The nationwide Oskar-Patzelt-Foundation names the Salzkotten-based family business Medium-Sized Business of the Year 2025
Under the motto “Mastering turbulent times,” the Oskar Patzelt Foundation honored the leaders of German SMEs for the 31st time with the “ Große Preis des Mittelstandes 2025” at the Maritim Hotel in Düsseldorf. In front of 300 entrepreneurs, Ulrich Rotte Anlagenbau und Fördertechnik GmbH, together with nine other award winners, received the SME award – a strong signal for the resilience and innovative strength of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Dr. Helfried Schmidt, founder and chairman of the foundation, emphasized in his opening speech “Our small and medium-sized enterprises deserve applause every day. They create jobs and training places, pay taxes and strengthen regions – without government support. Especially in difficult times like these, their performance is irreplaceable.”
In his laudatory speech, he praised Rotte as a strong example of the strengths of German SMEs: quality, innovation and social responsibility. “With an impressive combination of technological progress, sustainable action, and human commitment, the company has established a position that extends far beyond the region. One could almost say: Where others build machines, Rotte builds the future,” said Helfried Schmidt, praising the medium-sized company.
The “ Große Preis des Mittelstandes ” is a prestigious award that recognizes companies for outstanding achievements in various categories. A total of 4,208 companies were nominated nationwide.
“It is a great honour for us to receive the SME Award and to accept it on behalf of the entire company. This award is a wonderful recognition of our work, innovation and daily commitment. We are proud of what we have achieved together. This award motivates us to continue working with passion and creativity on new solutions for production automation,” said Benedikt Rotte, managing partner, during the award ceremony.
The foundation focuses on medium-sized businesses. Despite crisis-ridden global economic and macroeconomic developments, entrepreneurial SMEs have created millions of new and additional jobs in recent years. However, these tremendous achievements are hardly noticed by the public. The aim is therefore to improve the public image of SME entrepreneurs and to raise awareness in society of the connection between “healthy SMEs – strong economy – more jobs.”
Ulrich Rotte Anlagenbau und Fördertechnik GmbH was nominated for the “ Große Preis des Mittelstandes ” for the sixth time since 2020 and was named a “finalist” in 2022. This year’s nomination was made by the Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (Bundesverband Mittelständische Wirtschaft e. V.) in the Paderborn district.
