Trumpf steps up expansion of its smart factory solutions

05 Jul 2019

GFT, a global IT engineering and technology consultancy, acquires Trumpf's Axoom business portfolio and workforce in Karlsruhe.

Diverse industrial solutions: Trumpf on show at LASER 2019, last week.

High-tech laser and industrial solutions company Trumpf is to step up the development of its smart factory solutions. To achieve this, it is combining these solutions with its machine networking and platform activities at company headquarters in Ditzingen, Germany. A number of these solutions were developed by Trumpf subsidiary Axoom at its site in Karlsruhe.

Mathias Kammüller, Chief Digital Officer at Trumpf commented, "One of the goals of this change is to further standardize machine networking in order to offer customers smart factory solutions more quickly and easily than previously possible. Up until now, we have often had to deploy made-to-measure customer solutions, which are more complicated and costly to integrate."

This explains why Trumpf is now relying on close collaboration with experienced partners – as exemplified by a new agreement with GFT, a global IT engineering and technology consultancy.

GFT taking over Axoom

In relation to this partnership, GFT commented that it "wants to grow its industrial business by taking over Axoom’s portfolio and team at the Karlsruhe site effective from July 1, 2019. Thus Karlsruhe will become a new business hub for GFT.

Part of the Axoom team, which was closely involved in the development of components for the TruConnect manufacturing solution, will be transferring to Trumpf. These software solutions will remain with Trumpf, along with the rights to the Axoom brand.

Kammüller added, “We are convinced that this reorganization at Trumpf and the development partnership with GFT will enable us to achieve our digital ambitions for sheet metal processing even more quickly and effectively, and to expand our proven expertise in industrial IoT and smart factory solutions even faster.”

The close partnership with GFT Technologies is initially intended to run for two years. Both companies have a longstanding partnership in a variety of areas.

Marika Lulay, CEO of GFT Technologies, commented, “The acquisition of the Axoom team fits well with our investment strategy, which aims to extend our industrial expertise, while the development partnership with TRUMPF will enable us to pursue our industrial offensive faster and on a broader front. GFT is indeed waging this offensive from its principal location in Germany.”