COPA-DATA keeps growing in 2009: Salzburg-based software producer on the road to success

Salzburg-based COPA-DATA GmbH continues on its successful path of recent years in 2009. In spite of the worldwide crisis, the internationally successful manufacturer of industrial software managed to increase its turnover in 2008 and stay in the black in the first quarter of 2009. The Austrian company is actively setting examples in times of the current crisis-related bad mood: new jobs and trainee positions, a wealth of projects in cooperation with universities and new market entries.

For more than 20 years, COPA-DATA has been leading the way in industrial automation with its software zenon. Food and beverage producers as well as pharmaceutical companies, energy suppliers, automobile and machinery producers increase their productivity with zenon from COPA-DATA. Company founder Thomas Punzenberger: “With our independent and innovative system, we have established a solid basis for future growth in many markets worldwide. As we are not dependent on one industry, we kept growing not only in 2008, the first three months of 2009 also showed a clear plus in both customers and turnover.”

As a solid self-financed company, COPA-DATA plans on a long-term scale and pays attention to a healthy economic basis. About 25 percent of total annual turnover is invested in research and development. These funds are not only used for in-house development, but also for projects with Austrian universities and research institutes.

For example, COPA-DATA takes part in the EU project “Ontorea”, cooperating with partners like Vienna University of Technology, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, St. Pölten Higher Technical School, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, the usability research lab CURE and many more. Additionally, COPA-DATA promotes young talent with internships and active support with their diploma theses.

The strong connection to Salzburg and Austria is reflected in COPA-DATA’s social commitment. Thomas Punzenberger: “We profit from the good education system and the excellent living conditions here in Salzburg, we also love to contribute to this.” COPA-DATA promotes social projects and sport events in Austria, focusing on the province of Salzburg.

Not only has the number of customers grown in 2008 and 2009, 20 employees were recruited at Salzburg headquarters alone. The two trainees recruited by COPA-DATA in 2008 have got company in 2009. As every year, the software manufacturer gives two young IT talents the chance to receive a diversified education, in which they get to know colleagues from several different nations and learn to handle challenging tasks but also enjoy relaxing events like the annual COPA-DATA ski challenge.

Thomas Punzenberger: “A good atmosphere in our teams is the basis of our success. Currently, we have subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, France, the UK and the US, as well as many distributors worldwide. In 2009, we will enter new markets with new subsidiaries, expanding our sales network even further.”