Category: Insights

AURA is a Hidden Champion AURA was recognized as a Hidden Champion last week – together with many other companies from the region. What is a Hidden Champion? Hidden Champions are companies that rank among the top three worldwide in their industry or are leaders on their continent, yet remain relatively unknown to the general public. We are very pleased to receive this distinction, as it confirms what drives us every day: to be among the best and to fulfill the needs of our national and international customers through innovation and the highest quality. At the same time, this distinction is about far more than individual companies like AURA: a recent study has highlighted just how strong our region is: A total of 62 Hidden Champions were identified across a wide range of industries, complemented by 25 “Hidden Gems” with the potential to develop into Hidden Champions. We are proud of the “Hidden Champion” title and are pleased about the network that has emerged through this event.

How hot should process heat be today? A few weeks ago, Jakob Leicht and Nicolas Gruessert attended the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. (Institute of Future Fuels). One takeaway stood out: high-temperature fluids beyond the classic 400°C threshold are gaining real momentum. We’re seeing the same shift in our day-to-day work as a system manufacturer. More and more projects are moving into ranges where the engineering changes significantly, because at higher temperatures you typically face: higher thermal loads and pressures specialized components and materials a steeper jump in safety requirements Right now, AURA is managing a particularly exciting example: An electrically heated heating/cooling unit designed for up to 450°C. We built on our AURA high-temperature standard, which has already proven itself in multiple applications.The system is nearing completion, and we are looking forward to seeing our first 450°C unit commissioned at the customer site soon.

Social responsibility begins with small actions Around 27 million people in Germany volunteer their time. They keep clubs and associations alive, strengthen social networks, and play a crucial role in disaster response and emergency services. A great example of this is the Germersheim fire brigade, which is made up of more than 100 volunteers. They respond to emergencies while we sleep or enjoy our free time – dedicating themselves to the community without expecting anything in return. We believe that companies also have a social responsibility. When the team of the Germersheim fire brigade approached us with the idea of building a fire pit for their tripod grill, we were happy to help. It may only be a small contribution, but we were glad to be able to support them. Thank you very much for the invitation to the inauguration and the warm welcome!Social responsibility begins with recognizing challenges, offering support, and taking action where it truly matters.

Operational training 2025 Last week, the first inauguration of our new AURA location took place as part of an operator training course on “Safe Maintenance and Efficient Operation of Thermal Oil Systems.”   This marked the second edition of the training format. After launching the series in Germersheim last year, we were pleased to host the training in Herford for the first time. With the new location, we are moving closer to our customers in northern Germany and strengthening exchange in a region where many of our systems are already in operation. The operator training provided the perfect opportunity to meet our local customers in person. The presenters explained key do’s and don’ts and shared practical insights on topics such as system safety, heat transfer oil analysis, efficiency improvements, and inspection experience. The program was complemented by a small technical exhibition, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with our partners and explore solutions in greater detail. We would like to thank all participants, speakers, and partners for the constructive discussions and the open exchange. We are looking forward to the coming months and, above all, to the official kick-off of our new location in February 2026!

Conference and trade fair 2025 Thermal Oil Systems in Theory and Practice Two days full of expertise, exchange, and valuable connections – our conference and trade fair on thermal oil systems was a great success! What makes this format so special?The unique combination of an in-depth technical introduction to thermal oil technology and an exhibition featuring leading component manufacturers. A platform where knowledge meets practice, bringing together experts, partners, and new ideas. The results speak for themselves:– More than 100 participants from across the industry– 17 leading exhibitors– 10 high-level technical presentations– Numerous opportunities for networking, in-depth discussions, and building new partnerships We are proud to provide this platform for the thermal oil community and are already looking forward to the next event!

ISO 9001:2015 Last year, we successfully completed our major recertification audit – our ISO 9001:2015 certification is now valid until 2027. In 2025, the regular surveillance audit took place.   The result: No non-conformities, but valuable feedback and recognition. The auditors particularly highlighted: our continuous process improvements the strong quality awareness throughout the entire company our comprehensive and precise welding documentation as well as our marketing activities and public presence Pictured: On the right, our colleagues from Quality Management; on the left, the auditors with whom we had a very constructive and respectful exchange.

Loading 156 tons A big project for China Over the past months, AURA has successfully completed one of the largest projects in the company’s history. For an international customer in China, an existing system series was expanded and supplemented with three highly efficient heaters, each measuring 10 meters in length and 4.3 meters in diameter. After the first heater had already been shipped to China several weeks earlier, the two remaining units were now carefully loaded onto an inland vessel together with 11 containers and three large wooden crates, directly behind our production hall. In Antwerp, our cargo was transshipped and transported onward to China by seagoing vessel. After several months of manufacturing and logistics, all system components have now safely arrived at their destination, have been integrated into the existing system, and successfully commissioned. Our special thanks go to our dedicated team, our logistics and project partners, and our customer in China for the trust they placed in us.

Welcome to the team We are delighted to warmly welcome our new apprentices Jonas (16) and Jiyan (18). Both have just completed school and are now starting their careers with us as trainees in plant mechanics. Tobias is responsible for their technical training – as he is for our three other apprentices – while Janina, a former teacher, supports them with all academic and educational matters. Together, they form a strong team, perfectly equipped to prepare their trainees for everyday working life, while encouraging, challenging, and guiding them as they take their first steps into professional life. Just as important to Tobias and Janina are reliability, diligence, teamwork, and personal responsibility. Becoming a plant mechanic at AURA does not simply mean operating machines – it means thinking ahead, working with care, and understanding how many individual components come together to form a fully functioning system. We are delighted that you are taking this journey with us and wish you an exciting and educational apprenticeship!

Visit from China Last week, Richard Lee, Head of our Chinese subsidiary, visited our headquarters in Germersheim. During his stay, he participated in numerous meetings, supported our China-related projects, and provided valuable insights into current developments in the Chinese market. But why did he make the trip in person when we are already connected via Teams and in close contact almost every day? Digital communication has transformed many aspects of our work in recent years – especially in international projects. Yet despite all the digital possibilities, nothing can replace meeting in person. It is precisely in these moments that close connections grow out of virtual collaboration. Over the years, a strong relationship has developed between our headquarters and our Chinese subsidiary – built on trust and mutual appreciation, both professionally and personally. This is why we were especially pleased about the visit to Germany and made the most of our time together.

City cycling 2025 For three weeks, our cycling team swapped car keys for bike helmets. Ten colleagues, one shared goal: every kilometer counts – for the planet, for our health, and for a stronger team spirit.   Congratulations to our 2025 cycling champion, who covered an impressive 1,076.9 kilometers!   Altogether, our team cycled a remarkable 3,667 kilometers – enough to ride from Germersheim to Madrid and back. In doing so, we were able to save 600 kilograms of CO₂. But city cycling was about more than just numbers. It was also about enjoying the fresh morning air on the way to work, sharing a bit of friendly banter at the bike rack, and eagerly checking the daily rankings. It was great fun – thank you to everyone who took part!