The term IoT describes the networking of products, people and companies via the Internet. This technology allows ETO GRUPPE to increase its offer of software services and other services in the future. With the acquisition of the inovel companies, ETO continues to focus on energy-efficient and ecological products for a better future.
The inovel companies have specialized in IoT-based real-time applications in the agricultural sector. With the help of an IoT platform, they enable farmers to use agricultural machinery more efficiently, optimize the use of crop protection products and to use automated steering. Moreover, the IoT platform allows for dynamic work and resources scheduling as well as for remotely controlling processes via online services.
CEO Dr. Michael Schwabe is pleased with the new competencies: "ETO has found a partner in inovel to advance high-precision control processes in the field of precision farming. Thanks to the inovel IoT platform with intelligent real-time maps and route planning processes, crop protection products can be dosed and saved systematically. ETO's technology expertise and experience in large-scale production from the automotive industry can be applied to resource-saving crop protection systems in the future. We are thus strengthening the development, production and marketing of innovative technologies in the agricultural sector and expanding the portfolio of ETO GRUPPE."
Robert Steinhauser, Managing Director of the inovel companies, adds: " ETO GRUPPE is a strong company that, like us, is at home in technologically interesting and pioneering industries. With their production and sales capacities, they will help our systems to significantly strengthen their global presence."
By this merger, ETO advances in the field of autonomous steering systems and expands its portfolio by a fully developed IoT real-time platform with human-machine interfaces and apps. Furthermore, ETO complements its product range with an additional electronics production for small and medium batch series in order to achieve a unique market position in the field of precision farming with a high vertical range of manufacture.
In 1995, inovel elektronik GmbH was founded by Axel Dittus and Robert Steinhauser. In 2006, the inovel systeme GmbH was founded which was converted into a public limited company in 2012. There are more than 30 employees at the inovel site in Friedrichshafen. Like ETO, the company considers staying in close contact and fairly cooperating with its customers a central part of its philosophy. Axel Dittus and Robert Steinhauser remain managing directors of inovel in order to continue their success story together with their innovative, young team within ETO GRUPPE in the future.
With the acquisition of the two companies, new fields are added to the ETO portfolio and its development, production and marketing of innovative technologies in the agricultural sector are enhanced.