Story 10: asphericon in a nutshell – What makes it special?

For twenty years, ‘Bringing visions to life’ has been asphericon’s slogan as it’s continuously pushed the boundaries and set new milestones in the world of optics. The aim of breaking new ground and developing ideas offering real added value to the company’s clients is front and centre in everything we do. But what does the slogan mean to everyone working at asphericon? What inspires, what drives them? We asked some of our colleagues to tell us.

André, Project Manager

Marcel, Employee Work Organization

Lukáš, Project Manager

Sven Kiontke, CEO of asphericon, had this to say about the company’s goals: “Our aim is to combine the life-affirming, people-affirming elements produced by science and technology into products and thus generate real progress. Excellent ideas from people who enjoy what they do together, combined with products that really help clients and create added value – that’s the big idea at asphericon.”

Thomas Kurschel, co-founder and CTO of asphericon, describes the company as an innovative artist that responds to new challenges flexibly and resourcefully: “There are many ways at asphericon for staff to contribute, try out new ideas and achieve fruition. This motivation is particularly important in the IT sector, because it means we can give free rein to our creativity and take the company forward. In our department, we bear an awful lot of responsibility for the heart of asphericon, our CorsS software. Everyone here is intent on doing their very best.”

As head of HR, Susann Kurschel takes a different view of what asphericon’s message means: “Being an employee, ‘Bringing visions to life’ means having an opportunity to develop, join in and play a part. There’s plenty of scope for creativity at asphericon, and the decision paths are short and direct. In my position, developing our team’s quality of life is particularly important to me. To improve the work–life balance, we strive to create a working environment that takes people’s private lives into account. I think asphericon is way ahead when it comes to family-friendliness.”

Sandra, Employee Integration

Thomas, Shift Manager

Angela, Project Manager

Ask CEO Alexander Zschäbitz what he’d like to see over the next twenty years, and he’ll tell you that above all he thinks about his team and hopes that “the spirit of discovery and the desire for innovation will remain. In addition to simple day-to-day business, it’ll also be important to us that our colleagues can regularly create scope for their own, different approaches. We want to maintain our pace of innovation and remain enablers.”

“Our innovative outlook is the heart of this company,” says project manager Angela Heckl. “Having set standards in the world of photonics with the asphere, we’re now doing it all over again with the Freeform. I’m thrilled that the Freeform has gone into mass production.”

This is backed up by Luise Rauscher from the purchasing team: “Even as a ‘non-specialist’ member of staff without a background in optics, I’m still able to contribute and above all develop at asphericon. When I joined, my colleagues soon brought me up to speed regarding any gaps in my knowledge. The doors to other departments are always open, so I can also find out about processes that don’t directly concern my own work.”

Kai, Technologist

Luise, Employee Purchasing

Vladislav, CNC-Production Manager

Kai Obst from the technology department adopts a pragmatic approach when describing asphericon: “Anything that doesn’t fit is made to fit. At asphericon, we beaver away until we can really meet all our clients’ wishes. Attention is also paid to interpersonal aspects. Everyone in the team helps each other, for example if anyone’s in danger of slipping behind schedule.”

Chief buyer Stephan Schlegel appreciates the fact that the asphericon team is something of a ‘motley crew’ and that everyone is needed with their individual skills. New challenges spur the whole team on and are overcome together. The open, honest atmosphere gives everyone a chance to contribute and become part of asphericon’s success story.

Project manager Lukáš Veselỳ had this to say about asphericon s.r.o.: “What makes asphericon special for me is the people. Many good brains are needed, especially when it comes to solving everyday problems large and small. By collaborating, we can achieve a lot and shape the future.”

And Steffen Welzer from the optical finishing department adds: “Without our colleagues, we wouldn’t get anywhere. It’s like soccer: we all have to pull together. Individual expertise is important, so everyone is always involved. And everybody at asphericon is given the opportunity to develop.”

Behind every asphericon product is a great team doing its very best all the way from the initial idea to finalization. They’re the root of the company. It’s thanks to the dedication of every single employee that the slogan ‘Bringing visions to life’ is fulfilled.