This year, we celebrated at GaiaZOO in Kerkrade, just across the Dutch border. Together with our colleagues and their families, we enjoyed a fantastic summer day in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. In total, 110 participants joined the event, including 30 children whose curiosity and enthusiasm made the day even more special.

From the moment everyone arrived at the Magnolia Event Center, the excitement was unmistakable. Beautiful floral table decorations and sweet treats created a cheerful, family-friendly setting. After enjoying a slice of traditional Limburg vlaai, we set off in three groups for a two-hour guided tour through the zoo.

Exploring the fascinating wildlife together gave us plenty of opportunities to connect, share conversations, laugh, and simply enjoy each other’s company away from the office. These shared experiences are what make our annual summer party so special.

After the tour, we gathered back at the Magnolia Event Center for a delicious buffet featuring regional specialties, a fresh salad bar, and local beverages. With spacious outdoor tents, pleasant indoor areas, and beautiful summer weather, everyone was able to relax and enjoy the afternoon.

It was a day filled with meaningful conversations, happy moments, and lots of laughter. Events like these not only strengthen our team spirit but also give our families the opportunity to get to know one another and become part of the QA community.

A heartfelt thank you to all our colleagues and their families for making this day such a memorable one. We are already looking forward to our next opportunity to celebrate and spend time together.

QA Summer Party 2026

After many years of participating, the Aachen Company Run has long been a fixture on our calendar of events. So it went without saying that we would take to the starting line again this year and lace up our running shoes together.

However, there was something special about 2026: For the first time, the Company Run was moved up from September to June. As a result, participants faced not only athletic challenges but also summer temperatures. Despite the heat, we all worked up quite a sweat—but the fun and the great atmosphere remained the focus at all times.

As a team, we once again opted for the 6.6-kilometer course. After the starting gun went off for our QA team, we set off on the route around Pascalstraße in Aachen-Oberforstbach. Many colleagues had been preparing for the running event for weeks in advance and were eagerly looking forward to this well-organized sporting event.

With the motivating support of numerous QA fans, our team completed two laps through the Oberforstbach industrial park and across the SCHUMAG AG grounds. Despite the summery conditions, all participants showed great dedication and team spirit. It didn’t take long for the first runners on our team to cross the finish line.

After crossing the finish line, all participants received the traditional finisher’s T-shirt, as well as snacks and refreshing drinks. We then celebrated our athletic success together, taking the opportunity to enjoy many good conversations and a wonderful end to the day.

Once again in 2026, the Aachen Company Run demonstrated how sports, team spirit, and shared experiences bring colleagues together. We’re already looking forward to participating again next time.

2026 Aachen Company Run

From 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., we opened our doors for an Open House and offered exciting insights into our company, our work areas, and our corporate culture. The afternoon focused on personal interactions and exchanges with our guests. During regular company tours led by the management team, visitors gained exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into Quality Automation. The tours started every 20 minutes and allowed visitors to get an up-close look at our work processes, projects, and developments.

A particular highlight was the welcome and address by the management team at 3:00 p.m. During the event, they looked back on the company’s 25-year history and offered a glimpse into its future. We were delighted that Patrick Haas, the mayor of Stolberg, the “Copper City,” also attended our anniversary celebration and, in his personal remarks, emphasized the importance of successful, regionally rooted companies for the local economy.

The culinary portion of the event began immediately afterward at 3:10 p.m. Over a varied buffet and grilled specialties, our guests were able to mingle in a relaxed atmosphere, strengthen existing partnerships, and make new connections.

The anniversary celebrations continued even after the official open house. The evening program created a wonderful atmosphere and provided the perfect setting to wrap up the day together. Musical entertainment was provided by the nationally renowned live band Lagerfeuer Trio, whose diverse repertoire created a fantastic atmosphere. Another highlight was the performance by the regional show dance group Jecke Fööss from Erste Walheimer KG 1973 e.V., which thrilled the audience with an energetic performance.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our customers, partners, employees, and friends of the company who celebrated this anniversary with us. Your trust, cooperation, and support have been instrumental in enabling Quality Automation to look back on 25 successful years.

Here’s to the next 25 years—together with our customers, partners, and employees!

