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The SVS-Vistek Management

Established expertise, decades of experience as well as passion and enthusiasm for technology. The management of SVS-Vistek GmbH combines our most important corporate values.

  • Robert Franz CEO

    Robert Franz looking friendly into the camera, wearing a dark suit and white shirt against a light background

    Robert Franz has significant experience in companies with a background in automation and the Machine Vision industry.

    He has served as the Head of the Global Optical Sensing Business Unit at Honeywell, President of the Americas Region at Rittal, and Sr. Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing at Datalogic S.p.A.

    Robert Franz studied law and earned an MBA from TIAS Business School in Utrecht (NL).

    He has been the CEO of SVS-Vistek GmbH since January 1st, 2024.

  • Thorsten Schmidt CPO, Site Manager

    Portrait of Thorsten Schmidt (CPO/ Site manager)

    After training as a communications electronics engineer, Thorsten Schmidt studied computer science at bib International College. He gained extensive experience in process and project management over the years. From 2004 to 2015, he managed numerous projects in the automotive industry related to E/E and systems engineering. During this time, he also obtained the c.SPM Level B and c.PMP Level D certifications from the International Project Management Association (IPMA). Thorsten Schmidt has been a valuable member of our team since 2015. He started as the Product and Process Manager, where he gained expertise in industrial image processing. Since 2016, he has been responsible for product management, support, and technical documentation at SVS-Vistek GmbH.

    Since 2022, Thorsten Schmidt has been the Chief Product Officer (CPO) as part of the management team. Additionally, he has been the site manager for SVS-Vistek GmbH in Gilching since 2024.

  • André Kruse COO

    Friendly looking Andre Kruse with blue jacket and bright Skirt sitting in a chair folding his hands

    In 2000, André Kruse began his journey into industrial image processing. He completed his dual studies in industrial engineering at the Duale Hochschule Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel, in collaboration with Basler AG. Following this, he gained over a decade of experience in operations at Basler AG, where he held various leadership roles in procurement and supplier management. Since December 2013, André Kruse has been with our sister company, Allied Vision Technologies GmbH, where he has served as Chief Operations Officer since 2020. As of January 1, 2024, he will also be strengthening our team, leading the operations department at SVS-Vistek GmbH.

  • Gerd Reichle CTO