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Eckhard Wernich of SATO Europe named winner of AIM’s 2025 Clive Hohberger Technology Award

5th November 2025 – Heidelberg, Germany – SATO announces that Eckhard Wernich, Head of Product Management Solutions, SATO Europe, has been named the 2025 recipient of AIM’s Clive Hohberger Technology Award. The award recognises sustained technical contributions that further the growth of the automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) industry.

Created in 2018 to honour prolific inventor Dr Clive Hohberger, the award recognises individuals whose innovations deliver measurable impact in real-world AIDC deployments. This year, the AIM Award Review Committee highlighted Eckhard Wernich’s leadership in shifting labelling from hardware-centric deployments to a cloud-first, service-oriented ecosystem, with particular recognition for SATO AEP Cloud (AEP stands for Application Enabled Printing). Eckhard received the award for his role in developing and advancing SATO AEP Cloud, enabling centralised device management, scalable rollouts and software-driven workflows.

“We congratulate Eckhard on this well-deserved recognition,” said Laurent Lassus, Managing Director, SATO Europe. “His product leadership and software-driven approach help customers strengthen traceability, reduce errors and improve throughput across complex operations. This award reflects the practical impact of his work in the field.”

“AIM Global was honoured to present Eckhard Wernich as this year’s winner of the Clive Hohberger Technology Award,” said Mary Lou, AIM Global. “Eckhard’s innovative contributions and foresight mirror the legacy that now retired Clive Hohberger built and continue to impact and grow the industry today.”

Over his career, Eckhard has led initiatives that integrate hardware, firmware and software to deliver connected labelling and printing systems. His focus on cloud management, scalable deployment and interoperability with enterprise platforms helps manufacturers, logistics providers, retailers and healthcare organisations capture accurate data at the point of work, maintain compliance and improve operational performance. This award reflects the environment SATO creates, where ongoing innovation moves across teams and becomes dependable solutions for customers.

About AIM
AIM is the trusted worldwide industry association for the automatic identification industry. For more than a half a century, AIM has provided unbiased information, educational resources, and standards to providers and users of these technologies. AIM membership provides access to an insider’s perspective on trends and opportunities along with a voice in shaping the growth and future of the industry.  Member benefits include education, advocacy, and community, as well as a role in creating industry standards through collaboration. Visit aimglobal.org for more information.