
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Armin Hager
CEO & Co-Founder| VOITAS North America Inc.
Armin Hager, Co-Founder and CEO of the VOITAS Group, has founded companies in Germany, Poland and the USA in the last 5 years with a total of over 90 employees. VOITAS Engineering specializes in the development of wiring systems. This includes the development of wiring harnesses, plastic and metal parts, control unit development and their software. VOITAS Innovations develops, produces and distributes the world's first wallbox with cable reel and cable management systems for electric car chargers. Since January 2024, the Group has also been represented in the USA in Knoxville, TN with VOITAS North America and offers its engineering services and charging solutions.
Mr. Hager has been working in the automotive industry for 20 years and has worked his way up from automotive mechatronics technician and then production specialist.
Christoph Lienemann
Managing Director North America & Partner| PEM Motion
Christoph Lienemann is responsible for the North American operations of PEM Motion in the USA and Mexico with the vision of Driving the Future. For this PEM Motion accompanies their clients on the innovation journey by offering a unique combination of cutting-edge technology and bespoke methods. With over a decade of experience and their strong expert network they pave the way for e-mobility in research and industry. In summary PEM Motion is a business consulting and engineering service provider focused on batteries, electric motors, and the industrialization of mobility products.
Previously Christoph was leading the battery production group at the RWTH Aachen University. His background are Master’s studies in business engineering in Aachen as well as industrial engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
moderation
Jona Rowold
Director of Consulting Services, AHK USA-South
Jona Rowold began his activities at AHK USA-South in January 2022. He grew up in Northern Germany and moved to the USA in 2021. After successfully completing his vocational training as an industrial clerk in Germany, Jona Rowold earned a B.B.A. in International Business in the Netherlands. Prior to his role at AHK USA-South, Jona Rowold worked in the energy sector in Germany. In his role as Director of Consulting Services, Jona Rowold leads state-funded and individual customer projects with his team. The focus is on supporting market entry and expansion in the USA. Jona Rowold has previously led numerous successful delegation trips and market expansion projects and has an extensive network in the southeastern USA.
This workshop is sponsored by