Vice Premier Minister Ma Kai (right) with data M managing 
director Albert Sedlmaier (left) at the friendship award ceremony.
Vice Premier Minister Ma Kai (right) with data M managing director Albert Sedlmaier (left) at the friendship award ceremony.

 

data M Managing Director Albert Sedlmaier Awarded China’s Highest Honor to Foreign Experts

Albert Sedlmaier, managing director of data M Sheet Metal Solutions GmbH from Germany, has been awarded with The People's Republic of China Friendship Award for his work as a technical adviser. On September 29th, the prize was given to 50 experts who contributed to the economic and social development of China. The Friendship Award is the highest Chinese honor granted to a foreigner.
In the market segment of design and simulation software for roll formers, the company data  M is world leading with its COPRA product family. Besides his role as a businessman, managing director Albert Sedlmaier is acting as a technical adviser at the Jinan Foundry and Metalforming Machinery Research Institute that has also nominated him for the award. Albert Sedlmaier is delighted with the accolade: “This award is an honor for me, but also for every staff member at data M and our region.”
With innovative CAE technologies, the software specialist data M is a pioneer in the field of roll forming and has been targeting the world market from the start. As early as 1991 Sedlmaier established a business and academic collaboration with Dr. Liu, professor at North China University of Technology at the time. For the past 26 years, the two experts built up a nationwide network, trained specialists and introduced new technologies to the Chinese market.

However, the collaboration extends far beyond the field of software. At present, the company from Bavaria is working together with a Chinese machine builder in flexible roll forming based on a patent license. The data M machine allows the production of profiles with discontinuous cross sections for the first time. The company also developed another 3D roll forming machine for prototypes that can produce profiles from batch size 1, which makes it particularly useful for research institutes and automotive suppliers.