electronics—including software—work together. We are increasingly taking on the integration work ourselves. What personally excites you about the technology and development work at maxon? I come from electrical engineering and have been working with electric drives for many years. What fascinates me most is the interplay of motor, electronics, gearbox, and control. Only when these disciplines are considered together do truly optimal solutions emerge—and that is exactly what we value highly at maxon. The portfolio of maxon is very broad. What is the advantage of this breadth from a developer’s perspective? The strength lies not only in the breadth but also in the depth of our technological expertise. Depending on the applica- tion, we can very precisely apply the appropriate technology—from different motor concepts to gearheads to elec- tronics. This breadth and depth within each discipline allows us to think freely and choose the solution that truly makes sense, both technically and commercial- ly. It also enables us to develop system solutions without being limited by a spe- cific technology from the outset. A clear advantage for our customers at maxon. Where does a component end for you— and where does a system begin? That depends heavily on the customer and the application. Some customers deliberately want only components, while others are looking for integrated solutions. Both are valid. What’s im- portant is this: systems only work well when the underlying components are first‑class. That’s why we continue to invest heavily in the development of individual technologies—and develop systems where they offer the customer a clear added value. It’s not an either‑or, but a deliberate balance. What role do platforms and customiza- tion play? Platforms are the foundation for im- plementing customized solutions effi- ciently and with manageable risk. When core technology and manufacturing are well established, we can respond more quickly and make targeted adaptations. Not every project can be built entirely on existing platforms. In such cases, it is important to communicate develop- ment risks transparently—especially for highly integrated systems. How do you balance innovation and stability in development?
The “High Efficiency Joint” is a ro- botics joint developed by maxon and an example of how individual components come together to form a complete system.
more and more with humans—for exam- ple in logistics or industrial applications. This requires functional safety because humans and machines are coming closer together. This development is not a short‑term hype but will accompany us for many years. In addition to these visible trends, there are also topics that seem less attractive, such as new regulatory requirements and ensuring robust production processes and sup- ply chains. However, these are crucial to enabling innovative technologies to be used reliably in the first place. What would you tell young engineers starting at maxon today? You should find out what truly interests you—and have the perseverance to get good at it without being overly influenced by short‑term trends. I’ve experienced firsthand how hypes come and go. In the end, what matters is doing something that brings you long-term satisfaction. What, in your view, distinguishes a good technical solution from a truly compelling one? A truly compelling solution doesn’t just work under ideal conditions. It is well‑designed, robust, and reliable in everyday use. That is where you can truly see whether technological depth and system understanding are really present. To the person: Dr. Stefan Müller has been Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the maxon Group since 2022 and is responsible for the company’s technological direction. He has been with maxon since 2017 and earned his doctorate in electrical engineering at the University of Stuttgart.
This is a classic area of tension. That’s why we have dedicated advanced‑de- velopment teams that focus specifically on new technologies while staying closely connected to customers, univer- sities, and partners. For us, innovation does not mean pursuing every idea immediately; it means making deliber- ate decisions about which technologies truly offer added value and are mature enough to be integrated into products and platforms over the long term. How do you contextualize the many current trends around AI, robotics, and automation? These topics are closely connected. AI is fundamentally transforming robotics. Robots are leaving protected environ- ments and moving into unstructured ones. In the process, they are interacting “Systems only work well when the underlying components are first‑class.”
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