GARANT Automation loading systems enable the manufacturer-wide automation of existing machining tools without intervention in the control system. Connected Manufacturing is a shop floor management system that manages tools from CAM to the machine and production orders from ERP through to delivery.

• Winner Award in the category “Excellence in Business to Business Connectivity”
• Recognition for innovative, open and machine-independent solutions

Winner award in the categories ‘Excellence in Business-to-Business – Connectivity and Transformative Solutions’

Limited availability of digital data or paper waste, lack of process and knowledge documentation and the handling of a large number of machines and control systems: Many companies in industrial production still have a lot of opportunity for improvement in terms of efficiency and productivity. Hoffmann Group Connected Manufacturing’s modular cloud and automation solutions enable organizations to digitally manage all tools. For this, Hoffmann received the coveted “Winner” award at the German Innovation Award 2026.

GARANT Automation loading systems enable the manufacturer-wide automation of existing machining tools without intervention in the control system. Connected Manufacturing is a shop floor management system that manages tools from CAM to the machine and production orders from ERP through to delivery.The combination of both systems creates an open, machine-independent automation of the entire production process for the first time. New is the automation of tools and material supply, independent of the manufacturer – without the limitations of enclosed cells. Customers achieve up to 30% more productivity.

The jury concluded: “The automation of tool and material provision in production is often restricted by manufacturer-specific systems and enclosed cells. This limits efficiency and flexibility. With Connected Manufacturing, GARANT Automation Loading Systems creates an open, machine-independent solution. It interconnects existing machining tools without interfering with their control systems and digitally maps the entire production process. The modular cloud solution enables seamless management and tracking of tools in real time, significantly reducing search and setup times and minimizing downtime. This innovative solution opens up new potential for greater efficiency and competitiveness for medium-sized enterprises in particular.”

Justus Eggers, responsible for innovation and digital products at Hoffmann Group: “We are extremely pleased with the 2026 German Innovation Award. It reflects what drives us every day: Making our customers’ manufacturing radically easier. True innovation does not result from individual solutions, but from end-to-end integration. Given the shortage of skilled workers and increasing cost pressure, this is no longer a nice-to-have – this is the infrastructure on which tomorrow’s production is built. This award motivates us to consistently develop our Connected Family and to accompany even more manufacturing companies into this very future.”

With this award, the Hoffmann Group has established itself as a leading player with Connected Manufacturing in a highly competitive field: over 460 international entries from 23 countries were submitted in 2026 for projects which, according to the German Innovation Award, “already provide answers today to issues whose significance for the economy and society will continue to grow in the future”.