Economic Forum: Mr. Krane, Mr. Vogel, what are the main pillars of btv technologies today? How are you positioned?

Maximilian Krane: In Unna, we have our headquarters, while in Timisoara (Romania) we operate another manufacturing site for the Eastern European market. Btv technologies relies on three central pillars: Firstly, the efficient logistics of electronic components; secondly, our extensive Value Added Services. Both in Unna and Timisoara, our programming machines operate on a three-shift basis, five days a week. At both locations, we employ a total of about 150 staff and rely on a high degree of automation. Annually, we program about 65 million components at our sites, which represents the core of our Value Added Services. The third pillar is the storage and long-term storage of electronic components, to ensure a continuous supply of spare parts over years and even decades.

Economic Forum: What distinguishes btv technologies from other providers?

Sven Vogel: Our focus is entirely on the needs of our customers, true to our motto "Focus on Service". This philosophy is our recipe for success. Our TAK model, which stands for Transparency, Agility, and Cost Efficiency, is unique in the market in this form. A core feature of TAK is that we only charge for our service, regardless of the value of goods. The purchase price is equal to the selling price. This allows our customers full transparency and direct control over the supply chain, ultimately to avoid production line stoppages. Our model is flexibly scalable and differs significantly from the value-dependent surcharges of traditional distributors. It is ideal for large companies with multiple production sites. Through this model, we have been able to significantly increase our revenue in recent years.

Economic Forum: Is the automotive sector your only target group?

Maximilian Krane: In sales, we plan to establish two separate business units in the medium term: Industrial and Automotive. Our goal is to create a clear separation between these areas to better focus on the specific needs of each industry and to build expert knowledge. In particular, the industrial sector is gaining importance as the volume of electronic parts continues to grow. Here, we see great potential for future growth.

Economic Forum: What do you expect from the market in the coming months? What are your plans?

Maximilian Krane: Despite the gloomier economic situation in recent months, we remain on a growth path. The electronics sector suffered significant shortages and supply gaps in the last two years. This has prompted companies in Europe to rethink their strategy and build larger inventories to move away from just-in-time delivery towards more supply security. Accordingly, we are currently stocking up on many components that may only be needed in a few months. In addition, we observe that, due to the scarcity, automakers are becoming more actively involved in the supply chain and trying to procure key components partly themselves. For us, this is a positive development, as large suppliers increasingly want to source without intermediaries. We are currently looking for an additional location to expand our capacities. Recently, we decided on a large investment: We will introduce a fully automated warehouse, a so-called Autostore with robots, to achieve the highest possible turnover. This expansion will more than double our area. Thus, we are acting counter-cyclically to current market trends. The market is challenging yet offers opportunities for logisticians who can provide the right solutions.

Economic Forum: Is there a long-term goal for btv technologies?

Sven Vogel: Our vision, dictated by our founder Julio Ortega, is ambitious: Within the next five to ten years, we aim to become the leading logistics provider for electronic components in the automotive industry in Europe.