In an jubilee celebration, Spangler Automation honoured 17 employees for many years of service. The managing directors Tina Lambert and Christian Brandmüller were able to honour a large group of employees. Many of those honoured have already completed their apprenticeship at Spangler or came to Spangler shortly afterwards. Some have held various roles and positions in the organisation over the years. In the respective laudations, Lambert addressed both the respective career of the employee and one or two anecdotes. For Lambert, these honours not only stand for individual achievements, but they are also recognition for good, lasting, and reliable cooperation.

The company also used the setting to award this year’s winners of the innovation prize. Every year, employees who make suggestions for improving company processes are honoured. This year, two employees shared the third place with the same number of points, which is why Managing Director Christian Brandmüller was able to honour four people.

Long business relationships, both with employees and with customers, have traditionally been important to the company. Plenty of time to develop mutual trust and appreciation and to experience a lot together. Afterwards, everyone was able to review these moments together in a relaxed atmosphere. Tina Lambert’s final request to the employees: “Especially in today’s world, experienced employees who keep a cool head are worth a mint”.

About Spangler:

SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years. More than half of the plants produced are exported worldwide. The medium-sized family-run company plans and engineers plant automation, programs the control technology and manufactures switch and control systems for various sectors such as environmental technology, agricultural economy, building industry, food industry, automobile industry, raw materials industry as well as renewable energies. Moreover, SPANGLER carries out the start-up and the after-sales service of the plants.

Press release Solidarity over the years (591 kb)

Photo jubilarians (2,3 mb)

Photo innovation award winnders (12 mb)

The Chamber awarded 64 craftsmen and craftswomen from all East Bavaria with a certificate of honour for their excellent performance. Maximilian Beer is one of them. As electronics technician for automation, he completed his training at the medium-sized family company Spangler in Töging.

Good frame conditions during apprenticeship

Beer, who started his apprenticeship in 2018, was supported by the good conditions he found in his training company. Already at the beginning he was prepared for the apprenticeship in an intensive training. Regular changes in different departments as well as competent persons to contact are standard at Spangler. Thanks to this formula for success several excellent results could be achieved in the past. Regularly, the Töging company train excellent graduates in different apprenticeships. The last time there was a Chamber winner was in 2009.

Honour by the President of the Chamber of Handicrafts

The certificate was awarded by the President of the Chamber of Handicraft, Jürgen Kilger. In his speech he stressed the importance of the handicraft and trade: ‘Our economic sector is more appreciated again, also because the craft sector has shown its strength during the crisis months and because it kept the region going. People will realise that a career in crafts is worthwhile, especially in these times.” On behalf of the company Spangler, authorized representative Thomas Zenk was honoured for the especially good apprenticeship.

Handicraft with future

Now, Beer is working as a constructing engineer for the electrotechnical engineering of plants and plans plants of all sizes all over the world. “From hydrogen projects in the United States to regenerative drying plants in Egypt, there are always exciting projects”, he describes his working life. As a demanded and highly qualified expert he takes over responsibility for tomorrow’s technology.

About SPANGLER
SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years. More than half of the plants produced are exported worldwide. The medium-sized family-run company plans and engineers plant automation, programs the control technology and manufactures switch and control systems for various sectors such as environmental technology, agricultural economy, building industry, food industry, automobile industry, raw materials industry as well as renewable energies. Moreover, SPANGLER carries out the start-up and the after-sales service of the plants.

Pressrelease Kammersieger Maximilian Beer

Foto

With an extensive program, the first day of work for the new apprentices also marked their introduction to the training company. Right from the start, Spangler presented its strong emphasis on the family-oriented company culture.

Smooth transition into professional life

For the four electronics technicians, one office administrator, and one dual-study student, the “intensive training” program has now started. This apprenticeship program is designed to ease the transition from school to the working world for young professionals. The six-week course includes topics such as the fundamentals of electrical engineering, materials science, procurement knowledge, as well as excursions like an on-site customer visit to a drinking water facility.

Foundation for a professional career

“Automation technology is a field that will continue to offer more and more exciting opportunities in the future,” says Tina Lambert, Managing Director at Spangler. “We are all the more pleased that we were once again able to inspire six young people to begin an apprenticeship in this field.” For Lambert, dual education remains the perfect foundation for a professional career.

A Diverse and Exciting First Day

Spangler currently trains 25 apprentices and dual-study students. The Töging-based company traditionally places a strong focus on high-quality training. During their apprenticeship, the trainees go through various departments. Each year, up to 30 students are given the opportunity to complete an internship to help them choose their future profession. Apprentices at Spangler are offered the opportunity to undertake an international internship when they turn 18, allowing them to spend a month in a European country.

