Performance, ideas and success stories

Here is a small selection of innovations that reflect our success in many areas:

Steca electronics are energy -saving. Even before energy efficiency was a topic for discussion Steca was already developing the first electronics with the German energy efficiency class 'A' and setting standards for energy-saving household appliances. Today 'A++' is the standard at Steca.

Transparent and non-transparent glass. Steca is the first manufacturer in the world to deliver electronic systems that transform panes of glass from transparent to translucent in high-end automobiles. A resonance-conveyed high-voltage alternating current makes this possible.

Three-dimensional electronics. When mechanical and electronic elements have to be connected in tight spaces, Steca can develop and produce in the third dimension.

DC energy-saving light with microcontroller. The first compact lamp on the DC market with verifiable 20 W. An even greater level of efficiency of 85 per cent could be achieved with a microcontroller-operated compact lamp.

The first solar thermal controller with animated display. While many still use traditional displays, Steca can supply controllers with a display showing a graphics-animated solar circuit. 

Display and operation. Steca jettisons outdated operating and display concepts and fits customer products with full graphics and animated display for simple equipment operation. The result is a future-oriented product and competitive advantage for you – at comparable costs.

Microcontrollers in a "contaminated" environment. The first microcontroller for an electric fence system. Legislation specifies clear maximum voltage and energy values that are to be attained in the system, however. Control and calibration of the maximum values are carried out by a protected microcontroller that operates despite flashovers and discharges of 10,000 volts.

Keeping cool in the car. The first car with solar parked-car ventilation. The sliding or panorama roof contains solar cells that are electronically controlled to operate the car's interior fan at the optimal working point, thereby ventilating the parked vehicle.

Contactless measurement of lengths. Steca is developing a leading range of electronics for an inductive, contactless length-measuring system to regulate hydraulic flows. The digital signal processor calculates the analogue signal and compensates linearity errors and temperature drifts by means of control algorithms.

Temperature controllers with a view to the future. An electric welding mirror is monitored and heated by means of a temperature sensor. During the control process the current measurable value is mathematically calculated in advance in its time response. The control is carried out by an actual value that is yet unknown and it is self-learning.

Metal optimally joined. Steca develops welding control systems that regulate the wire feed with the electric arc voltage independent of the set values. Reliable operation of the microcontroller in a "contaminated" environment is also guaranteed here. One enthusiastic customer said: "With your electronics, welding is a piece of cake."

LED lighting instead of light bulbs. Steca is a leading light in lighting technology and offers interior lighting for household appliances produced in series. The yellowish central light of a light bulb is replaced by two light bars with decentral white LED technology. The whole room is evenly illuminated and the clear light represents no strain to the eyes.

Intelligent battery charging. The first battery charging system with equalisation charging. With this system Steca can increase the life of batteries connected in series. What is more, this can be achieved by using just a single charger!

Automatic recognition of voltage. Steca is the first manufacturer to produce battery charging systems with automatic switching between 6 V / 12 V and 24 V. The advantage: you have a charger and can connect whatever battery voltage you wish.

Solar thermal controller with integrated web server. Steca can offer web-based software for visualising operations data and parameterisation. The browser depicts the user interface of the controller where the current settings can be checked and modified as with the original – anywhere in the world!

Exceptional use of low-output combinational circuit components. Steca applied for a patent for a process that distributes the output of the switching power supply multiplexed and controlled by a microcontroller onto various DC loads. thus allowing these DC loads to be operated with either a regulated, adjustable voltage or a regulated current.