Ipf- und Jagst-Zeitung Aalener Nachrichten June 22, 2005

AALEN - When thousands of spectators are fascinated by high-quality laser shows, be it in Shanghai, Beirut or on a cruise ship, Lobo Electronic GmbH from Aalen is responsible more often than not. The company is considered to be one of the global industry leaders in the show laser and multimedia sector.

From our employee Florian Burkhardt

Most people are familiar with lasers in a magic box from cinema and television, mostly from US productions. However, the heart of the show laser industry beats in the South German Ostalb region – Lobo electronic in Aalen. The company with about 30 employees, headed by Lothar Bopp, is the global flagship of the industry.

Twenty-five years ago, at the age of just 18, he founded his company with the aim of establishing state-of-the-art laser shows even outside of discotheques. “On the side,” the self-made man and graduate engineer continues with a smirk, “I studied at the University of Applied Sciences in Aalen.”

His hard work paid off. These days, Bopp’s company is on top and receives contracts others can only dream about – organization of national and international celebrations such as the Millenium Party at the Brandenburg Gate, fairs all over the world, show installations on cruise ships like “Queen Mary 2”, in amphitheaters or large amusement parks. Lobo is on a triumphal march around the globe.

The company receives four out of five orders from abroad. A majority of the clients is located in the Middle East – in the emirate Dubai alone, Lobo has realized numerous laser shows since 1992. Bopp: “It was great, the people were absolute enthused.” In Saudi Arabia, he also received praise and recognition for his products. Contrary to western ideas of Muslim-influenced countries, he did not experience any animosities towards western technology in the homeland of the prophet. Bopp: “The people in Arab countries are very open to technology.”

Award after award

Regularly, the clever laser animations – sometimes projected onto mountains or Water Screens, or expertly built into closed spaces – amaze even the expert jury of the global umbrella association of the show laser industry (ILDA). Annually, it bestows the highly coveted ILDA Awards – comparable to an Oscar – to companies from all around the world. In a way, Bopp is the show laser industry’s XXL version of Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson, the director of „Lord of the Rings”: Within the last ten years, his company received a grand total of 72 ILDA Awards – about one fifth of all ILDA Awards given out during this period. With this record, Lobo also received the Innovationspreis Ostwürttemberg.

However, the success his built on a lot of work. Up to 15 engineers with different specializations work on an order in the company headquarters in Robert-Bosch-Straße and plan, conceptualize, develop and perfect everything until completion. Nothing – neither graphics, nor colors or movements of the laser, nor the fitting music for the presentation – are left to chance. Additionally, the technology on site has to be prepared to meet all requirements.

From soldering to final assembly, everything is done in Aalen, with only the mechanical processing taking place externally. Tests and acceptance of orders are carried out in the specially equipped multivision studio in Aalen, which is similar in size to a movie theater. Thoroughness and precision have top priority at Lobo, which is why a single order is often like shooting a movie in terms of logistics and working time. Bopp: “It's hard work every time. You always have to be faster and better than everyone else.”

It is quite likely that Bopp will soon have to make some more room in his conference room – for more ILDA Awards.