Resoniks wins VDMA Award for Acoustic AI Inspection
Posted: 2025-10-1
Source:
VDMA
The path to the smart factory is not a sure-fire success. Startups are driving the use of artificial intelligence in mechanical and plant engineering in this field with speed and unconventional approaches, bringing market-ready applications to market. Their innovative strength strengthens international competitiveness and gives mechanical and plant engineering a head start in global competition.
Recognizing this innovative strength is the goal of the renowned Startup Award, which has been presented since 2019 by VDMA Startup-Machine and the trade journal "Produktion" at the top event for mechanical and plant engineering. Each year, the award is dedicated to a different focus topic that addresses key future issues in mechanical engineering. In 2025, the focus will be on "AI in Robotics and Automation." The award will be presented to a young company that uses AI technologies to provide practical impetus for robotics and automation, thereby making an important contribution to the future viability of the industry.
"Artificial intelligence unleashes its potential in mechanical and plant engineering wherever it solves specific challenges and integrates seamlessly into existing processes."
Alexander Jakschik, Vice President
From the applications submitted, a jury of experts nominated three finalists in advance for the pitch final on September 16, 2025, at the Mechanical Engineering Summit in Berlin. In front of around 600 decision-makers, RESONIKS from The Hague ultimately prevailed over its two competitors in a live vote. The startup impressed with its acoustic AI inspection, which analyzes metallic workpieces and detects even the finest structural defects - a solution that strikes a chord with the industry. In mechanical engineering, early defect detection is crucial for ensuring production quality, reducing scrap, and lowering costs. RESONIKS' technology makes the invisible audible, increases process reliability, and helps companies make their manufacturing more efficient.
"Artificial intelligence unleashes its potential in mechanical and plant engineering wherever it solves specific challenges and integrates seamlessly into existing processes. Reliable partners and practical solutions are essential for companies to make the leap from proof of concept to industrial practice. This is exactly where this year's award winner RESONIKS comes in," emphasizes Alexander Jakschik, Executive Board of ULT AG and VDMA Vice President.
"At VDMA, we focus on open, interoperable interfaces between digital worlds and between people - solution spaces in cooperation."
Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Executive Director VDMA
RESONIKS faced strong competition from two other finalists. Augmented Industries presented an industrial AI platform for training, instructions, and knowledge management. CERPRO introduced an AI assistant that automatically generates test reports and accelerates quality assurance.
Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Executive Director VDMA and member of the jury, emphasizes the role of startups in the use of artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering: "If you want to scale successfully, you need interoperability and access to the market. At VDMA, we focus on open, interoperable interfaces between digital worlds and between people - solution spaces in cooperation.
The VDMA Startup-Machine demonstrated early on that Germany is a global center of gravity for AI applications in production and mechanical engineering. It was therefore clear to us that we would focus this year's Startup Award on the topic of artificial intelligence in robotics and automation. The award highlights how young companies apply technical excellence to create solutions that are directly applicable to small and medium-sized enterprises."
Recognizing this innovative strength is the goal of the renowned Startup Award, which has been presented since 2019 by VDMA Startup-Machine and the trade journal "Produktion" at the top event for mechanical and plant engineering. Each year, the award is dedicated to a different focus topic that addresses key future issues in mechanical engineering. In 2025, the focus will be on "AI in Robotics and Automation." The award will be presented to a young company that uses AI technologies to provide practical impetus for robotics and automation, thereby making an important contribution to the future viability of the industry.
"Artificial intelligence unleashes its potential in mechanical and plant engineering wherever it solves specific challenges and integrates seamlessly into existing processes."
Alexander Jakschik, Vice President
From the applications submitted, a jury of experts nominated three finalists in advance for the pitch final on September 16, 2025, at the Mechanical Engineering Summit in Berlin. In front of around 600 decision-makers, RESONIKS from The Hague ultimately prevailed over its two competitors in a live vote. The startup impressed with its acoustic AI inspection, which analyzes metallic workpieces and detects even the finest structural defects - a solution that strikes a chord with the industry. In mechanical engineering, early defect detection is crucial for ensuring production quality, reducing scrap, and lowering costs. RESONIKS' technology makes the invisible audible, increases process reliability, and helps companies make their manufacturing more efficient.
"Artificial intelligence unleashes its potential in mechanical and plant engineering wherever it solves specific challenges and integrates seamlessly into existing processes. Reliable partners and practical solutions are essential for companies to make the leap from proof of concept to industrial practice. This is exactly where this year's award winner RESONIKS comes in," emphasizes Alexander Jakschik, Executive Board of ULT AG and VDMA Vice President.
"At VDMA, we focus on open, interoperable interfaces between digital worlds and between people - solution spaces in cooperation."
Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Executive Director VDMA
RESONIKS faced strong competition from two other finalists. Augmented Industries presented an industrial AI platform for training, instructions, and knowledge management. CERPRO introduced an AI assistant that automatically generates test reports and accelerates quality assurance.
Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Executive Director VDMA and member of the jury, emphasizes the role of startups in the use of artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering: "If you want to scale successfully, you need interoperability and access to the market. At VDMA, we focus on open, interoperable interfaces between digital worlds and between people - solution spaces in cooperation.
The VDMA Startup-Machine demonstrated early on that Germany is a global center of gravity for AI applications in production and mechanical engineering. It was therefore clear to us that we would focus this year's Startup Award on the topic of artificial intelligence in robotics and automation. The award highlights how young companies apply technical excellence to create solutions that are directly applicable to small and medium-sized enterprises."
