History

To date, we have completed over 1000 projects for 150 customers from the automotive, plant and
mechanical engineering, aerospace, education and science in 13 countries.

How did that work? Here is the story of imk in key points.

The "old Merkel factory" becomes a high-tech location

2023

Opening of imk Health technology centre

  • Grand opening of the newly built technical centre for the production of medical devices on 18 September 2023 with important representatives from politics and business
  • Start of series production of a medical device for in-vitro diagnostics

2022

20th company anniversary

  • The imk celebrates its 20th anniversary
  • Final construction phase of the imk Health Intelligence technical centre at the company headquarters in Chemnitz at Amselgrund 30

2021

Groundbreaking ceremony for new technical centre

  • Start of construction on the new extension for imk Health Intelligence
  • New development of a DNA analysis device for medical technology
  • ema Software Suite 2.0 to be launched at IIC

2020

Certification procedure

  • Joint certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 for imk automotive GmbH and imk mechatronics GmbH
  • Certification according to DIN EN ISO 13485:2016 for imk mechatronics GmbH
  • TISAX as a standard for information security in the automotive industry for imk automotive GmbH

2019

Important product developments and adaptations

  • Market launch of ema Plant Designer
  • Renaming of the ema software to ema Work Designer
  • Development on the triaxial, hyperboloid power transmission hypogear
  • Start of cartridge production by imk mechatronics GmbH to accelerate market entry in medical technology

2018

Stuttgart office moves

  • Relocation of the Stuttgart office to Leinfelden-Echterdingen

2017

Stuttgart office

  • Opening of Stuttgart office
  • 15-year company anniversary of imk automotive GmbH

2016

Expansion and strengthening of competences

  • The addition of "Industrial Competence" to the logo is intended to emphasise competence in all industrial areas, and to reinforce knowledge and skills beyond the automotive industry.

2015

ema as a planning tool in industrial engineering

  • New company location becomes a "think tank
  • Company divisions Ergonomics and Consulting have established themselves very well and achieved a remarkable turnover development

2014

Move into the new company headquarters

  • Move to the new company headquarters in the Chemnitz district of Kleinolbersdorf/ Altenhain
  • Realisation of a product portal for ema

2013

Establishing and consolidating ema's market position

  • First ema training courses of the modular training concept take place and the first ema online seminars are held
  • imk becomes a member of the EAWS User Group of the German MTM Association

2012

Groundbreaking ceremony for new company headquarters

  • Use of ema by renowned German automotive groups
  • 1st "ema in practice and teaching" regulars' table Establishment of the ergonomics department in the company
  • imk celebrates its 10th anniversary
  • Groundbreaking ceremony for the new company headquarters in Chemnitz/OT Kleinolbersdorf/ Altenhain

2011

Pilot project ema

  • Implementation of first pilot projects with the ema software and sale of the first licences
  • imk is a prize winner in the competition for the IQ Innovation Award for Software Development ema
  • Development of the Numerical Model of Human Behaviour

2010

Foundation imk automotive, Inc.

  • Establishment of the advisory division and formation of competence teams in the company's specialist divisions
  • Foundation of imk automotive, Inc. with headquarters in Greenville/South Carolina, USA
  • imk is a prize winner in the "Potential Innovation" competition with the editor of human labour

2009

Development eMAN

  • Development of motion synthesis for digital human models as part of the eMAN research project
  • Further development of the business fields electromobility and ergonomics in production

2008

MSD and BPS

  • Development of the small drive (MSD) and the additional battery with charging circuit (BPS)
  • imk is an exhibitor at the international trade fair automechanika in Frankfurt/M.

2007

Foundation of imk holding and mechatronics

  • Foundation of imk holding GmbH
  • Foundation of imk mechatronics GmbH for the production of mechatronic components

2006

New specialist area pre-development

  • The newly installed pre-development department covers the development of products, methods and manufacturing processes up to concept maturity.

2005

Foundation of virtualcitysystems GmbH

  • Foundation of the subsidiary virtualcitysystems GmbH with a focus on urban visualisation

2004

Prototype and test workshop

  • Opening of the prototype and test workshop
  • Specialisation of the technical visualisation and urban visualisation departments

2003

Certification 

  • Certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000
  • Expansion of the range of services to include the specialist area of visualisation/simulation

2002

Company formation

  • Foundation of imk automotive GmbH with headquarters in Chemnitz
  • Start of business operations with 11 employees in the specialist areas of development and planning