The speakers at the
Orchestra Symposium 2026
Markus Benndorff, Product and Innovation Manager
soffico GmbH
As Product and Innovation Manager, Markus Benndorff is responsible for developing new products and managing innovation processes within soffico GmbH. Thanks to his many years of consultancy and project work with clients and partners, Markus possesses in-depth technical expertise and an understanding of the challenges of today and tomorrow. His work is characterised by the development of innovative solutions that meet clients’ needs.
Bastian Brinkmann, Head of Corporate Future Lab
Uhlmann Group Holding SE & Co. KG
Bastian Brinkmann is Head of Corporate Future Lab at the Uhlmann Group. In this role, he shapes the group’s digital and sustainable transformation and is responsible for developing future-proof technologies, business models and innovation structures. His areas of focus include artificial intelligence, industrial data ecosystems, the circular economy and strategic partnerships. Previously, he worked in international innovation management at tesa and held senior positions in innovation and technology consultancy. He combines a background in engineering with many years’ experience in strategy, innovation and industrial transformation.
Chantal Faaß, Sales Manager
soffico GmbH
As a Sales Manager, Chantal supports clients every step of the way – from the initial discussion and joint identification of challenges, through the development of bespoke solutions, right through to the successful implementation of projects with Orchestra.
She places particular importance on making complex requirements easy to understand, bringing together different perspectives, and working with clients to develop solutions that deliver real added value in their day-to-day work.
In her day-to-day work, one thing is paramount for her: personal interaction and the development of long-term, trusting client relationships.
Maximilian Faubel, Group Lead – IT Logistics MES & Production
LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG
- Since January 2026: Group Lead – IT Logistics MES & Production
Overall responsibility for the MES division at LEONHARD KURZ - 01/2022: Senior Consultant – IT Logistics MES & Production
Sub-project manager for the MES division in production - 01/2020: Joined LEONHARD KURZ as an IT trainee specialising in digitalisation and Industry 4.0
Prof. Dr. Bernd Hafenrichter, CTO
soffico GmbH
Prof. Dr Bernd Hafenrichter is Professor of Foundations of Computer Science at Ingolstadt University of Technology and, as CTO of soffico GmbH, is responsible for the development of the Orchestra software. As an architect, project manager and coach, he is involved in a wide variety of software development projects; in particular, he has been involved with the Orchestra product from the very beginning and continues to play a key role in its implementation to this day. In his role as a professor, he combines theory and practice to harness the synergies of both worlds. In particular, the interconnection of heterogeneous systems and their technologies has been a central focus of Prof. Dr. Hafenrichter’s entire professional career. He places particular emphasis on long-lasting architectures that can be easily and flexibly adapted to new challenges over the years.
Dr. Sebastian Heger, Product and Innovation Manager
soffico GmbH
Dr Sebastian Heger is a Product and Innovation Manager at soffico GmbH. Prior to this, he held senior positions at tresmo, including Head of Connected Devices and R&D. Dr Heger spent almost a decade at the Fraunhofer Project Group for Business Informatics and the FIM Centre of Excellence, where he led industrial and consortium research projects, taught courses in business administration and agile project management, and headed the corporate partnerships team. He obtained his PhD in Business Informatics from the University of Augsburg.
Kerstin Kopp, Head of Sales
soffico GmbH
After completing her Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Business Informatics, Kerstin Kopp joined soffico GmbH as an IT consultant. Since March 2023, she has been the team lead in the consulting team, where she is responsible for various projects as well as the operational concept and the QMS.
Prof. Dr.- Ing. Dominik Merli, Head of THA-innos
Institutions: Computer Science, THA-innos, Data Analytics Technology Transfer Centre
Dominik Merli is a professor of IT security at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, where he heads the Institute for Innovative Security (THA_innos). He has more than 15 years’ experience in the field of cyber security for IoT devices. His book, *Engineering Secure Devices*, serves as a basis for manufacturers across a wide range of industries to develop secure products.
Photographer: Pia Simon
Johannes Sahr, Senior Consultant – IT Logistics MES & Production
LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG
- Since 10/2026: Senior Consultant – IT Logistics MES & Production
- From 01/2026: Sub-project manager for the MES division in production
- 10/2024: Consultant – IT Logistics MES & Production
Responsible for the machine communication sub-project within MES - 10/2022: Joined LEONHARD KURZ as an IT trainee specialising in digitalisation & Industry 4.0
Daniel Seidel, Application Consultant
Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
Daniel Seidel is an Application Consultant at Weidmüller and specialises in the digitalisation and networking of production systems. His focus is on the integration of machines and applications, as well as on establishing standardised communication and data structures between OT and IT. He is currently overseeing the roll-out of Orchestra as a Manufacturing Service Bus, thereby contributing to the implementation of a future-proof integration architecture for production. His aim is to simplify the connection of machines and systems, establish standards and lay the foundations for scalable digital production.
Harald Wenger, CEO
soffico GmbH
Harald Wenger has been Managing Director and a shareholder of soffico GmbH, based in Augsburg, since 2012. As Managing Director and the point of contact for staff and national and international clients, Harald is responsible for the company’s strategic direction, the successful implementation of client projects and the further development of the Orchestra integration platform. In this capacity, he is also actively involved in a number of funded projects, such as Factory-X, and drives these forward within the company. Innovative projects, concepts and ideas are Harald Wenger’s passion.
