Olaf Cieply, Global Sales Manager, IBL-Löttechnik GmbH

Will you be launching new products or services in 2025?
Yes, we will. For 2025, we are again planning some product innovations for the electronics industry. We will be presenting some new products at productonica in November 2025, but we don't want to reveal the details just yet.

Is your company using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools?
We cannot use AI product development. This is because we need to develop the formulas for our fluxes and cleaners in our in-house laboratory. This requires a great deal of experience and chemical expertise, which our specialists bring to the table. So human expertise is still very important here.

Have supply chain shortages been resolved and are you able to hire skilled workers?
The situation on the procurement market has eased and it is once again easier to obtain the necessary materials on time. On the other hand, it is still difficult to find and recruit qualified specialist staff in Germany. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter wether you are looking for technical or business personnel..

What is the outlook for your business in 2025?
It remains difficult to predict precisely how the year 2025 will develop. The numerous geopolitical crises make a clear assessment of the situation difficult. Nevertheless, market observers expect the German and European markets to regain some momentum from the second quarter onwards.

We are also optimistic about the future and are convinced that we are well positioned with our strategies. The past has shown that Emil Otto's strategic orientation has seen us through the last few crises well. We are therefore starting the new year with optimism. One of our goals is to use our products to tap into other sectors that are more resilient to crises.