How would you rate the past year 2023 for QUNDIS in general?

Volker Eck: For QUNDIS it was an extremely successful year. In spite of a shortage of components, we were not only able to catch up on the backlog of orders, but also recorded positive developments in terms of sales and earnings. Investment in development projects and production capacities made it possible for us to take significant steps forward.

What makes this Erfurt-based company so successful?

Volker Eck: Our success last year was the result of continuous innovation, customer-oriented solutions and a committed team. The high quality of our metering devices for heat and water consumption data recording and our focus on future-oriented technologies have made us a leading company in the industry. We see challenges as opportunities for further growth, while always striving to work closely with our customers, meet their needs and actively shape the market and the energy transition together.

With regard to energy efficiency, what projects has QUNDIS initiated to reduce energy consumption?

Volker Eck: Our products make a significant contribution to promoting energy efficiency. With the introduction of consumption information during the year, consumers now have the opportunity to view their energy use not just annually when their heating bill is issued, but also on a monthly basis. In doing so, our products actively help to reduce consumption. The fundamental benefit of our products is to create transparency and thus enable a purposeful use of resources, which not only leads to more conscious energy consumption, but also to financial savings. Our Q eco solution offers people a way to display consumption and, if necessary, to take active measures to modify their consumption behaviour.

That’s good news. What event was particularly significant for QUNDIS last year?

Volker Eck: Presenting our new products was of key importance to us. In particular, our roadshow in May was a real highlight.

Our customers and partners were treated to a varied programme, including a specialist forum. With practical live demonstrations our colleagues showed how QUNDIS solutions can support metering services in their digital transformation. Not only did we have some highly productive discussions with customers, but we also received a lot of positive feedback. The focus was on our product and system innovations as well as further developments, and we’re already looking forward to this year's roadshow on 6 June.

Another highlight that I enjoy looking back on is the introduction of the Q heat 5.5 US R at HeiKo 2023, the trade fair for independent heating cost billing companies. We were proud to present our ultrasonic compact heat meter with extended nominal flow rates there. The Q heat 5.5 US R offers flexibility for applications with high levels of heating consumption as well as large residential buildings and industrial facilities. This heat meter can be flexibly adapted to various applications and systems to meet individual requirements.

What was the biggest project for QUNDIS last year?

Volker Eck: One significant development project was the installation of a second production line for heat cost allocators. This enabled us to significantly increase our production capacity and to stabilise and reduce our delivery times in the long term. The result of this project not only improved our operational efficiency, but also increased our ability to supply our customers, as we are now able to respond more flexibly and quickly to their requirements.

And what challenges did QUNDIS have to overcome last year?

Volker Eck: The biggest challenge was undoubtedly the supply bottleneck caused by a shortage of components. This required intensive cooperation with suppliers and a partial switch to a 4-shift, 6-day production model to ensure that we would still be able to fulfil our customers' orders to their satisfaction.

That sounds like a lot of work for the production team. What measures did you take to boost employee satisfaction, especially during such challenging times?

Volker Eck: Thanks to the commitment of our employees, we were able to satisfy our customers despite the supply bottlenecks, and we also reduced the backlog of orders. In addition to several company events at which we showed our appreciation for the QUNDIS team, there were of course also one or two special payments to say ‘thank you’ in this way. QUNDIS also offers its staff other long-term benefits, including company bikes, prepaid cards and other corporate benefits, to name just a few.

Briefly, what were QUNDIS's three biggest successes last year?

Volker Eck: On the one hand, the reduction in delivery times: it was good to see how well this was received by our customers. The introduction of new products and the further development of our product portfolio were also important milestones. The presentation at the HeiKo trade show of Q gateway 6 direct, the first module of the Generation 6 device family, was another important success. The full market launch is now imminent. Our EMAS certification is also something we are proud of every year. To be precise, we have now been proud of it for eight years in a row.

Looking to the future, what is on the QUNDIS agenda for this year?

Volker Eck: This year we are focusing on establishing further Generation 6 products, including the launch of the Q gateway 6 direct and the continuous further development of our new device generation. We are pleased with the successful implementation of the new heat meters with large flow rates, and have made further progress in the software area, for example with the Q app. Our aim is to continuously expand our product portfolio and develop innovative solutions for our customers. In doing so, we closely monitor the relevant market trends and developments in order to keep pace with technological advances at all times and to meet the requirements of our customers in the best possible way.

What innovations will ensure that QUNDIS remains competitive in the future, too?

Volker Eck: We will continue to focus on new products, particularly in the field of radio and ultrasound technology. The further development of hardware such as the Q gateway 6 direct goes hand in hand with investments in software applications in order to take the next step in digitalisation. The further development of our software solutions and the emphasis on our role as a system provider are key priorities at QUNDIS. We not only develop the actual meters, but our portfolio also includes comprehensive system solutions for our customers. Another area of focus is the introduction of a first simple product package in response to the requirements of the “digital boiler room”.

We are confident that our partnership with our customers and our focus on the further development of our software and systems will continue to make QUNDIS successful.

Thank you for talking to us, Mr Eck.