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ERP for SMEs

proALPHA ERP

Comprehensive Solution for SMEs

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Table of Contents

proALPHA ERP – The Comprehensive Solution.........................................................................................................4 Core Modules Sales .............................................................................................................................................................5 Purchasing ....................................................................................................................................................6 Materials Management .................................................................................................................................7 Production ....................................................................................................................................................8 Service ..........................................................................................................................................................9 Financial Accounting...................................................................................................................................10 Cost Accounting .........................................................................................................................................11 Fixed Asset Management ............................................................................................................................12

Special Modules Business Intelligence ...................................................................................................................................13 Customer Relationship Management ..........................................................................................................14 Document Management System .................................................................................................................15 Human Resources .......................................................................................................................................16 ProductConfigurator ..................................................................................................................................17 Project Management ..................................................................................................................................18 Web Portal .................................................................................................................................................19 WorkflowManagement ..............................................................................................................................20

Connectivity CAD Integration .........................................................................................................................................21 Integration Workbench ...............................................................................................................................22

Trends and Technologies Industry 4.0 ................................................................................................................................................23 Cloud .........................................................................................................................................................24 User Experience ..........................................................................................................................................25 Technology ...........................................................................................................................................................26Language and Country Versions ............................................................................................................................27proALPHA Product Brochures ................................................................................................................................28proALPHA User Group ..........................................................................................................................................29Industries ..............................................................................................................................................................30About proALPHA ..................................................................................................................................................31

proALPHA ERP – Comprehensive Solution 3

Fully integrated, comprehensive ERP solution for small and mid-sized enterprises

Tailoredtomake-to-orderandseriesproductionaswellastrade

Provides optimum support for international business

Geared to achieve maximum productivity and transparency along the entire value-added chain

Facilitatescustomizationsandextensionswithitscutting-edgesoftwarearchitecture

Availableason-premisessoftwareorcloudsolution

WeEmpowerHiddenChampions

The highlights of proALPHA ERP:

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The comprehensive ERP solution proALPHA has been tailored to suit the needs of small and mid-sized enterprises in manufacturing, trade, and the service sector. Thesoftwarecombinesanintegratedapproachbasedonamodularconceptwithcutting-edgetechnology.proALPHA enables companies to map, control and optimize their entire value-added chain, from production andfinancialaccountingtoproductdevelopmentandcustomer relationship management.

TheERP system is availableason-premises softwareor cloud solution offering high availability and data protectionaccordingtoGermanlaw.

Seamless digital business processesproALPHA is a comprehensive solution designed to optimize all relevant business processes. It offers a widerangeoffunctionalitiesforpurchasing,materialsmanagement,production,costaccounting,financialaccounting, sales, customer relationship management, business intelligence, CAD integration, document management, and e-business.

Lossless information flowsThanks to its deep integration, proALPHA not only servesasaninformationhubbutalsoallowseffortlessimplementation of special applications. The Integration Workbench(INWB)isapowerfulenterpriseservicebus(ESB)whichconnectsexternalsystemsandsites.BymeansoftheINWB,proALPHAlinksallbusinessdivisionswithseamlessprocessesandfacilitatescommunicationwithbusiness partners, customers, and suppliers. Web-based access to the ERP system makes data available in real time, regardless of the devices, platforms or sites involved.

Automated workflowsReducing administration effort and processing times, taking routine tasks off the hands of employees, increasing transparency – business processes can be automatedwithintegratedWorkflowManagementtoachieve optimum process quality and reliability.

Maximum efficiencyEffective corporate management requires seamless informationflowsacrossalldivisions.Acentraldatabaseis key here: it increases transparency, streamlines processes and provides accurate up-to-date information for sound decision-making.

Successful international businessproALPHA provides optimum support for companies operatingworldwide.Byofferingnumerouslanguageandcountryversionsandallowingconvenientconnectionof local third party systems, the software enablescompanies to manage all of their data in one system andhelpsthemboostinternationalgrowth.

Safe investmentsThanks to theprocessandservice-orientedsoftwarearchitecture (SOA) of proALPHA, companies can modify their ERP system fast and at reasonable expense if they areconfrontedwithnewchallenges.proALPHAsupportsthem in protecting their investments and enables them to strive for innovation, react to changes in the market, andseizenewsalesopportunities.

