On September 5th, Dr. Stefan Hambücker, Managing Director of INGENERIC, welcomed Member of the Bundestag Catarina dos Santos-Wintz. She was accompanied by Pierre Froesch, Mayor of Baesweiler, and Dirk Pfeifferling, Managing Director of the International Technology and Service Center Baesweiler. Catarina dos Santos-Wintz expressed great interest in learning more about INGENERIC, especially after reading a press report on the use of micro-lens arrays in NASA’s PACE project. Her visit aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s technological developments and discuss economic perspectives, particularly those relevant to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The visit began with a comprehensive presentation of the company, where the Member of Parliament was given insights into the history of INGENERIC, its product portfolio, and the company’s innovative strength. A key focus was placed on micro-optics and lens arrays, which are developed for international high-tech projects. These highly precise technologies play a crucial role in demanding applications such as laser and sensor technology, optical data communication, space exploration, and other scientific fields.

Following the presentation, an in-depth exchange on economic policy topics took place. The discussion focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the German economy in a global context, the impact of the skilled labor shortage on SMEs, and the challenges posed by bureaucratic obstacles. The conversation explored how targeted measures can support SMEs, alleviate their burden, and enhance their capacity for innovation.

During a subsequent tour of the production facilities, the visitors had the opportunity to experience the manufacturing processes of micro-optics and lens arrays firsthand. The tour highlighted the precision of the production methods and the high-quality standards that have made INGENERIC one of the leading providers in this field.

Dr. Stefan Hambücker expressed his appreciation for the visit and emphasized the importance of dialogue with political decision-makers: “We greatly appreciate that Ms. dos Santos-Wintz took the time to get to know our company and technologies more closely. Direct dialogue with politicians is of great significance for us as an SME, especially when it comes to issues such as the skilled labor shortage and bureaucratic challenges, which we face daily. Such conversations are essential to finding joint solutions and strengthening SMEs as engines of innovation.”

“It is always impressive to see and makes me proud of how much know-how and potential there is in our small and medium-sized companies. Even NASA has recognized this and uses micro-lens arrays from Baesweiler. As politicians, we must create the framework conditions for these companies to be able to research, produce and operate optimally. There is still a lot of catching up to do here, but above all there are opportunities that we have to take advantage of.”

Catarina dos Santos-Wintz – Member of the German Bundestag


The visit provided valuable insights into the company’s innovative strength and fostered a fruitful exchange on key economic policy issues. Catarina dos Santos-Wintz was impressed by INGENERIC’s technological developments and emphasized the importance of such companies for the future of Germany’s SME sector.