25 Years of Quality Automation – Anniversary Celebration with Customers and Partners

As part of the federal program “Partnering in Business with Germany” (PG), we at Quality Automation GmbH had the pleasure of welcoming a 24-member business delegation from Mexico to our offices in Stolberg on April 16, 2026.

The program, organized by Carl Duisberg Centren on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), serves as a key bridge in Germany’s foreign trade policy. It specifically prepares executives from emerging economies to establish stable economic partnerships with German small and medium-sized enterprises.

For us, as an owner-managed family business, this visit was a valuable opportunity to showcase ourselves as an innovative solutions provider in the high-tech sector. The Mexican guests—all decision-makers from companies that act as product developers and service partners for global OEMs—showed particular interest in our specific service portfolio. Since the delegation had focused on automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0, our location in Stolberg provided the ideal practical setting for professional exchange.

During the morning, we presented our core competencies in the areas of digitalization, control panel construction, and industrial image processing. We placed particular emphasis on translating theoretical Industry 4.0 concepts into real-world production—a topic of utmost relevance to our Mexican partners given their role as suppliers to international industrial customers.

The concluding tour of the company provided an opportunity to gain insights into our processes and corporate culture. We are pleased that we were able to show the participants how a modern German “hidden champion” combines flexibility with the highest level of technological precision. For us, this visit marks an important step toward further internationalization and the strengthening of German-Mexican economic relations in the automation technology sector.

International Exchange in Stolberg  

Quality Automation GmbH has joined the MVTec Certified Integration Partner Network, expanding it as an experienced system integrator for industrial automation, digitalization, and, in particular, machine vision. MVTec is a leading global manufacturer of software for industrial image processing (machine vision).

A particular focus is on the development and integration of AI-based inspection and quality control systems. These solutions enable reliable and efficient inspection in a wide variety of industrial applications and can be seamlessly integrated into existing machines and production processes. In addition, Quality Automation has extensive experience in software integration, such as integrating the MVTec HALCON HDevEngine into existing frameworks like LabVIEW.

As part of the MVTec Certified Integration Partner Program, Quality Automation works closely with MVTec to deliver high-performance and future-proof machine vision solutions for end customers. The partner program stands for the highest quality standards and a rigorous selection process, ensuring that customers benefit from excellent technical expertise and optimally tailored machine vision solutions.

Certified Integration Partner of MVTec

To mark the start of the 2025/26 funding year, the scholarship certificates were once again presented in the historic Coronation Hall of Aachen City Hall. More than 60 sponsors – companies, foundations, associations, institutions, and private individuals – donated approximately 120 scholarships, which were awarded to students from all departments of Aachen University of Applied Sciences.

“I think it’s remarkable that so many companies are showing such commitment to young people despite these challenging times,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Thomas Ritz, Rector of FH Aachen.

We are once again participating as a scholarship provider this year and are supporting Mr. Konstantin Edel, a student of electrical engineering with a focus on automation technology at FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, with an annual scholarship. We are very pleased that Mr. Edel is joining us on this journey. This is a great confirmation and shows that the scholarships are effective and help students achieve their desired degrees.

“It was a great pleasure and honor for me to accept the certificate on behalf of Quality Automation GmbH, together with Mr. Edel, in the coronation hall of Aachen City Hall. It is always important to me to encourage and support young talent,” reports Managing Director Andreas Fritz.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish Mr. Edel all the best and every success in his future studies!

FH Aachen Annual Scholarship 2025/26

Under the motto “Business at Champion Level,” the historic hall became a meeting place for business, innovation, and networking. In the special atmosphere of the Aachen Christmas market, representatives of regional companies, craftsmen, and local politicians came together for a lively exchange.

The newly designed event concept with a main stage, micro stages, and numerous meeting points provided a varied setting for ideas, short presentations, and personal conversations. The Entrepreneurs’ Day was opened by City Region Councilor Dr. Tim Grüttemeier and Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons. Other highlights included the presentation of the Aachen Industry Dialogue seal of approval and a keynote speech by Birgit Rosenberg, member of the board of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein.

We at Quality Automation GmbH, based in the Aachen region for 25 years and holder of the “Made in Aachen” seal of quality, are delighted to be actively participating once again. The focus of our presentation this year was on image processing. Our solutions met with great interest and led to numerous in-depth discussions on quality assurance, automation, and specific applications.

Many thanks to all visitors and interested parties for the open, constructive exchange – we look forward to continuing the discussions!

