The BERNER Group has been recognized as one of Germany's most innovative mid-sized companies.

At this year's German SME Summit in Heidelberg, the B2B specialist received the prestigious TOP 100 award. Christian Wulff, former President of Germany and mentor of the competition, personally congratulated during the official award ceremony.

To qualify for the prestigious TOP 100 award, companies must undergo a comprehensive benchmarking process involving more than 100 evaluation criteria. A key focus is how effectively a company's culture promotes innovation. In his speech, Christian Wulff highlighted that the award-winning companies are developing solutions to some of today's most pressing challenges, including the responsible use of resources.

One example is BERNER's growing “Responsible Product” line, which offers an expanding range of sustainable chemical solutions. Among them is the XTREME Parts Cleaner. The innovative product is readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD 301A, contains no fossil-based solvents, fragrances or unpleasant odors, and removes even stubborn contamination without leaving residue. Developed in-house, the product is now also available in a convenient spray format.

"Thanks to our field sales teams, we are in close contact with our customers every day and understand how time-consuming parts cleaning can be, especially when working in hard-to-reach areas," says Dr Johannes Halama, Head of Chemical Engineering, who accepted the award on behalf of the BERNER Group together with Vice President Bernd Laibacher. "The new spray version provides a portable, ready-to-use solution that gives workshop professionals greater flexibility wherever they are working."

Innovation starts with the customer

The scientific selection process was led by Prof. Dr Nikolaus Franke of WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. The innovation researcher praised the award winners for creating organizations where innovation becomes a natural outcome.

"TOP 100 companies establish structures and leadership mechanisms that enable innovation to flourish. They know how to translate close customer relationships into new ideas. Above all, they foster a culture in which change is seen not as a threat but as a normal part of business”, Franke summarizes.

BERNER impressed the jury in size group C (companies with more than 200 employees in Germany), particularly in the category Innovation Processes and Organization.

"For us, innovation always starts with the customer. Their challenges and needs are at the heart of everything we do," says Vice President Bernd Laibacher. "The XTREME Parts Cleaner demonstrates how we combine market insights, regulatory requirements and a deep understanding of our customers. We recognized early on that while both traditional solvent-based cleaners and many water-based alternatives are highly effective, users often have concerns because they can cause headaches or discomfort. With the XTREME Parts Cleaner, we have developed a more sustainable and user-friendly alternative featuring an exceptionally powerful formula. This is how we create innovations that deliver real value for our customers."

Curiosity, courage and teamwork fuel innovation

"Innovation happens when people share ideas, take ownership and work together to develop new solutions," says BERNER CEO Peter Schmidt. "The TOP 100 award recognizes the curiosity, courage and team spirit of our employees across Europe. For us, innovation is about much more than developing new products. It means continuously improving the way we support our customers. This award encourages us to continue on that path."

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