For Safety in Operation
Interview with Kathrin Aster, Managing Director of Standby GmbH
Without blue lights, signaling technology, and the latest control systems, many emergency vehicles would be stuck in traffic. Standby GmbH, based in Dinslaken, is part of an internationally active group of companies that develops and manufactures innovative solutions for the police, fire services, and emergency medical services. From sustainable products to digital networking, the company offers everything from a single source. What ideas are currently emerging and where the journey is going – Wirtschaftsforum talked about this with Managing Director Kathrin Aster.
Wirtschaftsforum: Ms. Aster, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and Standby GmbH along with its history?
Kathrin Aster: I am very pleased. I have been part of the Standby Group since 2019 and have been responsible for the entire group since 2021. Our location in Dinslaken was founded in 2016 and currently employs about 55 employees. The Standby Group itself has a long and diverse history: It started in Sweden in 1978 as a small family business. The name 'Standby' comes from the two founders, Stenberg and Byström. In Germany, our history dates back even further to 1970, when the first optical and acoustic warning systems were developed under the name Wandel & Goltermann. Later, it became Pintsch Bamag, before we became part of the Standby Group in 2016. We are also deeply rooted in other countries: Standby France was established in 1961 under the name Mercura and has developed into a strong partner for police, fire, and emergency services. In the United Kingdom, our journey also started in 1961 as Riches Street Garage (RSG) Limited, today a leading provider of control systems for emergency services. And our most recent sales office in Finland was opened in 2010 to better serve our partners there. We are distinguished by having development and production capacities in all countries except Finland, in addition to sales offices. Today, we are represented across Europe with about 200 employees.
Wirtschaftsforum: What do you focus on with your products?
Kathrin Aster: We develop innovative system solutions for special and emergency vehicles. This ranges from blue lights and light bars to integrated control systems and software solutions – in short: everything an emergency vehicle needs to operate safely, visibly, and efficiently. Our target groups are police, fire departments, and ambulance services, but we also have solutions for highway and service vehicles, essentially for any vehicle that needs to stand out in traffic.
Wirtschaftsforum: Can you name an example of a product that is particularly important to you?
Kathrin Aster: I'd like to highlight two: Firstly, our W3 light bar, which is modular and can be customized individually. Its big brother W5 will soon follow. Thanks to its modularity, it can even be used in multiple life cycles, which conserves resources. Secondly, our Uni-Screen-Environment. This allows our products to be controlled directly via the original vehicle display, combined with our Uni-Tool for configuration and diagnosis. This significantly simplifies integration and maintenance.
Wirtschaftsforum: Which topics will play a role in the future?
Kathrin Aster: In addition to digitalization, we are working intensively on entering new markets. We are currently developing a solution for object detection on runways with Düsseldorf Airport, based on AI and camera systems. Moreover, we are dealing with vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication as well as cloud solutions. Geographically, we want to expand beyond Europe and are preparing for corresponding markets.
Wirtschaftsforum: What distinguishes Standby from competitors?
Kathrin Aster: Our unique selling points are our innovation capacity and our technical expertise. We do not offer standard products, but customized solutions. Our close cooperation with end customers and body builders ensures that the integration runs smoothly. Furthermore, we pay a lot of attention to sustainability. Our products are modular and can be transferred into a second life cycle. For these approaches, we were awarded the NRW Efficiency Prize in 2023.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does corporate culture play in your success?
Kathrin Aster: A very large one. We are a small, highly networked team with flat hierarchies, strongly influenced by our Swedish corporate culture. We value long-term customer relationships and sustainable solutions. What sets us apart is the commitment of our team and our closeness to our customers. The feedback we receive consistently reinforces this approach.
Wirtschaftsforum: And what personally drives you?
Kathrin Aster: For me, it is the combination of technology, innovation, and working with people. We develop solutions that make a real difference in the everyday lives of police, fire services, or emergency services. This responsibility motivates me. At the same time, I highly value the international collaboration within the group. I consider it a great privilege to lead such a motivated team and to actively help shape safety on the roads and beyond with our innovations.