Committed to progress
stoba in the ARENA2036: Technology development with impact
Since the beginning of 2026, stoba has been a member of ARENA2036 (“Active Research Environmentfor the Nextgeneration of Automobiles“), a research platform where industry and science work together on technologies for the mobility and production of the future.
For us, this step is more than just a symbol. It is a building block in our technological development – and a place where we can test concrete applications of artificial intelligence, robotics and data-based process optimization in the production environment under real conditions. ARENA2036 enables us to not only evaluate developments once they have arrived on the market, but to actively participate in their creation. This proximity to research and development processes is particularly valuable because we have long been working at the interface between automation, AI-supported quality assurance and intelligent production in our own plants. Many of these projects have been established globally across several stoba locations and show how broadly the expertise within stoba is now distributed.
One focus for us at ARENA2036 is the topic of humanoid robotics. This is not about spectacular future scenarios, but about very specific questions: How can simple, monotonous or physically demanding tasks be designed to relieve people? What tasks can humanoid systems take on that are still performed manually today, even though they generate little added value? And how can a robot be used flexibly where classic automation cells would be too complex or inflexible? These questions have a direct impact on real production environments and are directly relevant to ergonomic workplaces, efficiency and stability in recurring processes.
The internal perspective plays a central role here. In discussions with employees, it becomes clear time and again that many repetitive tasks are not only tiring, but are also perceived as a poor use of their skills. At the same time, there is still a need for human experience for demanding test characteristics and safety-relevant components. The solution is not to replace it, but to combine human expertise with AI-supported process management in a targeted manner. This is precisely where the benefits arise: Processes become more stable, reject rates fall and the deployment of skilled workers concentrates on activities that require experience, precision and judgment.
We also work with AI-based approaches outside of robotics to improve production processes. One focus is camera-based final inspection, in which we record data close to the machine and evaluate it using intelligent systems. The aim is to detect errors earlier, automatically adapt processes and ensure quality where it is produced – on the machine itself. At the same time, we are developing tools that support the quotation process by processing production data more intelligently and calculating variants more quickly. The combination of these topics shows how AI-supported applications do not work in isolation, but can create benefits along the entire process chain.
ARENA2036 will also become a place where we can further develop our cross-location collaboration. Our business units contribute software and algorithm expertise, work closely on application and system integration and have experience in the field of automated production. This combination forms the basis for projects that are both technically demanding and practical. It strengthens our ability to bring new technologies to our plants while building knowledge that ensures long-term competitiveness.
stoba CTO Dr. Christian Peschke adds: “ARENA2036 is an ideal real-world laboratory for us. We have the opportunity to test things there that we can’t try out ourselves. This is because we can draw on an infrastructure and partners with excellent expertise and hardware to develop new processes and products.” And Gerhard Firlbeck, stoba COO, adds: “We need to automate repetitive tasks in a targeted manner – so that our specialists can concentrate on what requires experience.” Both statements are representative of what ARENA2036 means for stoba: practicable technologies, further development and relief.
ARENA2036 thus fits clearly into our corporate orientation. We are working on technologies that improve production processes, safeguard working conditions, increase quality and strengthen our locations. For the future of stoba, this is a path that is not only technologically necessary, but also makes strategic sense – and ensures that we remain capable of acting in a rapidly changing industrial environment.
Pictures: ARENA2036/Corinna Spitzbarth