Between busy projects and daily troubleshooting, it’s sometimes important to pause and reflect.
The idea of a global B&R Community for cooperation and knowledge sharing had been discussed at B&R for many years.
The project was postponed for a long time, as it raised concerns and doubts.
Four years ago, @florian.schneeberger joined B&R.
He brought fresh energy as Head of Software and later as CTO.
B&R reopened the idea of the B&R Community, and Florian gave the project the green light and became its sponsor.
It has been almost two years since Florian trusted me with the Community and put it in my hands.
At the beginning, he helped me a great deal, and I can honestly say that he taught me a lot.
This week, Florian Schneeberger, CEO of B&R Automation, tragically passed away.
He left behind a great emptiness, but his ideas and visions remain with us.
I would like to thank him one last time — in my own name and on behalf of all of you, our B&R Community.
My personal tribute to Florian – a gentleman, a listener, a visionary
I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear the news of Florian Schneeberger’s sudden passing. Even though we only met in person once, his warmth and sincerity left a lasting impression on me.
That was last year, on September 19, 2025, at the B&R Automation Conference in Shanghai. I had the privilege of joining a closed-door roundtable technical session where Florian was also present. During the discussion, I specifically shared with him how much the B&R Community has contributed to technical exchange and collaboration among users. He listened attentively and showed genuine interest – not as a high-level executive, but as an engineer who truly cared about people and ideas.
Later that evening, we had dinner together at the same table. He was humble, approachable, and easy to talk to – a true gentleman who made everyone feel heard.
His loss leaves a great void, but his vision and spirit will live on in the community he helped bring to life.
