KNAPP Fosters Young IT Talents

TU Graz triumphs over TU Wien in the KNAPP Coding Contest

Two events for the next generation of tech professionals recently took place at the KNAPP AG in Hart bei Graz. Over 100 young IT talents met at the KNAPP Coding Context to solve a complex real-world logistics programming challenge. At the Apprentice Open Day, young people had the chance to learn about the apprenticeship program in Hart bei Graz and Leoben.

Matthias Bergmann from Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and Martin Bierbaumer from the HTL Rennweg Higher Technical College each took home the highly coveted prize of 1,000 euros at the 2023 KNAPP Coding Contest. Students from all over Austria traveled to Styria to take part in the contest. Vienna’s HTL Rennweg had an especially good day: Their students Martin Bierbaumer and Amitesh Marinellore won first and second place respectively in the high school category. Jakob Dorneger from the HTBLA Kaindorf Higher Federal Technical College came in third. The HTL Rennweg also won the award for best institution. In the university category, Matthias Bergmann (TU Graz) took home the gold, with Lorenz Stechauner (TU Wien) and Georg Hoffmann (FH Joanneum) rounding out the top three.

The challenge for the young programmers was about a smart supply chain. The question: How can large retailers efficiently send orders to their customers? Participants were tasked with programming software to optimally combine packages from different shipping warehouses to get orders to customers as cost-efficiently as possible.

KNAPP: Leading Styrian IT employer

“KNAPP is one of Styria’s largest IT employers. We want to position ourselves as a highly sought-after employer both in Austria and abroad in order to attract the best talent on the market. After all, without our highly skilled and motivated staff, we would not be able to offer our customers such high-quality service,” explains KNAPP CFO Christian Grabner.

During an average day at work, KNAPP’s software specialists handle topics as diverse as machine control systems, warehouse management systems, digital analysis tools, artificial intelligence and digital business models. KNAPP software combines innovative technologies with intelligent automation solutions that keep logistics systems functioning smoothly. This ensures that supermarkets always have fresh goods filling their shelves, that pharmacies always have the medicines they need and that spring fashions always make their way to customers’ closets on time.

Full house at the Apprentice Open Day

As a large training company, KNAPP provides training to over 100 apprentices every year in futureproof professions such as application programming and mechatronics with a focus on robotics. Over 60 teenagers, along with their families and friends, visited the apprentice workshop, toured the company premises and found out more about the apprentice professions at the Open Day on March 3. They also had the chance to chat with current KNAPP apprentices. “Our apprenticeship program is a real success story. We would like to roll it out at our international locations as well. We’re especially proud that our robotics apprentices were so successful at the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai,” says KNAPP CFO Christian Grabner.

KNAPP Coding Contest March 6, 2023 – results

About KNAPP

KNAPP is an international technology company based in Styria, Austria. The company develops and manufactures intelligent warehouse systems using the latest solutions in digitalization, software, automation and robotics. At KNAPP, an innovative spirit, an international work environment and a strong sense of teamwork are highly valued. Worldwide, the company has about 7,000 employees, each bringing their individual backgrounds, qualifications and points of view to the table. What brings them together is the passion they feel for their work. They know that providing first-class service within long-term partnerships makes KNAPP the strong partner behind the success of their customers. Their customers include the food retailer SPAR, the pharmaceutical wholesaler Herba Chemosan, the fashion brand Hugo Boss, and the e-commerce giant Zalando as well as many others.

For more information or to apply for a job online, visit knapp.com/en/career, or follow KNAPP on Facebook or Instagram for a closer look into the world of KNAPP.