Folge 13 (English) - From “Virtual Components” to Global Validation Technology

What happens when an engineer decides to build the tools nobody
else wants to build?


Around 25 years ago, Horst Hammerer started developing his first
component emulators at home — initially solving problems his
employer needed solved. But he created solutions that did not
exist in the market and many others needed to. What began as
hands-on engineering “home production” evolved step by step into
what is known today as AVL SET.





In this episode, Horst speaks openly about the early days of
building products on his own, winning the first customers, and
navigating the transition from niche engineering solutions to
becoming an internationally recognized technology partner for
electrified component and system testing and validation. He
explains why growth is not just about revenue — but about
stability, credibility, redundancy, resilience, and becoming a
trusted long-term partner for major industry players.





The discussion also explores how electrification of mobility
fundamentally changed the relevance of emulation technology,
turning once-specialized engineering tools into critical
infrastructure for modern vehicle development. From component
emulators to complex validation environments, the journey mirrors
the transformation of the branches in mobility industries.





Horst also shares personal lessons learned across technology,
leadership, and entrepreneurship — including what surprised him
most during the journey and what he would do differently today.





Selected quotes from the episode include:





“What should have been a simple upgrade turned into a disaster
because the test system did not follow the architecture of the
product to be tested” (background Airbus A 320 to A321).”





“The first product line were emulated components, mainly sensors,
for aerospace.”





“With Frank I moved from a one-man show to a two-man show.”





“The company grew to 30 people with aerospace customers.”





“Automotive customers wanted to emulate the Emotor once
propulsion electrified - a different challenge with much higher
power levels.”





“Never modify the unit under test was a





“Growth is not vanity. Growth creates stability. It provides
critical mass.”





“Customers trust companies that can survive problems, not only
celebrate successes.”





“Electrification of vehicle propulsion suddenly made Emotor
emulation essential.”





“Technology matters. But persistence matters longer.”





A conversation about engineering, entrepreneurship, resilience,
and the reality behind building industrial technology companies
from the ground up.