About SPANGLER:

SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years. More than half of the plants produced are exported worldwide. The medium-sized family-run company plans and engineers plant automation, programs the control technology and manufactures switch and control systems for various sectors such as environmental technology, agricultural economy, building industry, food industry, automobile industry, raw materials industry as well as renewable energies. Moreover, SPANGLER carries out the start-up and the after-sales service of the plants.

press release (528 kb)

photo start of apprenticeship (9 mb)

With the presentation of the training certificates, the final step of the apprenticeship has been completed, marking the end of the training years. Last week, it was time for five of our apprentices. The training to become an electronics technician specializing in automation technology is divided into company-based training segments and academic portions in Neumarkt and Weiden, consisting of both theoretical and practical studies. This is supplemented by courses from the Chamber of Crafts, which further intensify specific areas of study. Five young colleagues have now received their certificates of apprenticeship.

The Spangler management team, consisting of Tina Lambert and Christian Brandmüller, congratulated the new professionals on their excellent achievements. In a brief speech, Tina Lambert thanked the apprentices, describing the completion of the training as the beginning of a lifelong learning process. She particularly emphasized the extensive development opportunities that the profession offers. Electronics technicians specializing in automation technology are needed everywhere in the economy to bring power to systems and ensure their operation. In recognition of their excellent results, the management also presented the former apprentices with mementos of their training years.

Each year, Spangler Automation trains around seven career starters. In addition to electronics technicians, office staff and dual students are also recruited. For Spangler, training their own specialists is an optimal way to fill demanding positions.

About SPANGLER
SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years.

More than half of the plants produced are exported worldwide. The medium-sized family-run company plans and engineers plant automation, programs the control technology and manufactures switch and control systems for various sectors such as environmental technology, agricultural economy, building industry, food industry, automobile industry, raw materials industry as well as renewable energies. Moreover, SPANGLER carries out the start-up and the after-sales service of the plants.

pressreleases successful vocational training (260 kb)

Successful Vocational Training (2 mb)

The traditional brewery Lammsbräu in Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate is a long-term customer of SPANGLER Automation. Within the scope of an extensive retrofit programme, the process of malt kiln was completely equipped with new hardware, the wiring diagram and the software were revised and several plants were connected to the existing control system.

State-of-the-art automated handicraft

For more than 16 years Spangler Automation has been delivering Lammsbräu with hard and software, like for example the automation of the water treatment and fresh water well pumps. In 2021 it was necessary to modernize the process of malt kiln. The kiln drying of malt is a drying process which essentially affects the taste and colour of the beer. To ensure the product characteristics and the quality in future as well, the whole process had to be brought up to date. Spangler used the old documents of the drying plant and conveyor plant as a base and with the help of EPLAN developed a new, digitised wiring diagram that was designed smaller and more clearly arranged.

Spangler has chosen the programming and the user interface of the touch panel in a way that the functionality was increased, and a finer setting of the programmes was enabled.  The brewers’ experience was included in the design of the process flow which allowed a more user-friendly design. In addition to the new control cabinet for the control Siemens S7-1200, on-site control boxes were assembled.  These pushbuttons determined for the manual operation of the engines are available for the staff as alternative to the automatic operation or the touch panel. The extended retrofit makes it possible to connect the drying chamber and the conveyor belts to the control system, which already controls the other plants of the malthouse.

Precise preparation for a quick implementation

The electrical assembly of the control cabinet and the start-up had to be carried out during the yearly maintenance of the building at Lammsbräu, that means within three days. This required detailed planning and exact preparation, from the software to the last wire. Beyond the requirement of start-up, Spangler programmers accompanied the first drying process and took over fine adjustments.
Lammsbräu can now count on a reliable supply of spare parts, higher safety provisions and automated-backed processes. An optimal retrofit package to guarantee the quality of beer appreciated by the customers.

In order to achieve the generally defined goal of phasing out coal and due to the amendment of the sewage sludge regulation, the combustion of sewage sludge instead of coal as a fuel is a good alternative. For this reason, two belt dryers with a yearly capacity of 80.000 tons were installed at a plant of an energy provider for increase of capacity. SPANGLER Automation planned, produced and programmed the automation technology on behalf of HUBER SE Berching.

