Mr. Loderer, what exactly are your responsibilities at Xella?

In the field of applied research and building physics, I am responsible for all tests, examinations, and accompanying work. At our site, we operate numerous test stands where we simulate influences such as weather conditions and natural aging to assess the quality of our products, for example, in terms of thermal properties, sound insulation, moisture behavior, or frost resistance. Unlike the Technology & Research site in Brück, which focuses on material testing and development, we always test products in a system context in Emstal. This includes entire walls, interior and exterior walls, external thermal insulation composite systems, etc. For instance, a three-meter-high and four-meter-long wall is exposed to the elements during four weeks or subjected to extreme heat and vibrations, such as those caused by an earthquake. Based on these results, we prepare test and laboratory reports, which are required, for example, for the market approval of building systems.
Another part of my daily work involves standardization efforts. Currently, I am collaborating with my colleague Elly Van Overmeire, Head of Product Management North West Europe, on a European standard for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete components. Sustainability criteria are increasingly playing a major role in this process.

What makes Xella a great employer for you?

I appreciate the variety, diversity, and internationality that my job entails. For instance, I lead two international working groups in European standardization committees and serve as a lecturer in training sessions for product management across Europe. I enjoy the perspective shifts that arise from international and interdisciplinary work and the interplay between theory and practice. It remains exciting, and in May 2025, I will already be celebrating my 30th company anniversary.

Can you describe your career path?

As a young engineer, I started at the Ytong Development Center in Schrobenhausen, a region between Ingolstadt and Augsburg, where I initially focused on structural calculations for our building components and systems. In 2003/2004, Xella decided to consolidate Ytong and Hebel expertise, which had been spread across Germany, at the Brandenburg sites of Emstal and Brück. To be honest, it was a big change for me to move from Bavaria to Brandenburg or Berlin, where I live now. It was an entirely different world, even though still within Germany (laughs). But I have long since "arrived" and really enjoy living here. The move also remains memorable for other reasons, as it did not just involve relocating files and office supplies but also the entire test stands. For instance, the eight-meter-wide and five-meter-high shear test rig for simulating earthquakes had to be dismantled, transported, and reassembled.

In Emstal, I initially worked in building physics, managed many international projects, and took over the Application Research/Building Physics department in 2016. Currently, I work with two engineers and two application technicians, and I thoroughly enjoy exchanging ideas with my team, developing creative solutions, and preparing and conducting tests in the best possible way. At the moment, my main focus is on standardization and approval work.

What do you value most in your work environment?

Exchange, whether national or international, with colleagues, the industry, property developers who deal with entirely different issues, or professors who sometimes need to be drawn out of their ivory towers (laughs). This communication, the diverse perspectives, and the sharing of experiences to achieve a successful result together enrich me both professionally and personally.
I appreciate the contrast of living in the big city of Berlin while working in Brandenburg. Emstal reminds me of my small hometown : it is very quiet, with not much around except a horse farm and the occasional foxes and hares passing by my window (smiles). It is the perfect environment for research and testing, as it requires shielding from external influences.

What do you do when you're not working?

I enjoy returning to my homeland to visit friends and my godchildren or working on the 500-year-old house of a Schrobenhausen association in the Allgäu region. As a Bavarian, I have been a passionate skier since childhood. I also love to travel, which I often combine with exotic skiing adventures, such as in the volcanic region of Kamchatka (a peninsula in northeastern Asia). Being in nature is something I truly cherish. Even in my leisure time, I appreciate perspective shifts, exchanges, and getting to know different cultures and people, whether hiking in Iceland or cycling along the French Mediterranean coast.