On an expansion course at a new location

C-tec in Kusterdingen

C-tec in Kusterdingen

Norbert Otto

C-tec in Kusterdingen

Since recently, C-tec Cleanroom Technology GmbH has a new address. The company has moved from Rottenburg am Neckar to Kusterdingen near Tübingen and has set up in stylish, significantly larger premises. The main goal for 2025 is: growth through expanding the workforce.

There are various reasons for moving into a new company building. Whether it's lack of space, an expiring lease, the desire for a better, more accessible, or more representative location, or other reasons... For Norbert Otto, owner and managing director of C-tec, the reason for moving into almost twice as large spaces was his vision to significantly increase the number of employees next year. Currently, the company, founded in 1994 by Otto with a focus on qualification and requalification measurements in cleanroom technology and pure media, employs a total of 22 staff members. By the end of 2025, it aims to have 25.

If it weren't for the bursting order books and the calendar full for many months, one might consider Norbert Otto a dreamer or fantasist. But that is by no means the case. His problem does not lie in acquiring new customers or new orders. Companies like Roche, MSD, Bayer, Octapharma, US Army Hospital, and other clinics are among his regular clients. His only bottleneck is the size of his workforce, which can hardly handle the volume of orders. This is now set to change. For dedicated professionals in this segment, there are fantastic opportunities here. And they must be eager to learn, as Otto emphasizes: "We train all our employees intensively, regardless of their initial knowledge level. Even though there is no specific profession as a cleanroom measurement technician, everyone at our company is qualified accordingly."

Not without pride, the sixtysomething recounts that he has passed on all his knowledge to his team over the past years and decades. "New employees often spend one and a half to two years working entirely in tandem with a colleague before they can go to a customer alone." This proved especially valuable during a period when the boss was ill. "Back then, when I was out for many months, the company ran absolutely smoothly, completely without me." Norbert Otto thus knows that knowledge transfer is an essential building block for the company's future. To create the spatial and structural conditions for his ambitious growth plans, he has made a not insignificant investment in renovating and modernizing the terraced wooden building in Kusterdingen. As part of this, the IT infrastructure was significantly upgraded, solar panels on the roof ensured energy supply, and a new calibration laboratory was established.

Overall, 500 square meters (previously 260) are now available, offering not only space to meet the 20 percent growth expectations but also providing room for employees to chat with colleagues and work in a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere surrounded by art and designer furniture. "We look forward to many applications from well-qualified and curious people whom we can warmly welcome into our great team," says Norbert Otto, and you can sense how much heart and passion he puts into leading his company. "Future, ahoy!" is now the motto at C-tec in Kusterdingen.