From a university locker room to an IT leader: 30 years of Scheidt & Bachmann Slovakia

It was 1990 – shortly after the opening of the borders – and representatives of the German company Scheidt & Bachmann met with Professor Skýva from the then University of Transport and Communications (today's University of Žilina in Žilina) at a conference in Dresden. The meeting led to a collaboration that changed the future of both parties.

Scheidt & Bachmann enabled students to start their careers by writing their theses at its headquarters in Mönchengladbach. At the time, the company was intensively developing computer-controlled railway safety systems and was looking for young talent. It saw great potential in the Slovak students. At the same time, it commissioned several research projects from the university, further strengthening the partnership.

When the collaboration was in full swing, 10 Slovak students had already completed their stay in Germany. Scheidt & Bachmann decided to take the next step – to establish a start-up in Slovakia.

The task was given to the first graduates of the internship in Germany – Ing. Róbert Kulla and Ing. Ján Krúpa. In November 1995, the company Dopravné systémy Scheidt & Bachmann was founded. It grew up right on university grounds. Its first office was a converted locker room – modest, but full of talent. Gradually, as more employees joined, it filled up with desks, enthusiasm, and ideas.

Slovak employees developed the first Windows application for diagnosing railway crossings in the C++ programming language at a time when programming was still done in "C". This made them pioneers at Scheidt & Bachmann and brought a breath of fresh air to the company.

From day one, the company has been growing – in terms of both employees and teams. In 1998, it expanded into new areas. In addition to development for railways, it began developing software for parking lots and passenger equipment. Four years later, development for gas stations was added.

It is interesting that the company is still run by the people who were there at its inception. Its founders are the current executives. The first developers are now department heads who have been through every milestone in the company's history. It is precisely the loyalty and determination of its employees that are the reasons why Scheidt & Bachmann is progressing in Slovakia and is one of the most respected companies.

After five years, the office at the university becomes too small. In 2000, a new chapter begins – the company builds and opens its headquarters on Priemyselná Street in Žilina. The characteristic brown bricks on the building are reminiscent of the German headquarters and the ambition to remain in Slovakia permanently. However, even these premises are not enough after a few years, and more buildings are gradually added.

The year 2005 brought another big step: the company built a production hall on its premises. Part of the production was moved from Germany to this hall: cable harnesses, printed circuit boards, and the assembly of ticket machines and subway gates. The company exceeded 100 employees, and the programmers also benefited from the relocation of production – they could test directly on the hardware that they brought to life with their code.

In 2010, the management decided to change the company's name. Scheidt & Bachmann s.r.o. became Scheidt & Bachmannn Slovensko s.r.o. The new name strengthened the brand's image in Slovakia and its place in the global Scheidt & Bachmann family.

2015 was a turning point for the company – it grew more than ever before. It took over the entire software teams of Tieto, which strengthened the Fare Collection Systems division. They specialize not only in the development of passenger equipment software, but also began to provide technical support and service to customers around the world. Thanks to this acquisition, the company opened its first branch in Bratislava. A few years later, in the spring of 2023, another branch was added in Košice.

Production is also growing steadily. The premises from 2005 are no longer sufficient, even after their expansion. In 2019, Scheidt & Bachmann therefore decides to build a new production hall in nearby Bytča. At the beginning of the following year, just before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the entire production moved into the modern, environmentally friendly hall.

The original production premises were renovated in 2022, and in 2023 the company opened a modern IT center that rivals the headquarters of technology giants. All the software teams scattered around Žilina will return under one roof.

The joy of the new premises does not last long. In October 2023, a fire engulfs the central part of the center, leaving only the steel structure of the original building. It needs to be completely renovated. At that moment, the strength of the Scheidt & Bachmann team becomes apparent.

The company does not stop working for a single day. Employees save what they can, and help also arrives from Germany. First, material aid arrives, and two days after the fire, the owner himself, Dr. Norbert Miller, a representative of the fifth generation of the founding family, arrives. He reassures the Slovaks: "We wil get throught it together!" These are not empty promises. In less than a year, the IT center rises from the ashes.

The year 2025 is a festive one at Scheidt & Bachmann. The IT center, which was engulfed in flames just a year ago, is now shining brightly – more modern and beautiful than before. New workspaces and leisure areas attract employees to the offices, and the center is bustling with life.

The reopening is a grand affair. It is not just a new building, but a shared triumph – proof of what can be achieved in such a short time by working together.

There are more reasons to celebrate this year. The number of employees has exceeded 800. New orders are coming in from customers around the world and from Slovakia, and software teams are implementing artificial intelligence into their solutions. Production is introducing digital innovations that simplify and accelerate manufacturing and logistics processes. New improvements are being worked on in all areas.

Despite the challenging business conditions in Slovakia, the company retains the most important thing – a family atmosphere. It provides its employees with a wide range of benefits not only for them, but also for their family members. Although the company is growing, it still maintains its family spirit. And it is precisely this family atmosphere and stability that its employees appreciate the most.

As befits a family business, it will celebrate its 30th birthday in style – with a grand celebration with its employees. It wants to thank them for their respect, trust, reliability, team spirit, enthusiasm, and personal responsibility – values that the people in the company live by.