Info: The Aachen Industry Dialogue

The Aachen Industry Dialogue has been taking place since 2015 and entered its eighth round this year. It is an open network for industry in the Aachen region and supports, among other things, the transfer of knowledge between Aachen’s universities and industry. The “Made in Aachen” seal of quality is awarded annually. This year, the award went to Procoplast from Lontzen, Belgium, the Aachen branch of Siemens AG, and us, Quality Automation GmbH. According to the jury, they have made an exemplary contribution to production, training, and cooperation in the Aachen region.

9th Entrepreneurs’ Day of the Aachen Industry Dialogue

Quality Automation GmbH is celebrating 25 years of success this year. To mark this anniversary, we were honored with a certificate from the Aachen Chamber of Industry and Commerce. This award is a great recognition for us and honors a quarter of a century of continuous development, innovative strength, and entrepreneurial commitment.

Since our founding, quality, technical expertise, and partnership-based cooperation have been at the heart of everything we do. The honor from the Aachen Chamber of Industry and Commerce confirms our commitment to developing sustainable and future-oriented solutions and successfully implementing them together with our customers and partners.

We would like to express our special thanks to our entire team, whose expertise, dedication, and team spirit have contributed significantly to this success. We would also like to thank our long-standing partners and customers for their trust and constructive cooperation over many years.

The accompanying photo shows our management team, who accepted the certificate on behalf of all employees.

We see our 25th anniversary not only as an opportunity to look back, but also as motivation for the future. With new ideas, exciting projects, and a strong team, we look forward to the coming years with confidence and are excited to continue on our successful path.

25 years of QA – a special award

After participating for several years, the Aachen Company Run has long been an integral part of our event calendar. So it was only natural for us to take part again this year and lace up our running shoes together.

As a team, we decided to tackle the 6.6-kilometer distance. At 4:45 p.m., the starting signal was given for our QA team on the route around Pascalstraße in Aachen-Oberforstbach. Many colleagues had been training intensively for weeks in advance and were looking forward to the well-organized sporting event with great anticipation.

With the motivating support of numerous QA fans, our team completed two laps through the Oberforstbach industrial park and across the SCHUMAG AG premises. After only about 30 minutes, the first runner from our team reached the finish line.

After crossing the finish line, all participants received a finisher shirt, snacks, and drinks. We celebrated our sporting success together before heading into a well-deserved weekend.

We are already looking forward to participating in the Aachen Company Run in 2026.

Aachen Company Run 2025

QA at the ReMoKo goes CEO conference

On June 16, 2025, our managing director Christian Fritz took part in this year’s ReMoKo goes CEO conference in Aachen. As part of the clever mobil program, regional decision-makers from politics, administration, business, and mobility partnerships discussed strategies for a successful mobility transition.

Participants included:

• Dr. Tim Grüttemeier, Aachen City Council
• Sibylle Keupen, Mayor of the City of Aachen
• Patrick Haas, Mayor of the Copper City of Stolberg

Christian Fritz emphasized the importance of joint dialogue:

“The direct exchange with political decision-makers and other companies was very valuable for us. Only together can we effectively shape the mobility transition – in a practical and regionally coordinated manner.”

QA Mobility Weeks: Practical implementation in companies

The QA Mobility Weeks demonstrate that we don’t just talk about our ideas at conferences, but also put them into practice in our everyday work. For two weeks, our employees were able to test various offers from clever mobil free of charge and try out new ways of getting around in their daily lives.

Among other things, the following were used:

• 4x e.GO electric cars
• 2x electric scooters
• Credit for public transportation, which was actively used by our colleagues

A colleague enthusiastically reports on his experiences with the electric car:
“I used the electric car for short customer visits nearby, but also privately for inner-city trips and, of course, for my commute to work. I particularly liked the fact that we already have many charging stations in the underground car park at QA, which made charging super easy. This showed me how uncomplicated electric mobility can be in everyday life.”

The feedback from the workforce was consistently positive – many colleagues took the opportunity to try out electric mobility and public transport and thus discover new routines for their everyday lives.

Our conclusion

The combination of strategic exchange at the regional level and practical implementation within the company shows that sustainable mobility is not just a topic for the future for us, but a reality we live by.

We would like to thank everyone involved in the conference as well as our employees for their commitment and look forward to working with our partners to further advance the mobility transition in the Aachen region.

