TV programme Marken im Fokus

Design and innovation hand in hand

High-quality products should also offer end consumers aesthetic added value. Hardly anyone knows that better than Klaus Bischoff, international head of design at the world's largest car manufacturer, Volkswagen. In the brand talk with PLUS X AWARD President Donat Brandt, Sandro Fabris, head of product marketing at Medion, explains how the brand from the heart of the Ruhr region has gone from PC manufacturer to a much-sought-after full-range supplier. Gunter Kürten is also a guest. The CEO of the premium brand Thorens knows why the vinyl record is enjoying a revival and makes clear that this technology is far from having had its day. The talk is accompanied by leading design expert and PLUS X AWARD juror Dirk Hagen Zimmermann.

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The future and sustainability

Who would have thought that insurance could be so exciting? Zouhair Haddou-Temsamani of ARAG, Germany's oldest family-owned insurer, illustrates how progressive flat hierarchies lead to rapid innovation that is always very close to what the customer needs. At premium tap manufacturer Kludi, quality and the slogan “Made in Germany” are decisive success criteria for the brand, which is trusted worldwide. Sebastian Biener makes clear how important sustainable production is for taps and fittings too. The talk is also accompanied by PLUS X AWARD juror, smart home expert and managing director of Strobel-Verlag, Christopher Strobel.

How “smart” will the future be?

Do you know the difference between a smart home and a connected home? Dirk Kohler of the Merten brand helps with the distinction and explains that artificial intelligence today makes far more possible than controlling music with your voice. At Vestel, one of the largest technology companies in the world, products are becoming ever smarter too. Sales Director Robert Kalow talks in the PLUS X AWARD brand talk with Donat Brandt about Vestel's innovative strength and gives insights into exciting developments at this fast follower from Turkey. Germany's exemplary retailer Jürgen Müller of EP: Bodewitz takes away end consumers' fear of the smart home, advises them not to shy away from it and recommends detailed advice from the local electronics retailer in every case. Smart home expert, publisher and PLUS X AWARD juror Christopher Strobel accompanies the talk with his expertise.

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Building energy-efficiently

Back then people still smiled at prefabricated houses. Today the concepts, perfectly tailored to the customer, are winning over ever more house builders. Friedemann Born of Bien-Zenker knows too that sustainability and energy efficiency are decisive in house building today and tomorrow and presents the concepts of the future in conversation with PLUS X AWARD President Donat Brandt. Sustainability is finding its way into listening to music as well. Revox marketing manager Jürgen Imandt stresses that the technology of the past is being integrated into the concepts of the future and that the 40-year-old tape machine is not thrown away but integrated into Revox's multi-user system and controlled via displays. Test specialist, specialist journalist and PLUS X AWARD juror Manfred Eckermeier rounds off the talk with his expertise.

How will we build tomorrow?

Schwabenhaus managing director Christian Baumann knows that a prefabricated house has long ceased to be an off-the-peg product, and explains in the PLUS X AWARD brand talk with Donat Brandt how his team of architects and land specialists pays particular attention to the living situation of tomorrow when producing made-to-measure homes for their customers. Markus Dönges of Viessmann contributes his expertise on this too. The fuel cell in particular is the subject of the future. It is not only a heating system; it also makes the homeowner independent of ever-rising electricity prices. Heiner Faupel, PLUS X AWARD juror and managing director of EasyPR, accompanies the talk with his expertise.

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We Share Our World

For the seventh time in its 16-year history, the PLUS X AWARD presents the exclusive award for lifetime achievement, the Lifetime Achievement Award. In the talk special, PLUS X AWARD President Donat Brandt speaks with the recipient Prof. Dr Bodo W. Lambertz about the inspiring life of the inventor and managing director of the X-Bionic brand, about the brand's motto “We share our world” and about why X-Bionic has no customers but fans. The revealing business talk is accompanied by PLUS X AWARD juror Dirk Hagen Zimmermann, one of Europe's leading design experts.