35 Years of Industrie Informatik
From the early days of PDC to AI agents
A journey through our history and the future of digital manufacturing.
Manufacturing has changed dramatically over the past 35 years. What began with paper based production planning, manual reporting, and isolated systems has evolved into connected, data driven manufacturing environments.
Throughout this transformation, Industrie Informatik has helped manufacturers improve transparency, planning accuracy, and operational performance.
Founded in Linz, Austria, in 1991, Industrie Informatik has grown from a small team with a clear vision into an international software company serving manufacturers worldwide.
This anniversary is not only an opportunity to reflect on our history. It is also a chance to look ahead. The next generation of industrial digitalization is already emerging, driven by AI agents, chatbots, modern cybersecurity concepts, and hybrid cloud architectures. Industrie Informatik is continuously evolving its solutions to help manufacturers address these challenges.
Most importantly, this milestone belongs to the customers, partners, and employees who have been part of this journey. We sincerely thank you for your trust and collaboration.
The early years: Digital manufacturing before it became mainstream
Our goal was clear from the beginning: bring standardized software solutions into industrial production environments. Early on, the company focused on industry standards, relational databases, and user oriented software design. These principles continue to shape our products today.
Accessing production scheduling systems through relational databases on MS DOS computers was considered a major innovation at the time. Early customers such as Miba and Doka played an important role in shaping both the company and its product portfolio.
In the early 1990s, accessing production scheduling systems through relational databases on MS DOS computers was a genuine innovation. Today, our cronetworld platform ensures that we remain well positioned to support the evolving requirements of modern manufacturers.
Trust as the foundation of success
35 years of successful business growth are not solely the result of technological innovations.
For Eckhard Winter, who served as Managing Partner from 2003 to 2019, a key factor in the company’s success lies in its long-term relationships with customers and partners:
Throughout the challenges of the past 35 years, we repeatedly succeeded in convincing leading industrial companies of our capabilities. It was rarely our company size or pricing that made the difference. Instead, it was the people at Industrie Informatik and the reliability of our cronetwork MES solution that earned customer trust.
Many of our customer relationships span decades and continue to grow through ongoing collaboration.
From production data collection to the smart factory
The evolution of Industrie Informatik mirrors the evolution of manufacturing itself.
What began with production data collection and scheduling has developed into comprehensive solutions for connected and digital manufacturing.
Key innovations over the years include:
- User specific analytics with PIDO
- Portal based customization
- Real time integration through the Manufacturing Service Bus and Gateway
- The cronetworld manufacturing execution platform as a digital ecosystem and MOM (Manufacturing Operations Management)
- Solution Store with proven templates and best practices
- Predictive analytics and AI supported optimization
The success story in pictures: From the development of the first software terminal with Oracle® access under MS-DOS in 1992 (left), later under Windows (center), and the further development of the FI-2 control station starting in 2000 (right). What has remained the same to this day is the focus on innovation and user benefits.
Leadership built on continuity
For decades, founders and managing partners Herbert Parnreiter († 2020) and Thomas Krainz shaped the company’s direction through innovation, commitment, and long term thinking.
In recent years, leadership and ownership changes have created a strong foundation for sustainable growth and international expansion.
Since 2025, CEO Thorsten Steger and CFO Clemens Aigner have been leading the company into its next phase of development.
Reflecting on the company’s success, Thomas Krainz highlights several key principles:
The founding team in 1991
Financial and strategic independence. Continuity with customers, employees, and suppliers. Standardized and upgradeable software combined with recognized implementation and consulting expertise
These principles remain central to Industrie Informatik’s strategy today.
People make the difference
Behind every software solution are the people who develop, implement, and support it.
Today, Industrie Informatik employs approximately 130 people with an average age of 39.5 years. Around 30 percent of employees are women, contributing to a diverse and collaborative culture.
Thomas Krainz considers the team to be the company’s most important success factor:
People often ask about the formula behind our success. Our product philosophy has certainly been an important factor. From the beginning, we focused on integrating shop floor terminals and scheduling systems, building on relational databases, industry standards, and user oriented design. What may seem obvious today was highly innovative at the time. Beyond all products and technologies, however, there is one decisive success factor: our highly skilled and experienced employees.
What long term partnership means
The history of Industrie Informatik is also a story of long term customer relationships.
One example is our partnership with Haver & Boecker.
When asked what they value most about the relationship, they highlighted the trust based collaboration and the continuous development of the solutions.
„The trusted partnership and the continuous development of individual modules are particularly valuable. Customer events also provide important opportunities to look ahead together and understand future possibilities.“
For Haver & Boecker, digitalization has become a strategic requirement.:
„Companies that fail to digitalize will eventually lose the competition for customers. The quality of digital information and data security will become increasingly important.“
Today and tomorrow
Today, Industrie Informatik supports manufacturers worldwide through approximately 500 installations and is an established provider of standard MES software for discrete manufacturing.
The introduction of a new corporate identity in 2026 reflects the company’s international focus and long term growth strategy.
Our values remain unchanged:
Excellence. Reliability. Partnership.
At the same time, Industrie Informatik is consistently aligning its solutions with the requirements of the next generation of industrial digitalization, including AI agents, chatbots, modern cybersecurity concepts, and hybrid cloud architectures.
Looking ahead to the coming years, Thomas Krainz has articulated a clear vision:
Industrie Informatik will empower manufacturing companies worldwide to holistically digitize, optimize, and connect their production processes using a scalable Manufacturing Agent Platform. With our international diversification, strong partner network, and robust, crisis-resistant revenue structure, we will operate sustainably, successfully, and profitably in the face of global competition.
Even after 35 years of innovation, Industrie Informatik continues to pursue the same goal it had on day one: to actively shape the future of digital manufacturing.
Thank you for your trust
Thirty five years of Industrie Informatik represent shared success, innovation, and partnership. We sincerely thank all customers, partners, and employees who have been part of this journey.
We look forward to shaping the next chapter of digital manufacturing together.
Anita Peherstorfer