Comprehensive performance package with tight schedule

„The project was very comprehensive. Besides the two new belt dryers of the size BT 30, the control technology comprised the corresponding air circulation system, the conveyance of the wet and dry sludge as well as the exhaust air treatment “, Anton Höcker, Spangler Project Manager reported. Beyond that, a power station drawing system was implemented so that with every message in the control system it can be recognized which module in which area has caused the message. In addition to the technical scope the building time of only four months was very tight, for everything – from the machine technology to steel structures and cabling to start-up and bus connection.

Continuous surveillance

As main control Spangler used a Siemens PLC S7-1500, which is operated via HMI via the Siemens WinCC. 27 control cabinet fields and six sub-distribution boxes directly at the machines control both dryer lines, including power supply. Spangler experts programmed the control of the dryers in accordance with a functional specification sheet of HUBER SE.

The energy supply of the plant is monitored fully automatically. If one power supply fails, the network is completely switched to the redundantly planned second supply. If both fail, the plant automatically switches to supply via an emergency power generator and thus is permanently available. In addition, the central control system is connected to the existing control system, which already existed prior to the extension, via a bus system. Therefore, the plant can be completely controlled from the remote control room of the energy provider.

Sixteen employees were honoured for long employment at Spangler. 

Spangler employees were honoured for ten to 40 years of loyalty at Spangler. Managing Director Tina Lambert and Managing Director Christian Brandmüller had prepared a short honorific speech and a collage for each of the sixteen employees celebrating an anniversary. In a familiar atmosphere they were also presented with an honorary certificate from the Chamber of Skilled Crafts. In total, 40 years were honoured twice, 30 years once, 20 years twice, 15 years three times and 10 years 8 times.

Long-term planned jobs

“Despite Corona protective measures, we were able to hold a celebration with the honoured employees and Spangler’s managers“,  Managing Director Tina Lambert was pleased. “The quality of our products mainly depends on the knowledge of our employees. The fact that we can celebrate such long anniversaries is also a sign of good and long-term working conditions.“  Spangler as a medium-sized company has invested in employees and in establishing long-term and family-friendly jobs since the beginning. With the help of these experts the company implements countless projects around the world every year, many of them are among the most innovative machines in the respective sectors.

Award of the innovators

The winners of the coveted Spangler’s innovation award were also honoured on this day. Ideas for improving the operation processes are rewarded with this prize. As ‚mini‘-entrepreneurs employees are thus shaping the working processes of the future themselves.

About SPANGLER
SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years. More than half of the plants produced are exported worldwide. The medium-sized family-run company plans and engineers plant automation, programs the control technology and manufactures switch and control systems for various sectors such as environmental technology, agricultural economy, building industry, food industry, automobile industry, raw materials industry as well as renewable energies. Moreover, SPANGLER carries out the start-up and the after-sales service of the plants.

press release with spangler more than 40 years (358 kb)

The Spangler jubilarians plus the management. (3 mb)

Sixteen employees were honored for their long service to the company. (2 mb)

“For us, it’s always a heartfelt desire to give back to our hometown,” summarizes Tina Lambert, Managing Partner at Spangler, reflecting the company’s philosophy. Therefore, a request from the Töging kindergarten for IT equipment was positively approved.

Spangler covered the costs of acquiring tablet PCs. These devices are not intended for the children but serve as a foundation for administration and communication through digital solutions, which will significantly simplify and accelerate processes in the future. According to Mayor Bernd Mayr, the kindergarten is a flagship project within the municipal network. He anticipates that the tablets will eventually be adopted by other municipal kindergartens as well.

Franz Wittmann, a father of two, commented: “As Deputy Head of Purchasing at Spangler, I understand the importance of digitalization and networking. Personally, I have a strong connection to this kindergarten, as I attended it myself, and both my sons were cared for here. In recent months, public infrastructure has faced significant digital challenges, and even though this is just the beginning, we can at least help our local kindergarten to better collaborate with parents.”

The tablets in Töging are being used for various administrative tasks. Given the high standards for safeguarding children’s data, the specially developed app “CARE” is used, where data is stored securely and encrypted. This ensures that communication between parents and the kindergarten is safe and protected. With just one click, all parents can be reminded of an upcoming excursion, letters to parents can be sent in an environmentally friendly way, or the children’s information—such as birthdays, allergies, and special needs—can be accessed. Digitalization also benefits parents; for example, sick children can be reported absent during the night, long before the first children arrive.

The devices donated by Spangler were formally handed over in a donation ceremony. Kindergarten director Roswitha Nikol accepted the much-anticipated devices. Mayor Bernd Mayr personally took the opportunity to see the new features of the devices.