Perfect customizationsSince each industry, company and division places different demandsonERPsoftware,proALPHAoffersmultilevelsystem architecture and function packages to meet thesespecificrequirements.Thisallowscompaniestocustomize their ERP system and focus on their strengths whilefullreleasecapabilityisensuredatalltimes.

Comprehensive – Integrated – Tailored to SMEs: proALPHA ERP


Core Modules Sales

Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Processingofintercompanysalesworkflows■■ Automation of routine tasks■■ VersatilequotationcostingcompletewithCTPchecks■■ Integrated e-business solutions■■ Automatic monitoring of sales KPIs

CreatingProfit-OrientedSalesProcesses

Sales processes can be consistently mapped and efficientlycontrolledwithproALPHASales.ThemoduleisfullyintegratedintotheERPsystemandofferspowerfulfunctions for sales planning, quotation costing, shipment, and invoicing.

As the central database, proALPHA provides all sales employeeswithrelevantinformation,eveniftheyareonthe road. They can check the availability of products, the processing status of an order and payments received, for example. Moreover, the latest price lists and quotes are readily available in the document management system (DMS).

TheSalesmoduleiscloselyinterwovenwithproALPHACustomerRelationshipManagement,whichprovidespowerfulfunctionsforallimportantCRMtasks.

Quotes can be conveniently created using costings and productconfigurations,beitforgoodsinstock,seriesproducts,customer-specificvariantsormake-to-orderparts. Capable-to-promise checks enable sales employees toconfirmreliabledeliverydatesduringcustomertalks.

Blanket and call-off orders based on specific datesorprogresspoints are automatically exchangedwithcustomers via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

Versatile budgeting and controlling functions help monitorsalestrends.proALPHAWorkflowManagementensuresefficient,reliablesalesprocessesatanystage.

E-business is another integral part of proALPHA Sales: it features a multishop interface to connect e-commerce platformsandofferswebportalsforcustomersandsalespartners.

ThedeepintegrationofproALPHASalesallowsallprocesses to be mapped, from sales planning to invoicing.

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Quote management for cost-effective purchasing in compliancewithcorporateregulations

■■ Suppliers are actively involved in all purchasing processes

■■ Tools for strategic purchasing planning and warehouseoptimization

■■ Workflowstakeroutinetasksoffthehandsofemployees and accelerate cycle times

■■ Procurement controlling and supplier monitoring

proALPHAPurchasingoffersawiderangeoffunctionstointegrate procurement processes, accelerate cycle times, and create strategic purchasing plans.

Itmapsanyrequirements,regardlessofwhetherstandardparts or one-off products have to be procured or entire components and services have to be outsourced.

The module has far more to offer than purchase order processingor invoice control. It allowsautomaticormanual generation of purchase orders from MRP suggestions, orders and part plans, for example. Quote managementincreasesthetransparencyofpricesaswellas terms and conditions, and automated processes help monitor schedules and stock receipt.

If partners or different IT systems have to be connected, the Integration Workbench (INWB) can be used as the central communication platform that ensures lossless informationflowsandsupportsEDIprocesses.proALPHAWeb Portals enable suppliers to access the ERP system via webbrowsers,regardlessofthedeviceorplatformtheyuseorwheretheyarelocated.

All functionalities required for strategic purchasing planning are included, too: ABC/XYZ analysis, master production scheduling and cockpits to assess demand coverage, delivery reliability, and turnover ratio.

proALPHAWorkflowManagementensurescompliancewith corporate regulations and offers maximumtransparencywhenpurchaseordersaretobereleased.

Effectiveprocurementcontrollinginvolvescompany-widedataanalysistodeterminepurchasingfigures,relatedcosts, supplier quality, and possible discounts.

proALPHA Purchasing optimizes all processes in procurement, be it the selection of suppliers or invoice control.

Optimizing Purchasing Processes

Core Modules Purchasing


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ AcceleratedprocesseswithpowerfulMRP■■ Optimum support for any storage type■■ Reliabilitythankstoclearidentificationofproductsand components

■■ Synchronizedquantityandvalueflowformaximumcost transparency

■■ Future-oriented MPS

TransparentMaterialandValueFlows

proALPHA Materials Management ensures smooth processesandfullcostcontrolinMRP,warehousing,andlot management.

