We can look back on a year that we probably wouldn’t have imagined ourselves. Even if things didn’t always go according to plan, e.g. due to rainy weather, we once again experienced many highlights together with our customers and partners this year and successfully implemented exciting customer projects. A big thank you goes to our team, who mastered every challenge with great commitment and dedication.
Let’s start with our review
This year got off to an innovative start: we presented our demonstrator for software-defined manufacturing at the 5th consortium meeting of the SDM4FZI research project in Friedberg. As a partner in this research project, we are making an important contribution to the digitalization of production processes.
Another partnership: in collaboration with Robomotion and Intrinsic, we successfully implemented a robot cell with a real-time control framework in an industrial application at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences. We also showcased our work with robots at this year’s Hannover Messe. Our demonstrator impressively showed many visitors how robots can be controlled using natural language and Google’s Gemini language model. Later in the year, we also presented this very demonstrator as a permanent exhibition in the newly opened Experience Center in the Google Cloud Space in Munich.
Speaking of Google Cloud: the Google Cloud Summits 2024 were also a complete success! As a long-standing Google Cloud Partner, we were present at all five locations in the DACH region and discussed cloud and AI topics with partners and customers on site. We also visited the SPS trade fair in Nuremberg to exchange ideas with partners such as Siemens, ifm, IDS and Litmus. AI and cyber security were also the top topics in the industry here.
After successful projects comes the next new project: In October, we launched sub-projects as part of the RoX research project. Together with numerous other partners, we will raise robotic systems to a new level of performance – through advanced robotic components, artificial intelligence (AI) and a scalable digital ecosystem. Stay tuned!
In addition to all the external events, we also had a lot of fun at our internal events. Due to the weather, we had to move our summer party indoors, so instead of swimming in the lake and beach volleyball, we had table tennis, a photo box and watching European Championship soccer. The 31st Stuttgart Lauf was also a sporting event, with a seven-strong SOTEC team at the start. The motto “start together, finish together, the main thing is to have fun” was successfully mastered! To further strengthen our team spirit and have a great time together, we went on a company outing to Ulm in the autumn, with a varied program of action, culture and lots of fun! Not only did we beat the boss in a rodeo, but we also learned how a sparrow contributed to the construction of Ulm Cathedral.
To round off the year in style, our team came together at this year’s Christmas party at the Maritim Alm in Stuttgart. We brought the year 2024 to a successful close with a hearty dinner, good conversation and a few rounds of nail hammering.
Instead of customer gifts, this year we have once again decided to support great organizations that are close to our employees’ hearts:
- Stiftung Deutsche Krebshilfe – 10.000 €
Supports cancer patients and their families, promotes cancer research, and educates the public about cancer.
- Herzenswünsche e.V. – 10.000 €
Bringing joy and hope to seriously ill children and young people by fulfilling their heartfelt wishes.
- Tennentaler Gemeinschaften e.V. – 10.000 €
An inclusive community in Deckenpfronn where people with disabilities find meaningful work and support in a vibrant and welcoming environment.
We wish all our customers, partners, and employees a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025! 🎄