Customized Control
Interview with Maurice Müller, Board Member of SE-Gebäudeautomation AG
Despite the current economic uncertainties, SE Gebäudeautomation AG in Urbach is experiencing strong demand for its services. 'We have endless business,' says Maurice Müller, the company's board member, summarizing the situation. This is partly because many customers remain loyal to the company and recommend it to others. In addition to positive word-of-mouth, legal requirements for energy efficiency also contribute to the favorable order situation: the company offers innovative control technology for heating and ventilation systems.
SE Gebäudeautomation AG was founded in 1993 as a sister company of SE Elektronik in Göppingen, which developed control modules for industry and buildings. The goal was to professionally integrate these modern control systems at customers' sites and to offer customized solutions for a variety of requirements. With its headquarters in Urbach, SE Gebäudeautomation AG is part of the SE Group, which includes a total of six companies. The company achieves an annual turnover of 5.5 million EUR with 45 employees. SE Gebäudeautomation AG provides comprehensive MSR technology for all types of buildings and applications and is currently led by the three shareholders Ralf Rieß, Maurice Müller, and Benjamin Brecht. In addition to the main company, there is SE Gebäudeautomation Service GmbH, which specializes in maintenance and service.
All from One Source
A key success factor of SE Gebäudeautomation AG is that all services are offered from a single source. 'We have no subcontractors, everything is handled by our own staff,' emphasizes Maurice Müller. This 'everything' includes planning, switch cabinet construction, programming, and commissioning. Maintenance is also undertaken by the company's own service department. 'This makes us quicker and more flexible – and if a customer has a malfunction, we respond within a few hours,' says the board member. Tight collaboration within the SE Group brings additional synergies. SE IT GmbH enables remote access to control systems and supports with hardware solutions, while SE Montech handles electrical installations. 'This is a major advantage: We can not only develop systems but also efficiently manage their implementation,' explains Maurice Müller.
Excellent Reputation
SE Gebäudeautomation AG serves both new buildings and renovations, the latter now constituting 50% of the orders. Clients include public institutions and industrial customers, including the Kongresshalle Böblingen, the Landesbibliothek Stuttgart, and numerous schools. 'We work a lot in Stuttgart, but also in Füssen, Augsburg, and Frankfurt, when customers take us along,' explains the board member. The excellent reputation of the company ensures that it is often preferentially invited to tenders. 'Many say: 'Your price-performance ratio is excellent, please continue with us','
Far-sighted by conviction
The company is also well-positioned in terms of digitalization. "Our technicians work with tablets and have direct access to cloud documentation, making paper largely obsolete," explains Maurice Müller. Furthermore, SE Gebäudeautomation AG is engaged in the use of artificial intelligence to optimize control systems. Sustainability is also an important issue: "Green Building and energy efficiency are essential in our industry – we actively implement measures to reduce energy consumption."
Training as an opportunity
The shortage of skilled workers remains one of the biggest challenges. "It is still extremely difficult to recruit new employees," reports Maurice Müller. Therefore, the company has taken numerous steps to simplify the application process, including an easier online application. Currently, twelve trainees are employed in the company, and a large part of the workforce consists of former apprentices. "Half of our core staff are former trainees – this shows how strongly we focus on promoting young talent," confirms the board. "We also plan to expand our workforce to 100 employees and open a branch in Karlsruhe. The market there is very interesting for us, and we want to become more active." Another goal is the further development of our own innovative products, especially in the area of building monitoring and energy efficiency.
Looking forward to progress
With high quality, short response times, and a strong focus on digitization and sustainability, SE Gebäudeautomation AG has established itself as a reliable partner in building technology. Despite economic uncertainties, the company continues to grow and is well-equipped for the future. "We are constantly evolving – there is no standstill for us," sums up Maurice Müller.