Zwei Soldaten und ein Polizist gehen weg, der Kamera mit dem Rücken zugewandt.

Company history

Through intensive cooperation with special forces worldwide
We not only guarantee the conformity of our products
highest standards, but also their optimal adaptation to the
specific requirements in use. This partnership
Relationship allows us to provide high quality night vision technology
develop that meets the strict specifications and expectations of the units in every respect.

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The roots of Andres Industries AG trace back to the year 1999, when the founder and CEO, Dr. Björn Andres, developed a shock-resistant case for his handheld device while he was a student. Soon, there was a keen interest in his self-made design. Initially, it was distributed only among his own circle of friends, but due to increasing demand, it became accessible to a growing clientele. In 2006, the well-established company was eventually transformed into a joint-stock company, and since then, it has operated under the current name, Andres Industries AG. In the early years, the primary focus of the company was solely on the development and distribution of shock-resistant and waterproof cases. In 2012, a new direction was taken with a strong emphasis on thermal imaging technology. The aim was to make the company less dependent on developments in the IT market.

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2012

Introduction to the field of thermal imaging technology with the TIMRO-640 thermal imaging goggles.

2017

Market launch of the world's smallest thermal imaging glasses: TILO.

First-time equipment of German police units.

Second capital increase.

2018

The company's total revenue increases by 80%.

2019

For the first time, thermal imaging revenue surpasses that of all other product categories combined.

2020

Market launch of TigIR.

Military units commence the initial trials of TILO and TigIR.

The total company revenue increases by 50%.

Relocation to the new headquarters, expansion of production capacity.

2021

The focus is on military projects, which leads to a 50% increase in the company's total revenue.

European armed forces order TigIR and TILO for test and pilot projects.

2022

An increasing number of trials are successfully completed and lead to orders.

The political situation led to a significant increase in the originally expected order volumes.

Military projects now constitute the majority of new orders.

Massive expansion of production capacity.

Revenue expectations are approximately 75% higher than the previous year.

It took years before the first thermal imaging devices could make a significant contribution to total sales. Meanwhile, work continued to implement the wishes of professional customers - in the first few years mainly special police units - with the highest precision in existing and new developments. After this was achieved with the TILO – the smallest thermal imaging goggles in the world to date – business quickly took off. In 2019, sales in the thermal imaging area were higher for the first time than all other product lines combined.

The introduction of the TigIR the following year led to a renewed growth spurt for AIAG. This is an attachment that combines an above-average range with a previously unrivaled short and light design. The success of the TigIR is based on the fact that many NATO forces plan to upgrade their existing machine gun stocks with thermal imaging technology in the next few years. For technical reasons, only particularly short thermal imaging devices such as TigIR or TILO are suitable for this. Although so far only test and pilot samples have been sold to customer countries located primarily in Eastern Europe, the company has experienced annual growth of 50% since 2020. This is due, among other things, to the fact that when working with military procurement agencies, particular emphasis is placed on taking into account the individual needs and suggestions of the respective armed forces and these are ultimately integrated into existing or new products by our development teams.

A tailor-made approach that also pays off. From a current standpoint, all current projects seem to be leading to successful completion. What's more, not least because of the worsening security situation in recent months, some customers want to increase the number of thermal imaging goggles and attachments they order by a multiple of what was originally planned.

Anticipating the current company growth, a more modern and larger company location in Berlin Lichtenberg was moved into in 2020. In addition to the necessary quality control systems, there is also a sufficiently large clean room for sterile precision work. An increase in capacity on a larger scale is therefore not an obstacle and AIAG can continue to manufacture highly complex devices in its own production facilities. It remains the company's declared goal not only to develop the most modern thermal imaging devices in Germany, but also to manufacture them in Berlin.

For this purpose, the company can rely on a growing number of motivated and competent employees. Even though the current projects involve a need for personnel that is incomparably high in the company's history, the board of Andres Industries AG is confident about the future. An integration program for Ukrainian employees was recently successfully started and the company is in a position to pay above-average salaries for its top performers.

Given the demands we set for ourselves, this is also necessary. With the aim of pushing the boundaries of what is possible a little further into the future, at least two new thermal imaging devices are expected to come onto the market next year. When looking back at the company's previous career and current market forecasts, it is highly likely that this trend of accelerated company growth will continue in the coming years.