“We are especially pleased that some of the children of Spangler employees attend this kindergarten,” said Tina Lambert. “This donation benefits everyone—the teachers, the children, the parents, and, in the end, even the employees.”

About SPANGLER:

SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years. More than half of the plants produced are exported worldwide. The medium-sized family-run company plans and engineers plant automation, programs the control technology and manufactures switch and control systems for various sectors such as environmental technology, agricultural economy, building industry, food industry, automobile industry, raw materials industry as well as renewable energies. Moreover, SPANGLER carries out the start-up and the after-sales service of the plants.

press release(500 kb)

Handover of the devices in Töging (3,5 mb)

The future depends on what you do today – Mahatma Gandhi. With this thought, the management of SPANGLER Automation summed up the changes which are currently taking place and which will form the company in the upcoming years. ‘In good times we invest in future-proof measures‘, Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer said. Taking the comprehensive digitalisation of the process and task fields into consideration, like for example the automated warehouse lift in the production or the production and administration building that is under construction at the moment. This ‘Courage for the future’ needs trustworthy and loyal employees, who support these changes. It was therefore all the more a pleasure for her to recognize many employees for their many years with the company. Christian Brandmüller, Josef Schmid and Reinhard Weigl were honoured for 25 years, Anton Höcker, Angelika Leibold, Rainer Meier and Peter Wild for 20 years. Frank Prochnow was thanked for 15 years, as well as Renate Schuderer, Fabian Rackl and Renate Hirsch for 10 years.

Good cohesion

After the honor of the celebrants the Managing Director underlined once again her appreciation for the work performed and the commitment of the whole team as well as the good cohesion.

A particularly large number of prizes were awarded this year for the innovation management for which employees may submit their ideas for improvements. In total nine award winners were honoured for the first three prizes. Reinhard Weigl was awarded with the prize for the best improvement proposal in 2019.

Farewell to retirement

The focus of this afternoon was the farewell to Managing Director Helmut Graspointner, who was with Spangler from the very beginning and will start his well-deserved retirement. The employees did not miss the chance to personally wish him all the best and – represented by the long-term employees Martina Glas and Hubert Rackl – presented some gifts, among them a picture of the company building, painted on a Jura stone. But that was not enough. Christina Deyerler, who has also been working at SPANGLER for many years, handed over probably the most personal gift: anecdotes, memories and wishes in a photo book, collected by all employees. Visibly moved, Helmut Graspointner was recognized for his efforts with long applause.

After the official part the year-end party’s informal and festive get-together started. The affectionately decorated Christmas lounge of the restaurant Freihart in Mallerstetten got all participants in mood for Christmas – with a good mood, mulled wine and cookies.

All pictures: SPANGLER GMBH, Kerstin Obermeyer

About SPANGLER

SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years.

Pressemitteilung (146 kb)

Übergabe Erinnerungsbuch (2 mb)

Übergabe Mitarbeitergeschenk (2 mb)

Bild Jubilare (3 mb)

The SPANGLER Versiontool is a programme, completely developed in-house, to access quickly and targeted the corresponding project files during and after the creation phase of software projects. A structured filing, a well-arranged status maintenance and a clear version archive have enabled us since then a transparent administration of our projects.

In the beginning was the idea

Versiontool has its origin in the context of the company-owned innovation management. An employee presented a suggestion for improvement for a programme for structuring the filing of software projects. The idea was to remove the breeding ground for potential faults by avoiding overlaps, untransparent archiving or faulty information flows. Based on this, the SPANGLER Versiontool was created.

The programme works like a digital file. This can, similar to its real counterpart, be removed and the included documents can be viewed chronologically. During this time the project is ‘checked out’ for other users, so that no overlaps can occur. The integrated user administration provides a secure handling of sensitive customer data with which administration rights such as read or edit permission are assigned. In case the ‘file’ is open, version history, working steps, persons involved or current status in real time are presented. This saves users from long search histories, avoids additional work and simplifies further working steps. Versiontool is not only limited to files which usually are used for software projects but is also used for universal applications. The administration of wiring diagrams and lists of data points in the creation process of the Spangler control units are only two of many other application possibilities.

Versiontool: in-house and at our customers

For many years we at Spangler have been using exclusively Versiontool for the administration of our projects in process automation and we have continuously improved and extended it over the years. We could convince various customers of the advantages of the programme. Among other things, they implemented it for software management of production machines, bus systems of the building installation and safety engineering.

