Congratulations on 75 years of Groschopp! Looking back: What was the most significant technological development of your company?

Wolfgang Pflug: Groschopp is known in the drive industry as a pioneer in the development of servo motors as well as gearboxes and motors made of stainless steel. Time and again, we succeed in bringing new drive concepts to the market that are in tune with the times. An important milestone in the company's history was the automation of the production lines at the Viersen site in the 2000s - particularly for the winding of pole coils, stators for servo and induction motors and rotors for commutator motors - during this period, the museum machinery was also replaced and the machining and grinding technology was upgraded with CNC machines.

Is there an absolute 'bestseller' and what makes it so?

Pflug: Our asynchronous and universal motors sell particularly well - especially our commutator built-in motors, which are used in power distribution, for example. They are characterized by their reliability and high torques and are still technically without alternative. Our induction motors are also popular; the air-cooled version offers an easy-to-clean, smooth surface and high power density.

It's not all rosy in 75 years - what do you think was the most difficult time for the company?

Pflug : The increasing cost pressure at the time led to outsourcing abroad - to Ireland in 1969 and to Poland in 1994 - as well as to a reduction in the company's vertical range of manufacture. As a result, profits also fell. In addition, production in Viersen was outdated and there was a lack of willingness to innovate. Automation of production was not yet an option at the time. Together, these factors led to the company's insolvency in 1999. This was certainly the most difficult time in the company's history for Groschopp and its employees. In 2000, the company was successfully continued and modernized under the name Groschopp AG Drives & More.

What is the roadmap for the next ten to 15 years?

Pflug: Groschopp will continue to focus on the continuous further development of our products - with the aim of constantly bringing innovative motor technologies to the market. However, we also have to adapt to current developments in Germany and the world. Global and national political decisions are causing Germany to lose a lot of its competitive edge. It is therefore important, on the one hand, to drive forward automation within the company and, on the other, to secure production capacities through international locations. Driven by cost pressure and the increased demand for products from China, we have already established a production site there. In addition, we are currently building a new production site in Morocco for cost reasons and to be able to employ sufficient skilled personnel who are willing to carry out manual work.

Another aspect that is very important to us is the protection of our environment. At our site in Viersen, we have been operating a combined heat and power plant during the cold months for several years now, enabling us to reduce our energy costs by around 30 percent. We will also be installing a solar system in the near future and making our contribution to saving_CO2 and reducing costs by building up storage facilities. Our goal is to one day be independent of externally supplied electricity.

What technological trends do you see that are or will be important for Groschopp?

Pflug: We see that the demand for 'plug-and-play' solutions is increasing, and we want to meet this demand with our range. This starts with drives with the right control unit and extends to the development of drive modules that can then be installed ready to plug into the respective application by our customers. It doesn't matter whether it's servo, reluctance or externally excited motors, our drive is currently the expansion of control and sensor technology in general. This is also what our credo stands for: Groschopp - Drives and More.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge in the coming years, in terms of business and/or technology?

Pflug : Like probably all industrial companies, we face the challenge of finding qualified specialists in the future. Many of our employees will be leaving us in the next few years due to their age. Unfortunately, this is offset by a small number of young, qualified and motivated people. We are therefore increasingly focusing on automation, foreign production sites and digitalization. In future, the use of AI will give us the opportunity to streamline and automate our processes, particularly in scheduling, purchasing and sales. In addition to the shortage of skilled workers, the fight against cybercrime will certainly be one of the challenges facing our society in the coming years.