Vincent Affolter

Managing Director of Affolter Group SA

Vincent Affolter is Managing Director of Affolter Group SA and a Swissmem delegate. He is a trained electrical engineer and holds an Executive MBA. After gaining experience in the development of on-board electrical drive systems, he worked as a project manager in a global industrial group. In 2011, he joined the century-old family business Affolter, which manufactures high-precision watch gears and develops advanced gear machine tools focused on the robotic industry. 2016, he joined the company’s Executive Committee in Switzerland.

José Pérez Berdud

President at AFM Cluster and CEO of Fagor Automation

José Pérez Berdud is President of AFM Cluster and CEO of Fagor Automation. Born in Zumarraga (Gipuzkoa), he holds a degree in Electronic Engineering and an MBA from the University of Mondragon. He joined Fagor Automation in 1993, where he has built his entire career, becoming CEO in 2016 after holding key roles in R&D, manufacturing, logistics, and procurement. He also serves as CECIMO delegate and has been a board member of AFM since 2016. Under his leadership, Fagor Automation drives innovation with its own tech center, 36 active patents, and a strong global presence in the machine tool automation sector.

Ralf Riedemann

Director (Managing Executive Officer) and CTO at DMG MORI EMEA Holding GmbH 

Since 1st of January 2005 Mr. Riedemann has a leading role at former Mori Seiki GmbH, now DMG MORI not only in Germany, but also globally. He started as General Manager responsible to establish the application department in Europe for Mori Seiki direct sales organization. Over the years Mr. Riedemann became president of Mori Seiki GmbH in Germany, VP of Mori Seiki Europe. He is on the board of Mori Seiki Co. Ltd as Operating Officer since April 2012.  In October 2014 he became responsible for engineering in Japan and USA for DMG MORI Co Ltd. Later, January 2017 his responsibility changed to Head of Technology Management of global application of DMG MORI sales and service organization. He has gained his over 37 years’ experience in the machine tool industry. With this knowledge, his responsibility has been promoted to Director, Executive Officer, and CTO of DMG MORI EMEA GmbH in 2022. DMG MORI EMEA GmbH, recently changed to DMG MORI EMEA Holding GmbH, is responsible as principal for all DMG MORI machines in Europe, India, and China. Mr. Riedemann is working strongly with Head Quarters in Japan, and he oversees application for mainly Japanese Products with Automation Solutions but also in direct communication with the European factories of DMG MORI.

More jury members to be announced soon.