„What makes our Versiontool stand out against similar products“ says Thomas Zenk, Manager Process Automation and authorised representative at Spangler GmbH, „is, besides the cost-benefit factor, mainly our flexibility. Our programmers can consider customer requirements and can adapt the software individually. In this way we enable the best possible integration in consisting software surroundings or in the corporate networks of our customers.“

In addition to the clearly arranged presentation and the quick acquisition of information, Versiontool allows improvement of quality by efficient and perfectly coordinated work. A significant advantage which we are glad to share with our customers.

Would you like a free live demonstration without obligation?
Please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail: sales@spangler-automation.de

Dietfurt/Töging, 22 March 2021 – She will leave with mixed feelings. Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer, who has built up, accompanied and led the Töging automation manufacturer from a three-person operation to an internationally active company with 150 employees, will leave the active business life as of 1 April. After her brother Helmut Graspointner left the company at the end of 2019, the founding generation now ultimately passes on the stab of the management to the following generation.

Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer has many reasons to leave with happy feelings: a prosperous enterprise with positive future perspectives, a systematically regulated succession with reliable family members and managers and last but not least a workforce which stands behind the company and its management in familial closeness. ‘I am deeply grateful for this and very touched’, the senior manager said and explained the sad feelings: ‘I will miss the people’.

And with people she means all those who have shaped her everyday life up to now: the employees, the customers, the suppliers, the representatives of public life. Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer has always met them with appreciation and with this attitude she laid the foundation for the continuous success of her company. Thus, the connection to customers and suppliers are based on a long-term cooperation and  the concerns and welfare of her employees have always been important for her. ‘We are a family-run company and our employees are members of the business family.’

The people always in mind

Freedom of movement for young people is important so that their training is not only good for transfer of knowledge, but also for personality development. The tasks in the company finally should fit to the individual employees. As it is similarly important to be up to date in later years, Spangler Automation actively supports further training. In this way and with numerous other supportive benefits the company creates future perspectives for its employees and motivates them to a long company loyalty. This holistic approach results in a security which is useful for both parties: for the company, as the fluctuation is very low and for the employees, as they can plan their lives reliably.

Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer is the one who knows best what support means. ‘When I entered the company after the sudden death of my husband Franz Spangler in 2003 and took over the management together with my brother, the backing was the base for surviving – both in the family and in the company.’ The past twelve months now have shown again how precious mutual reliability is under difficult conditions. ‘Like a chain we have defied the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic together and managed to come with our company through troubled waters.’ The gratitude in Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer’s voice is not missed and clearly signals that everything cannot be taken for granted.

Joint effort

Due to the fact that the digital structure has already existed for the sales approach and the working time models, the implementation was possible within a short period of time. A positive aspect was the new company building with new offices and production area which was ready to move in and in this way there was enough alternative area available for the employees. The general acceptance for digital work has increased. For the future, the company leader expects a higher proportion, however, in total a mixture of digital and traditional work forms – finally the individual disposition of the employees has to be considered as well.

The openness of the company towards new developments comes through here. ‘As a service provider we are always open for ideas and approaches which are brought up by customers, the market or other companies. And we have never missed development steps”, Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer sums up. She has in view both the technical development and the programming issues as well as personnel management. Despite all the forward drive, the management never forgets reflection: is the path taken really the right one? A close exchange with the employees is always on the agenda and helps that the reliable team spirit in the corporate family permanently gets new input.

Smooth transition

Exactly for this reason and considering the background of a well-established management team, Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer can calmly hand over the reins. The future management consists of Tina Lambert (born Spangler) and Christian Brandmüller. Furthermore, the authorized representatives Cornelia Hofmann (born Graspointner) for the sections finance and personnel and Thomas Zenk for the department process automation are part of the extended management team. All of them have been part of Spangler and well known for many years or even decades.
And what is Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer doing after 1^st of April? Of course, she will be in the company for some hours, but she will have enough time for trips, bicycling or hiking. ‘The biggest gift for me ist that I can shape my daily routine on my own’, she says humbly. She has always kept humility during her business life – despite all successes or perhaps precisely for that reason.

About SPANGLER

SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years.

• Which impact does the virtual start-up has on the development costs and development time as well as the project costs?
• How does the real start-up change?
• What are the advantages of a collision detection during simulation?
• Which projects have we already realized?
• THIS is what we can offer you!
• Q&A section for your questions during the presentation

Tuesday 13.04.2021 – 10:00 a.m.

Simply register here: vertrieb@spangler-automation.de

After the registration you will receive your confirmation e-mail with the access data. Registration deadline: 12.04.2021

This year as well long-term employees were honoured for their loyalty and diligence, even though in a small group. Together, the look to the future with new opportunities is an optimistic one.  

