Our vision
We strive to be a hidden champion in special machine construction. In order to succeed in the marketplace, we pursue a healthy and sustainable, yet ambitious growth target.
Our values
The company values form the foundation for the way we think and act on a day-to-day basis. They’re what our decisions are based on. Our core values, humanity, cohesion, reliability and trust, as well as our passion are the moral compass for our collaboration within the company and with our customers.
Our name
Although it might sound that way, the name “Sonplas” is not just a meaningless word. Co-owner Hermann Pankofer sums up the story like this: “One evening, we were sitting by Herbert’s masonry heater and talking about a few details on the company we were going to start. It must have been early 1993. Of course, a big step like this called for a fitting name. We went back and forth for a while and threw out some very imaginative ideas like ‘Snoopy-Tech’. Finally, we agreed on ‘Sonplas’, which stood for ‘Sondermaschinen, Planung und Service’ (‘Special machines, Planning and Service’).”
Our history
For 30 years, our company has been steadily growing. Not only has our team gotten bigger during this time, but our product selection has also expanded. The milestones that Sonplas has achieved since its founding in 1993 are reflected in the company history.
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Founding 1993
On April 15, 1993, our founders Herbert, Hermann, Rudi, Walter and Christian sign the shareholder agreement for Sonplas GmbH – the foundation stone for the company’s success story.
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Development of an adjustment module for an injection valve for cars
With the AFM (Active Flow Meter), the founders achieve a first milestone that gives Sonplas a unique selling point and many customers. The special feature: The innovative component efficiently combines high-pressure generation and flow measurement.
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First class starts their apprenticeship
Getting capable young people excited about the future of the company and ensuring that they receive professional training has been on Sonplas’ agenda since 1996. Ever since, an average of ten new trainees begin their careers every year.
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Development of a “hydroerosive grinding process“
Sonplas lands another success with hydroerosive grinding. Here, the company establishes another unique selling point in the field of deburring, rounding and flow calibration. Using an abrasive fluid in varying degrees of fineness, internal burrs can be smoothed and bore intersections rounded.
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Moving into the new Sonplas company building
After the construction of the initial building in 2001, the first expansion was planned shortly afterwards, an extension to the previous production halls.
Sonplas moved into the new building in 2008 – nowadays, together with the original building, known as Werk 1.
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Global implementation of the HE grinding process & entering the pump testing market segment.
The development of hydroerosive grinding has far-reaching consequences – in a positive way, of course – as the grinding process enables Sonplas to build up a global customer base. At the same time, Sonplas enters the field of pump testing, thus expanding its product portfolio.
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Establishment of a Sonplas service department
The introduction of a service department is also due to the growth. This means that Sonplas is quickly and reliably available for maintenance and repairs at the customer’s site or remotely.
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20th company anniversary
The first 20 years are up sooner than expected and Sonplas is celebrating its birthday. The company’s balance sheet: positive throughout. Healthy growth and a unique team spirit among the employees form the basis for the coming events.
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Entry into the “aerospace” sector
The next addition to the portfolio is the entry into the field of ”aerospace technology”. Here, the focus is primarily on systems for the hydraulic and pneumatic testing of components. In concrete terms, this means: maintenance of aerospace equipment, radiation measurement & imaging, functional testing of pumps and pneumatic pressure testing of pipes.
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Entry into the “e-mobility” sector
Actively shaping the future of mobility? Sonplas is succeeding in this field with its entry into e-mobility. Initially, the focus is on assembly systems for rotors and stators, soon followed by the expansion of competence for assembly and testing technology in key production, for inverters and EMC filters as well as other powertrain components.
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Construction of the new production hall begins
2017 marks the start of construction of Plant 2, directly opposite the first plant. From 2018 onwards, our customers’ systems are developed and manufactured on a further total of around 6000 square meters of production space.
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Official opening of new facility & entry into the “Hydrogen” sector
The new hall is completed in time for the company’s 25th anniversary. With the inauguration of Plant 2, there is now an additional 9600 square meters of office and production space available.
In addition, Sonplas begins the development of a hydrogen test stand to be used for hydrogen-carrying components in respective engines.
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Entry in the field of “battery cell production”
The battery product area is another driver of innovation at Sonplas. In the field of laser notching, i.e. the laser-assisted cutting of electrode material for batteries, Sonplas can draw on its extensive knowledge and experience in laser cutting processes. These competencies can also be applied to battery technologies such as pouch cells, solid-state or redox flow. Other technologies, e.g. for stacking electrode material, are currently under development.
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Completion of the hydrogen test center & first customer projects
Following the company’s entry into the hydrogen sector in 2018, the associated test bench and in-house test center are ready for operation in 2022. The first customer projects with tests on the promising energy carrier start in the third quarter.
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30th company anniversary, purchase of factory 3 & expansion of the board of management
The next expansion follows in 2023 with the purchase of an existing building as the future Plant 3. This will become home to the IT, as well as software and service departments. The management board is also being expanded: Michael Frankl and Christian Wachtmeister supplement the company’s lead management under Herbert Frankl as of January 2023.
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