Working together for the mobility transition

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Quality Automation GmbH, the management team organized a very special thank-you for the entire staff: From June 26 to 29, 2025, all colleagues embarked on an unforgettable company outing to the picturesque Montafon region in Gaschurn, Austria. The trip included accommodation in a comfortable 4-star wellness hotel and a varied program that left nothing to be desired.

We kicked off our journey on Thursday morning, traveling together on a comfortable double-decker bus toward Austria. After arriving in the afternoon and cooling off in the hotel pool, we wrapped up the first day with an exquisite four-course dinner at the hotel restaurant. In a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, the evening was filled with laughter, toasts, and quality time together.

Friday began with a visit to the nearby town of Schruns, followed by an ascent to Bartholomäberg and a visit to Verner’s – one of the absolute highlights of the trip. Set against a breathtaking alpine backdrop, we enjoyed an interactive experience: divided into three groups, we had the chance to brew beer, prepare and cook a meal under the guidance of the head chef, and process meat for sausages and Leberkäse. The meat came from locally raised stone sheep – regional quality that we could truly taste in the lavish meal that followed.

That evening, we headed to a lively local beer festival with a traditional brass band concert near the hotel, where we celebrated, danced, and laughed late into the night.

Saturday brought an active start: split into two groups, one explored the town of Gaschurn on a guided tour personally led by the mayor, who shared fascinating insights into the town’s history and tourism development. The second group took on a challenging mountain hike, climbing over 650 vertical meters – a rewarding adventure with stunning views and a refreshing dip in a secluded mountain lake.

Both groups ended their routes at a mountain farm near the hotel, where we were warmly welcomed with refreshing drinks and homemade grilled specialties. With excellent hospitality and live music from a specially booked duo, we enjoyed a cozy and entertaining evening to conclude the day.

Sunday came with a bittersweet farewell: after another generous breakfast together, we began our journey back to Stolberg – carrying with us many cherished memories and a renewed sense of being part of an incredible team.

A heartfelt thank you to the management for this wonderfully organized anniversary trip, and to everyone who helped make it such a success!

Montafon Trip – 25 Years of Quality Automation

Breakfast meets future technology: The ‘tech & breakfast’ event series visited Quality Automation and brought together stakeholders from business, science, and public administration.How does modern automation work today – and how can the transfer between science, business, and education succeed? These were the key questions at the latest “tech & breakfast” event held at the headquarters of Quality Automation GmbH. Around 30 participants from the region followed the joint invitation of the business development agency of the City of Stolberg and the Innovation Transfer (IVT) unit of FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences.

After a warm welcome by Managing Directors Michael Fritz and Christian Fritz, guests were greeted by Patrick Haas, Mayor of Stolberg, Peter Wackers from the economic development department, and Dr. Johannes Mandelartz, head of the IVT. All three emphasized the Aachen region’s great strength: the close, practice-oriented cooperation between universities, businesses, and public institutions – a real locational advantage.

Breakfast with a view and a focus on future technologies

A key part of every “tech & breakfast” is a keynote from FH Aachen researchers. This time, Prof. Dr. Christian Czarnecki (Business Informatics) spoke about the importance of trust in the context of digitalization. His core message: sustainable automation is only possible when employees, leaders, and customers trust in digital processes, systems – and most importantly, in the people behind them.

Following the talk, participants had the chance to take a guided tour through the QA offices and gain exclusive insight into the day-to-day work at Quality Automation GmbH. As a family-owned business serving clients from the automotive, food, and medical technology sectors, we develop custom solutions in automation, machine vision, digitalization, Industry 4.0, mechanical design, and manufacturing. At the heart of our approach: empowering people and unlocking their potential.

The event also focused on our strong company culture and commitment to nurturing young talent. Whether apprentices, graduates, or experienced professionals – individual development, hands-on training, and the opportunity to actively shape the company are key elements of our philosophy. Our close partnership with FH Aachen supports this vision: around 65% of our team studied there, and we continue to collaborate on research projects and student theses.

We sincerely thank all guests for the engaging conversations, and FH Aachen and the City of Stolberg for their excellent collaboration. We look forward to the next opportunity to connect – with a clear view of tomorrow’s technologies.

„tech & breakfast“ at Quality Automation