At Spangler the commitment to constancy has gained enormous importance in the year 2020. For the family-run company the long-term planning has always been more important than short-term success. In a forward-looking way the company invested in good times in future-proof measures. Thus, with the new office and production building another cornerstone was set for the future.

Good cohesion and team-spirit

The protection of the employees is of top priority for Spangler. When realising measures and changes in the previous months, the company could always rely on the solidarity and the sense of responsibility of its employees. The completion of the new building turned out to be a piece of luck. The extended space provides more possibilities to keep distance and for new work routines.

The employees’ loyalty is clearly visible with this year’s honours, which took place in the new rooms. Helmut Weigl was honoured for 35 years with Spangler and Emilie Graspointner for 25 years. 30 years were achieved by Martina Glas, Hubert Rackl and Thomas Neger, whereas Michael Spangler-Lang was honoured for 20 years and Daniel Rengnath for 15 Jahre years. Florian Kastner and Christoph Stephan have been with Spangler for 10 years.

„All in all, the year 2020 ends in a positive mood. Even though we had to do without the Christmas party, the past weeks and months have shown that our employees form a strong and responsible group.“ according to Managing Director Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer.
Next year the family enterprise can commemorate an anniversary itself: Spangler’s 40. birthday.

All Photos: Veronica Valero, Spangler GmbH

About Spangler:

SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 35 years.

More than half of the plants produced are exported worldwide.
The medium-sized family-run company plans and engineers plant automation, programs the control technology and manufactures switch and control systems for various sectors such as environmental technology, agricultural economy, building industry, food industry, automobile industry, raw materials industry as well as renewable energies.
Moreover, SPANGLER carries out the start-up and the after-sales service of the plants.

PressRelease (328kb)

Honour Helmut Weigl for 35 years (8mb)

New Building (8mb)

Honour Group (5mb)

Soft facts with future decisions

Is the amount of money the key factor when it comes to decisions about investment or are factors which cannot be measured also important? Our colleague Rainer Meier talked about this issue during an online meeting of the federation of the Bavarian metal and electrical industry. The group of leaders of research and development met virtually to discuss the topic “Adaptive Worker Assistance” as well as “Flexibilisation of production”.

The subject was the improvement of production processes in order to improve the value chain and the economic feasibility. The focus was on the issues digitalisation, data-driven processes optimisation as well as automation supported by robots. Such improvement measures, however, always entail huge investment which is an immense obstacle especially for small and medium-sized companies. Our colleague has dealt with the question of costs from a perspective whether there are also non-monetary factors which justify the acquisition of such systems. His approach was based on the fact that with electronical process optimisation risky or difficult tasks are taken over by machines or can be controlled digitally. Thus, the quality of the products is continuously increased and the production process is taking place with less interruptions. Furthermore, experience shows that working at modern and digitalised working places is an incentive and highly motivating for employees.

Whether these arguments are sufficient in order to justify the investment of a digital process optimisation, every enterprise ultimately has to decide on its own. Observing the so-called soft facts was in any case a welcome change of perspective and reason for a lively discussion.

Especially in times of academisation of the society, lack of apprenticeships and migration from the land, the dual training system still remains an international role model. Eight new apprentices who were given the chance to start in their occupational life, start their apprenticeship in three different occupations: electrician for automation technology, IT specialist system integration and office clerk.

To allow a smooth transfer from school life to everyday work life, the apprentices will be prepared for their future tasks during the first weeks with an intensive training. In this way they get an overview of their jobs.

For Spangler apprenticeships and trainings have a high priority, as in this way the company recruits many skilled workers itself. „Besides the function of training young, for us training is also a piece of lived responsibility. We are a family business thus we also take over responsibility for the young people’, Personnel Manager Cornelia Hofmann sums up Spangler’s mindset.

Many young people decide to start the entry into the professional life in the so-called ‘dual system’. An apprenticeship, where school, chambers and parents work hand in hand, in connection with additional benefits such as the stay in a foreign country leads to a sustained impetus for the working life. Two chamber awards for particularly good performance in the final year of the apprenticeship serve as a proof of the sound training that Spangler provides.

Pictures: Veronica Valero, Spangler GmbH

About SPANGLER

SPANGLER Automation employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant engineering for more than 40 years.

Sara Nrecaj and Marie Huml both have finished vocational school with excellent performances why they were honoured at the official farewell of the vocational school in Neumarkt in the ASV sports hall in the presence of Willibald Gailler, administrative head of the district Neumarkt.

