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  • Heide Dürr and the team of the Heinz and Heide Dürr Foundation
Press Release

Heide Dürr awarded Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Berlin / Bietigheim-Bissingen, March 13, 2025 — Heide Dürr has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her social commitment. The award, also known as the Federal Cross of Merit, honors the work of the Heinz and Heide Dürr Foundation. The Berlin-based foundation focuses on early-years education, theater and culture, as well as research projects in various scientific fields.

The Heinz and Heide Dürr Foundation was set up in 1998 and supports projects throughout Germany. One of Heide Dürr's key foundation goals is to establish the Early Excellence approach for early-years education. Early Excellence aims to provide individual support in nurseries and daycare centers and involves parents in their children’s educational processes. “Every child must have the chance to receive a good education — right from the start and regardless of their background. We are committed to this social responsibility,” says Heide Dürr.

Even after the passing of her husband in 2023, Heide Dürr remains a driving force behind the foundation’s work as a Supervisory Board member. Examples of the Heinz and Heide Dürr Foundation’s broad-ranging commitment include the German Daycare Award, first presented in 2018, support for playwrights, premieres, and small theaters, remembrance culture, and research projects on artificial intelligence and human genetics.

When presenting the Order of Merit, Berlin’s State Secretary for Youth, Falko Liecke, said: “I would like to thank Heide Dürr for her tireless commitment and drive. The foundation of Heinz and Heide Dürr has long been an integral part of the foundation landscape. It has enabled the support of over 500 Early Excellence institutions with more than 10,000 professionals across Germany, as well as the training of specialist staff.”

The Heinz and Heide Dürr Foundation holds 3.5% of the shares in Dürr AG. The foundation uses the funds from the annual dividend payout for its work.

The Dürr Group is one of the world's leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with particular expertise in the technology fields of automation, digitalization, and energy efficiency. Its products, systems, and services enable highly efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes – mainly in the automotive industry and for producers of furniture and timber houses, but also in sectors such as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, medical devices, electrical engineering, and battery production. In 2024, the company generated sales of €4.7 billion. The Dürr Group has around 20,000 employees and 139 business locations in 33 countries. As of January 1, 2025, the former divisions Paint and Final Assembly Systems and Application Technology were merged to form the new Automotive division. Since then, the Dürr Group has been operating in the market with four divisions:

  • Automotive: painting technology, final assembly, testing and filling technology
  • Industrial Automation: automated assembly and test systems for automotive components, medical devices, and consumer goods as well as balancing technology solutions and coating systems for battery electrodes
  • Woodworking: machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry
  • Clean Technology Systems Environmental: air pollution control and noise abatement systems

This publication has been prepared independently by Dürr AG/Dürr group. It may contain statements which address such key issues as strategy, future financial results, events, competitive positions and product developments. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, but not limited to those described in disclosures of Dürr AG, in particular in the chapter “Risks” in the annual report of Dürr AG. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties and other factors materialize, or should underlying expectations not occur or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performances or achievements of the Dürr group may vary materially from those described in the relevant forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “want,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “will,” “project” or words of similar meaning. Dürr AG neither intends, nor assumes any obligation, to update or revise its forward-looking statements regularly in light of developments which differ from those anticipated. Stated competitive positions are based on management estimates supported by information provided by specialized external agencies.

Our financial reports, presentations, press releases and ad-hoc releases may include alternative financial metrics. These metrics are not defined in the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards). Net assets, financial position and results of operations of the Dürr group should not be assessed solely on the basis of these alternative financial metrics. Under no circumstances do they replace the performance indicators presented in the consolidated financial statements and calculated in accordance with the IFRS. The calculation of alternative financial metrics may vary from company to company despite the use of the same terminology. Further information regarding the alternative financial metrics used at Dürr AG can be found in our → financial glossary on the web page.