Cruse Leppelman Kognitionstechnik is a small German company that develops automated quality-control systems for food packages and labels. Working with the Enterprise Europe network, the Münster-based company is now testing its technology at a Playmobil toy factory in Malta.

To promote its unique technology Cruse Leppelman enlisted the Enterprise Europe Network, based at Zenit in Germany.

Working in 50 countries, the Network is uniquely positioned to help businesses spread the word about their inventions via the world’s most powerful technology database containing more than 13 000 offers and requests.

“The database reaches a lot of companies with relatively little effort,” says Nora Anton, Network project manager at Zenit in Germany. Just as important, the Network is staffed by 3 000 highly qualified experts working as a team across borders to help companies grow.

“Bringing companies together who might otherwise never have crossed
paths is what the Network does best,” notes Brigitte Tanti, Malta’s Network coordinator. “It is a winning formula.”

In this case a response came relatively quickly from an unexpected source: Playmobil Malta, maker of the eponymous brand of figurines for Germany’s Brandstätter Group. Matthias Fauser, Playmobil Malta’s chief operations officer, thought the toymaker could make use of Cruse Leppelman’s innovation for its own production line – ensuring that every figurine leaves the factory with the signature smile and everything else in the right place. Although workers currently do visual spot checks about every 100th piece, it is not a fool-proof system – hence, the interest in automation.

“A technology-driven company like ours is always on the lookout for new developments,” says Fauser. “We count on the Enterprise Europe Network to keep us informed of new innovations, even ones not yet on the market.”

The companies are now running tests in Malta that according to Cruse Leppelman CEO Carsten Cruse “show very promising results.”