Wirtschaft Regional October 2013

Recent interview with Lothar Bopp and the Creative Director of the company LOBO
At the invitation of the Aalen-based model company LOBO electronic GmbH, Aalen will become the center of the laser show world for almost one week in early November. The futuristic building, located next to the B29 road running from Aalen towards Stuttgart, is well known within the region. But only few are aware of what actually happens inside the premises of the globally renowned laser show and multimedia company LOBO.
From 2 to 7 November 2013, LOBO has invited an entire industry to Aalen. Following metropolises such as Moscow, Hong Kong and Las Vegas, Aalen will not only be the location for the annual conference of the “International Laser Display Association”, short ILDA, but also for a meeting of the world’s largest online community of laser show enthusiasts.
There are registration records for both events, the Ramada Hotel in Aalen is filled to the brink and visitors have long since had to look for other hotels. In an interview with LOBO founder and managing director Lothar Bopp and Creative Director Alexander Hennig, Wilfried Hofele had a look behind the scenes to find out what the attendees of these events find so fascinating about LOBO that they are travelling to Aalen from all continents.
Mr. Hennig, you are board member of ILDA and at the same time Creative Director of the company LOBO. Can you explain to us why the giants of your industry are flocking to Aalen of all places?
Creative Director: Since 1994, LOBO has been a member of ILDA and has now comfortably topped the rankings of all trophies ever awarded by ILDA for exceptional artistic achievements for many years. These ILDA Awards are considered the “Oscars” of our industry. Every single award stands for exceptional performances on an international stage. Over the years, LOBO has received 139 of these awards – an almost unfathomable number for most members. Just for comparison: The next European company in the ranking has only received 28 awards.
Would you say that LOBO has an exceptionally unique position on the global market for laser technology?
Creative Director: LOBO has a worldwide reputation for shows of global renown and products of the highest technical level. Thus, it comes as no surprise that many attendees see the conference in Aalen as an opportunity to look behind the scenes at LOBO.
What is so special about the event in Aalen?
Creative Director: As hosts, it was a particular wish of us to bring together the professionals of ILDA with the laser show enthusiasts of LaserFreaks. Nobody has ever attempted that before. With this concept, we obviously had our fingers at the pulse of time and received a lot of support from both sides.
Mr. Bopp, Mr. Hennig just talked about the idea of bringing together laymen and professionals at LOBO’s under one roof. What is the basic idea behind this consideration and how can the success of this idea be explained?
Bopp: As with many industries, the laser show sector has also been affected by globalization and cheap imports from the Far East. Increasingly, we are seeing high-performance lasers in the hands of people who actually do not know how to responsibly handle such a device. One of the few points of contacts for these laser show newbies are the aforementioned LaserFreaks.
What about safety?
Bopp: We were thrilled to see the safety awareness and certainly also profound knowledge that has manifested in this online community. Still, many half-truths are still common among hobbyists, especially in safety matters. However, the topic laser safety and responsible handling of lasers is a central issue for the future, both for professionals earning a living with it as well as for “Freaks”, who generally conduct their hobby in a very responsible manner. Just think about the public discussions concerning aircraft pilots blinded and endangered by laser pointers.
What can and will you do against that?
Bopp: Our aim is a first step towards stronger networking between professionals and laymen in order to establish a culture of safety on basis of reliable information. This is the only way to effectively prevent accidents caused by ignorance. When used responsibly, laser shows are completely safe and exude an unrivalled fascination. We hope it stays that way in the future.
Mr. Hennig, what exactly is ILDA and what will happen in Aalen in the coming days?
Creative Director: ILDA is an international trade organization under American law. In this global umbrella association, 160 of the largest laser show companies from 50 countries are organized. All members commit to observe an extensive code of honor. A court of arbitration monitors the observation of these rules of conduct. It can be seized by anyone, even those outside of ILDA, in case of violations and it can also impose sanctions.
What else does ILDA do?
Creative Director: ILDA continues to promote targeted support of excellence: Companies that can prove excellent competence with solid facts during an elaborate accreditation process receive a special membership status. LOBO is one of only four companies worldwide to have received this status.
What exactly will happen during the conference in Aalen?
Creative Director: For example, ILDA develops joint technical standards during the conference, attempts to promote the quality of laser shows with seminars, a show evening and obviously the ILDA Awards, and lays the groundwork for talks with government organizations in matters of laser safety. A particularly important feature is the open exchange of ideas between normally competing companies. Here, they can build bridges and overcome differences.
What events will be held?
Creative Director: Independent of ILDA; the event of the LaserFreaks in the University of Aalen will already be held on the previous Saturday. Here, new technical developments will be presented and the best shows will be chosen by the visitors during a show evening and awarded with the coveted LaserFreak Awards. On the next day, the LaserFreaks will meet representatives and members of ILDA at LOBO. On Monday, a laser show fair will be held in the Ramada Hotel in Aalen and the welcome reception with the official start of the ILDA Conference will be staged at LOBO’s.
Mr. Bopp, will the people of Aalen even notice that this event is happening?
Bopp: I do not want to tell too much, but during these days, anyone in and around Aalen will notice that the heart of the laser show world is beating here. In addition, it will be possible to attend the show evening of the LaserFreaks in the assembly hall of the University of Aalen on Saturday, 2 November, for a fee of ten Euros. Here, the Freaks will demonstrate what they are capable of and will also select the best shows. The show will begin at 7 pm. As a thank you for their generous support, students of the university will receive a discount of 50 percent.