State Minister Hubert Aiwanger attends the official launch of the partnership

Patriching, February 18, 2026 – AKE technologies and the ZELTWANGERGroup officially sealed their strategic cooperation for the North American market today. State Minister Hubert Aiwanger personally attended the signing ceremony, underscoring the importance of international business relations for Bavarian SMEs.

The foundation for this collaboration was laid during a delegation trip by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy to North and South Carolina from June 29 to July 4, 2025. Among the participants was Michael Schurm, COO and CSO of AKE technologies GmbH. The delegation's focus was on "Energy & Mobility Transition – Opportunities and Potential for Bavarian Companies on the US East Coast." During the visit, the companies engaged in personal exchanges, and this initial contact subsequently led to a concrete strategic partnership.

North America as a strategic growth market

The USA is one of the most important international markets for technology-oriented industrial companies. The southeastern states, in particular, are experiencing dynamic development in the automotive, energy, and industrial production sectors. For AKE technologies, North America is therefore a key future market with significant growth potential.

This cooperation will strategically strengthen our market and service presence in the USA. The North American market places particular demands on response speed, availability, and local contacts. Furthermore, the time difference necessitates efficient service and support structures on-site. The goal of the partnership is to enable us to serve customers in the USA even faster, more directly, and more efficiently in the future.

ZELTWANGER brings comprehensive expertise in precision manufacturing and machining, particularly in milling technology, as well as extensive process and automation know-how to the partnership. With its existing service presence in the USA, the company provides the foundation for rapid technical support and operational implementation on site.

AKE technologies complements these strengths with technological expertise, international project experience, and innovative solutions for industrial applications. Together, they create a high-performance structure to sustainably expand and further develop projects in North America.

Partnership with symbolic impact

This cooperation exemplifies how concrete and long-term business partnerships can emerge through internationally accompanied business delegations. The delegation trip, led by State Minister Hubert Aiwanger, has thus provided a lasting impetus for transatlantic cooperation.

Through this partnership, both companies are further strengthening their resilience in a strategically important market and sustainably enhancing their competitiveness. The goal is to consistently expand joint activities in North America in the coming years and successfully implement further projects.