Honours were performed later
Sara and Marie started their apprenticeship as a clerk for office management in 2017. As part of their apprenticeship they have worked in several departments and even did a four-week internship in Ireland. The ceremonial handing over of the certificates were performed later in a smaller scale due to the ongoing restriction at the company caused by the Corona virus. “We are very proud of Marie and Sara and their outstanding performances. We are also very pleased that we can further employ them both in responsible positions,” human resources manager Cornelia Hofmann explains.
Reliable apprenticeship also in the future
In the last few years, Spangler has put a great deal into the apprenticeship. Not least through results such as these, Spangler is on a positive and stable way for the future. Spangler continues to focus on the apprenticeship of own specialists. Every year approximately five apprentices start their apprenticeship in different professions. The application period for the start of the apprenticeship in 2021 still lasts until October.

All photos: SPANGLER GMBH, Kerstin Obermeyer

About SPANGLER
SPANGLER GMBH employs around 150 people at its headquarters in Töging in the Altmühl
valley and has been a reliable partner of the national and international mechanical and plant
engineering for more than 35 years. More than half of the plants produced are exported
worldwide.
SPANGLER Automation plans, programmes and manufactures the control and automation
technology for plants in various sectors such as environmental technology, agricultural
economy, building industry, food industry, automobile industry, raw materials industry as well
as pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, SPANGLER carries out the start-up and the aftersales
service of the switch and control systems.
Further information: www.spangler-automation.de

PressRelease(145kb)

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Dietfurt/Töging, 04.12.2019 – Helmut Graspointner, Managing Director of SPANGLER GMBH in Töging and man of the very beginning, retires at the end of this year. His lifetime achievement in electrical engineering and automation technology was honoured by Dr. Georg Haber, President of the Chamber of Skilled Craft of Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate by awarding Helmut Graspointner with its Roritzer medal. Till the end, the secretly organised celebration was said to be a family dinner for his birthday.

The president of the Chamber of Skilled Craft portrayed various professional stages of Helmut Graspointner, from master baker to electronics technician. His drive was said to be the will of wanting, which was repeatedly expressed by his intuition for innovation.

Among the invited guests was the District Administrator of Neumarkt Willibald Gailler, SPANGLER managers and supervisors, long-term politics and business associates, his wife, his mother, his children with their families and his sisters and brothers. The Bavarian State Minister of Finance and Regional Identity, Albert Füracker, had sent his congratulation. Helmut Graspointner took the special honour with emotion and thanked for the felicitous surprise.

He said he will leave with mixed feelings, Graspointner explained. One day the time has come to retire from daily business life. With his sister Hannelore Spangler-Schäfer, his niece Tina Lambert and Christian Brandmüller continuity is guaranteed and with his daughter Cornelia Hofmann another member of the family is involved in the management of the company.

Interview with Helmut Graspointner:

Since the foundation of Spangler GmbH in the year 1981 you have been working with this company. In which fields have you put your focus?

The focus was quite different and has changed regularly with the development of the company. Franz Spangler started the business with repairing radios and TVs and with electrical installations of buildings. In the year of start-up we had only a handful of employees, all of them did all works which incurred. At the beginning I worked only part time in addition to my original job and helped with installation works. When in the second half of the Eighties the design and construction of machine controllers started I focused on the business of machine control and construction of control cabinets and supported production. This was the time when I started to work full-time as authorised representative of the company and when Franz Spangler and I divided up the processes according to fields. Later the company-owned building measures were added: as project leader I was responsible for all three new buildings since 1995.

Which milestones of the company were decisive from your perspective?

Firstly, the great success of machine control cabinets at the beginning of the Nineties. We received the first large orders, the pace of growth was enormous and within a few years the number of our employees tripled. The company become a limited liability company with Franz Spangler and me as Managing Directors. Secondly, the death of Franz Spangler in the year 2003. After this stroke of fate my sister Hannelore Spangler started working full-time at our company. We had to structure the company anew and built up a new organisation under the aspect of long-term customer loyalty.

One aspect of a successful family business is agility and power to innovation. Is this the secret of success of Spangler as well?

That’s right; as we have flat structures we can quickly and unbureaucratically react to developments on the market and as regards technology; often we can face upcoming changes beforehand. As an owner-managed company we always put the whole issue into the focus with a long-term sustainable business development. A decisive aspect is that we have well trained and committed employees, who are engaged with heart and soul and always work at the cutting edge.

