Alexander B. - Owner

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Buxtehude, Germany

Experience

Jul 2022 - Present

3 years 1 month

Buxtehude, Germany

Owner

Pema-Tec Alexander Bröcker

Project to create the complete software for a film roll warehouse at American Packaging Corporation, Story City, Iowa
Development of a warehouse simulator for real machine processes aimed at optimized storage of film rolls using C#
Project to create the complete software for a printing cylinder warehouse at Huhtamaki, Ronsberg using TIA Portal for automated guided vehicles, C# and Oracle for warehouse management, and DB table for the ERP system interface; includes further development of the warehouse simulator for improved Movement Planner programming
Project to read and process QR codes on items in the sorting system at XPROMA GmbH, Salzhausen; includes a service program for fast QR code reading via two Keyence barcode readers, monitoring and parameterizing the readers, and initiating data export using C#, Microsoft SQL Server, TCP/IP and SFTP transfer
Project for the development and programming of a low-cost management system for driverless transport systems in collaboration with Egemin Automation Inc. and American Packaging Corporation using C++, C#, Microsoft SQL Server, and TCP/IP
Project for test bench development and automation of SYS.5 tests for the climate actuator at ETO GRUPPE TECHNOLOGIES GmbH, Stockach using LabVIEW and C# for test bench software, DIAdem and C# for test evaluation, integrated with Microsoft SQL Server databases

Oct 2019 - Jun 2022

2 years 9 months

Hohenlockstedt, Germany

Software Development & Automation

Bauer GmbH & Co. KG

Responsible for on-time creation of project-related warehouse software covering vehicles, management, and interfaces
Conducting on-site commissioning at customer locations
Programming machine controls using TIA Portal, TwinCAT 2/3, Omron, CoDeSys, and HIMA
Programming driverless transport systems in collaboration with SEW-Eurodrive using MoviPLC and TIA Portal
Programming warehouse management software using C, C++, C#, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and Oracle
Programming HTML interface and interfaces using IIS, Node.js, and REST API
Programming robotic systems (FANUC, KUKA)
Handling requirements and specifications, system approval with TÜV and customer, adjusting circuit diagrams (EPALN P8), and site management

Nov 2018 - Sep 2019

11 months

Neumünster, Germany

Software Architect Digital Development

Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG

Responsible for on-time creation of project-related UI software
Coordinating commissioning schedules and execution
Programming machine controls using TIA Portal and WinCC OA
Specifying interfaces
Handling requirements and specifications
Developing standard software modules and templates
Automating tests and implementing a test system

Jun 2017 - Oct 2018

1 year 5 months

Hemmoor, Germany

Team Leader Order Engineering PLC

HOMAG Automation GmbH

Responsible for on-time creation of project-related PLC software
Coordinating commissioning schedules and execution
Programming machine controls using TIA Portal, CoDeSys, and TwinCAT 2/3
Coordinating and specifying work packages for team members
Handling requirements, specifications, and quote preparation
Overall project management including planning, execution, control, and closing
Developing standard software modules and templates
Automating tests and implementing a virtual test system (ISG-virtuos), digital twin modeling, and test data scenario creation
Developing and adapting simulation software to control transport systems and wood processing machines using C#

Feb 2017 - May 2017

4 months

Hamburg, Germany

Freelance Trainer in Electrical Engineering

Trainmobil Training für Praktiker GmbH

Designing training courses
Building training materials
Conducting training sessions

Jul 2010 - Jan 2017

6 years 7 months

Gifhorn, Germany

Team Leader Electrical Components - Testing

EDAG Engineering GmbH

Responsible for electrical testing of components and assemblies as well as hardware and software development
Planning, building, and software development of test benches including:
HiL Special Vehicles: planning with EPLAN, programming real-time control using TwinCAT, NI measurement hardware programming with LabVIEW (cRIO, FPGA), test sequence programming with Vector CANoe, and restbus simulation for CAN and LIN bus
Engine Test Bench: planning with EPLAN, real-time control programming with TwinCAT, NI hardware programming with LabVIEW (cRIO, FPGA), restbus simulation for CAN and LIN bus, and diagnostics using CAN and LIN bus
Steering Gear Test Bench: planning with EPLAN, real-time control programming with TwinCAT, NI hardware programming with LabVIEW, and restbus simulation for CAN and LIN bus
Endurance Test Bench Auxiliary Drive: planning with EPLAN, real-time control programming with TIA Portal WinCC, NI hardware programming with LabVIEW, restbus simulation for CAN and LIN bus, and diagnostics using CAN and LIN bus
Starter Generator Test Bench: planning with EPLAN, real-time control programming with TIA Portal WinCC, NI hardware programming with LabVIEW, restbus simulation for CAN and LIN bus, and diagnostics using CAN and LIN bus
Seat Test Bench: planning with EPLAN, real-time control programming with TIA Portal WinCC, and NI hardware programming with LabVIEW
Setting up test vehicles and prototypes (vehicle electrical system, control units, software)
Coordinating and specifying work packages between Volkswagen AG and EDAG Engineering GmbH
Handling requirements, specifications, quote preparation, overall project management (planning, execution, control, monitoring, closing)
Continuing development of electrical and mechanical component tests, test carriers, and test sequences including acoustic tests (transmissions, engines), oil pump tests, and benchmarks for transmissions and engines
Automating test catalogs (e.g., HiL special vehicles with Vector CANoe, CAN bus, CANopen special vehicles, LIN bus)
Testing diagnostic functions with CAN and LIN bus on HiL special vehicles
Preparing and visualizing data using DIAdem from test sequences for Volkswagen AG
Acting as VEFK and CE representative

Summary

I bring deep, years of professional experience in software development, including almost 20 years with C#. My focus is clearly on backend development, especially designing robust warehouse management and control systems for special-purpose machinery and plant engineering. Over my career, I've gained extensive experience in developing and using simulation frameworks. These include custom-built simulators that model complex motion logic, storage structures, and control processes. They were used to pre-test, optimize, and validate real machine processes in software – for example for storage and transport systems or test bench environments. ICS Virtuos was also used in this context.

Currently, I'm developing a complete warehouse software management system for gravure printing cylinders (e.g. for coffee cups), including integration with PLCs via TIA Portal. I'm responsible for both backend and frontend and am also building a Movement Planner to simulate and optimize storage movements. This includes intelligently finding free storage locations and ensuring the entire system runs smoothly in software. I manage this system end-to-end – from development to commissioning and ongoing support.

In the past, I worked at HOMAG on software development for machine systems like saws, edge banders, drilling, and furniture part transport, for example for IKEA projects. With ICS Virtuos, I simulated and tested virtual storage environments. For Volkswagen, I worked on test benches with real-time control and developed a comprehensive test manager in C# for automation.

I have deep backend expertise in C#, including complex database connections (Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL) and building powerful interfaces. I have designed and implemented numerous REST APIs. My technical understanding of industrial interfaces is solid – I regularly work with protocols like OPC UA (active in my current project), TCP/IP, RS232, and fieldbuses like CAN and LIN. I know industrial process flows from both the control side and the IT architecture side.

Another focus of my work is building and implementing state machines and complex control logic – on the machine level (e.g. with TIA Portal, TwinCAT, or CoDeSys) as well as in warehouse logistics or test bench automation. My solutions are driven by a clear engineering mindset and a high standard of quality, which I consistently apply using clean code principles, GIT, JIRA, Visual Studio (predecessor of the standalone solution of Azure DevOps), and a structured approach.