Uhlmann Group brings the voice of SMEs to the B20 summit

Laupheim and Washington D.C., November 9, 2026. An extraordinary opportunity for the Uhlmann Group: As part of the delegation of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Group with roots in Laupheim, Upper Swabia, is bringing the perspective of an internationally active medium-sized mechanical engineering company to the deliberations at the B20 Summit in the USA. The focus is on reducing bureaucratic export hurdles, reliable framework conditions for innovation and direct talks with representatives of US government agencies. This year's summit will take place under the title B20 USA Summit from November 9 to 11 in Washington, D.C.

On the recommendation of the BDI, Uhlmann Group CEO Prof. Matthias Niemeyer, who was involved in the B20 process via the VDMA, brought the perspective of industry and in particular industrial SMEs to the B20 Innovation Task Force. Holger Hochdorfer, Head of Ecosystem & Partner Management at the Group Company Uhlmann Pac-Systeme, was intensively involved in the substantive work and the recommendations for the B20 Leaders' Statement. In Washington, he is now continuing this commitment and bringing the positions of the Uhlmann Group into the political talks as part of the BDI delegation.

Prof. Matthias Niemeyer: "International economic and trade policy directly affects German SMEs specifically, which are highly specialized in technology. We know very well which regulations actually drive innovation and investment and how even well-intentioned regulations can become a hurdle for innovative companies. The fact that we can now bring this entrepreneurial perspective to Washington is an important signal for small and medium-sized businesses in Germany."

In particular, Holger Hochdorfer wants to bring the perspective of SMEs on trade barriers and regulatory barriers to the discussions in order to strengthen functioning free global trade. If standards or safety tests diverge internationally, this ties up considerable resources and makes it more difficult not only to export high-tech equipment, but also to make time-critical deliveries, for example in the pharmaceutical sector.

Another focus is on digital competitiveness. Data flows are an essential part of global trade today. To successfully apply and scale digital solutions and artificial intelligence, reliable cross-border data flows and cooperation in data ecosystems are needed. At the same time, it is important to strengthen Europe's technological sovereignty in data and artificial intelligence. In Hochdorfer's view, strategic partnerships and international alliances are also crucial to drive innovation and ensure competitiveness. Sustainability must come back into focus, too.

Holger Hochdorfer will complete an intensive program during the summit days. Politically particularly important dates are direct bilateral consultations with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the central trade policy hub of the White House, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

He wants to clarify the specific SME perspective: "Large corporations often have extensive structures and direct access to represent their interests in individual markets. For specialized medium-sized solution providers, on the other hand, additional regulatory requirements and different technical standards mean a considerable effort. In the talks with the US authorities, we are therefore committed to the mutual recognition of technical standards, plannable framework conditions and reliable global supply chains."

ABOUT THE B20 SUMMIT

The B20 is the economic forum of the G20 process. Companies and business associations develop joint recommendations for the G20 governments here. The B20 process is consensus-oriented and is intended to bring practical experience of business into international politics. The B20 Summit serves to prepare for the G20 summit in Florida at the end of this year.

ABOUT THE UHLMANN GROUP

Uhlmann Group consists of six Group Companies and their respective subsidiaries: Uhlmann Pac-Systeme (Laupheim, Germany), KOCH Pac-Systeme (Pfalzgrafenweiler, Germany), Cremer Speciaalmachines (Lisse, Netherlands), Wonder Packing (Jinzhou, China), Goldfuss Automation (Balingen, Germany) and Axito (Wrocław, Poland). Together, they are committed to ensuring the global availability of sensitive products in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, consumer goods, food and agricultural industries. Through a comprehensive and innovative portfolio of machines, software and services, the companies cover the entire packaging value chain. Under the leadership of Uhlmann Group Holding, the Group is driving the transformation of the packaging ecosystem with a strong focus on digitalization and sustainability. Around 2,500 people work for the Group at 22 locations worldwide. In fiscal year 2025/26, Group revenue amounted to €538 million.