This sounds as you have a great working atmosphere…

Indeed, this is the case and it has always been a matter dear to my heart, as has been the fate of the whole company. It starts with a balanced, open atmosphere and ends in jobs which are planned on a long-term basis. We have a close look whether our employees are doing well and offer our help if needed. This results in a safety which is useful for both partners: on the one hand the company, as the fluctuation is very low, and on the other hand our employees as they can reliably plan their lives.  Not least due to this balance and stability I can leave with a good feeling.

Many entrepreneurs have to cope with a lack of trained staff. Is this also the case with Spangler?

We do not have as many job applications today as we had some years ago, but we can still cover our demand. I think that the working atmosphere described before will make our offer for future employees still more interesting. It goes without saying, however, that the degradation of skilled manual jobs which took place in the mid-1990s has huge consequences on today’s business life and should lead to rethinking our system of apprenticeship and training.

For companies managed by its owners the succession of generations is often quite a challenge. How does Spangler solve this topic?

We have already solved this issue. 2008 my daughter Cornelia Hofmann joined the company as proxy holder and she is responsible for the finance and personnel department. Even since 2003 Tina Lambert, Hannelore and Franz Spangler’s daughter, has been working in the company and has been part of management for some time. Both agreed to carry on Spangler GmbH as a family-run business on a long-term basis. Since the beginning of 2019 our longtime Sales Manager Christian Brandmüller has been part of the management. This handover as well is part of the entrepreneurial aspect of business sustainability: Christian Brandmüller celebrated his 25-years company anniversary this year.

At the end of this interview one question to the future private man Helmut Graspointner: Which interests and perspectives are you planning to spend your time with?

I have a number of interests and hobbies and I am indeed looking forward to having more time for them. Above all beekeeping – my 20 bee colonies and the support and encouragement of the young generation will take a lot of time. And as a passionate hunter I will take care of fostering of the local fauna. Moreover, I promised the management of our company that I will accompany the construction of our new building until its completing next year. I’m sure it won’t be boring in future.

Thank you, Mr. Graspointner for this detailed conversation and all the best for your future.

All photos: SPANGLER GMBH, Michael Müller

Press Release (423 kb)

Awarding Roritzer medal (629 kb)

Honor for outstanding accomplishments (802 kb)

Portrait Helmut Graspointner (583kb)

SPANGLER has this demanding certificate as one of five manufacturers in Southern Germany of the currently only 27 partners in Germany.

Modern plants are often enabled by industrial communication networks to communicate and work in a network cluster. Thereby common office network technology (IT world) clearly differ from the technology that is used in control systems in the OT world (Operational technology).

With intensive and regular trainings of employees, SPANGLER has built up important competences in the network technology with Siemens network components.

In the age of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) the demand on the Industrial Network is increasing with the continuously rising number of devices and their different demands and logs.

Customers and plant operators directly benefit from:

• Professional network concept with choice of optimum hardware
• Increased plant safety through redundancy logs
• Reduced failure risks through network segmentation (VLAN)
• Use of approved standard logs
• Development of a remote maintenance concept considering IT safety regulations
• Clearly defined interface between IT and OT world
• Implementation and connection of the machines to the company’s network
• Diagnosis and Predictive Maintenance in order to reduce standstill times and recognize problems in advance
• Future-proof planning and interpretation of the infrastructure for rising data throughput and extension of the plant

The certification is valid for three years. After that a recertification is required. In this way SPANGLER is further expanding its broad knowledge base in order to continuously produce effective plants of the latest generation.

No matter if burrs on motor and housing parts or residues of lubricants and coolants – in motor manufacturing precision and cleanliness are the most important things. The company Maschinenbau Silberhorn GmbH located in Lupburg is an international specialist for plants designed for cleaning and deburring machine parts. In the middle of this year Maschinenbau Silberhorn GmbH delivered two complete cleaning lines for an automotive plant in Shenyang, China. SPANGLER Automation was responsible for the electrical planning and control cabinet construction and provided support during the installation and start-up of the control technology both in Germany and on site in China.

In total, three robot cells deburr motor parts with a water pressure of up to 600 bar. About 500 parts run through both lines per day. They are cleaned of residues from the mechanical processing with various cleaning agents as well as preserved at the same time. Afterwards the treated parts are returned to manufacturing or transported to an interim storage.

According to OEM’s preference

A special challenge was the variety and complexity of the plant processes which had to be considered when programming the control. Furthermore, due to the specification sheets of the car manufacturer detailed requirements for control technology and programming had to be taken into account. Again, SPANGLER could actively support Maschinenbau Silberhorn GmbH here and hence contribute to a smooth implementation of the project.