Itmapsthewholematerialandvalueflowthroughoutthe entire company. Thanks to the deep integration of the ERP system, stock and related changes are mapped incostaccountingandfinancialaccounting,too.Salesplanning and master production scheduling support the development of long-term strategies.

To optimize inventory management, proALPHA not only determines the demand for end products, assemblies, rawmaterialsandpurchasedpartsbutalsomakesprecisesuggestions for purchase orders.

Various MRP methods are provided to perfectly manage randomwarehousesandfixedstoragelocations.Itisalsopossible to combine restricted areas, stock receipt storage areas, consignment areas, transit areas, and external storage areas. Custom-made products can be managed based on CROs. The ABC/XYZ analysis makes it easier todecidebetweentheparametersforMRPcontrolling.

Allproductsandcomponentscanbeidentifiedbytheirserialorlotnumber.Inaddition,aproductfilerecordingallspecificationsiskeptforeachserialnumber.Centralstaging facilitates on-time delivery by including goods storedindifferentwarehouses.Stock-takingallowscyclecounting and periodic counting.

Core Modules Materials Management

proALPHAMaterialsManagementmapsthewholematerialandvalueflowthroughouttheentirecompany.

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Multi-resource planning for make-to-order and series production

■■ Resource optimization to avoid bottlenecks■■ Finiteplanningallowsmanualadjustmentsonshortnotice

■■ Clearoverviewsofcomplexdependencies■■ Keepingtabsonlong-termdemandswithmasterproduction scheduling

■■ Reliable delivery dates

proALPHA Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) is a powerfultoolforinnovativeproductionplanning,controland optimization.

Be it make-to-order, variant or series production or a combination of these types, proALPHA APS provides thetoolsandthespecialistsavailablewiththerequiredquantity of material in time.

Required resources are planned and optimized according to managerial targets such as delivery reliability and cycle times by means of multi-resource planning.

Productionworkflowscanberealisticallymappedandbottlenecks avoided using versatile product process models (PPM). Finite planning is provided to implement changesmadeonshortnotice.Awidevarietyofgraphicsand charts helps employees quickly identify complex dependencies of routings and materials.

Moreover, proALPHA APS prioritizes orders and suggests alternatives. Continuous master production scheduling is independent of operative production planning and enables production managers to plan ahead and react tofluctuations.

It is also possible to determine feasible delivery dates on an ad hoc basis. These capable-to-promise checks are available in the sales order. They prevent impossible

deadlinesfrombeingconfirmedandensure that only feasible delivery dates are communicated to customers.

Full integration of APS into proALPHA ERPcreateslosslessinformationflowsbetweenalldepartments.

proALPHA Production is the perfect tool for production planning and ensures feasible master plans.

Optimizing Make-to-Order and Series Production

Core Modules Production


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ All relevant data are readily available, even on mobile devices

■■ Servicecallscanbepreparedandinvoicedefficiently■■ Maintenance is completed reliably and on schedule■■ Returns and claims can be conveniently processed■■ Traceable lot and serial numbers reduce product liability risks

■■ Service controlling reveals potential for improvement

Integrated Full Service

Be it maintenance, repairs or claims, proALPHA provides optimum support for all after-sales service processes, from the time a call comes in through to its solution.

Maintenance and service calls can be planned, completed andinvoicedefficiently.ByloggingintotheproALPHAWeb Portal, field service has relevant customer informationathandandcancheckproductfilesatanytime.Productfilesrecordtheentirelifecycleofaproductaswellasthecurrentconfigurationofdevices,machinesandplantsalongwithallmountedparts.Theyallowreplacementforwearpartstobeorderedingoodtimeand help identify required spare parts.

proALPHA's central database lays the foundation for excellent customer service. All relevant customer data are displayed on a call center agent's screen, regardless ofwhethercallscomeinbyphone,e-mailorfax.Thisenables service employees to provide professional support, use text blocks to create replies, and generate serviceordersandcreditsfromwithintheapplication.Each processing step is automatically archived in the document management system (DMS).

If goods are returned, traceable serial and lot numbers enable companies to isolate problems, reduce liability risks, and avoid damage to their brand's image.

Analysisofcalldataandservicecallsindicatehowwellacompany'sserviceoperationsareworking.TheseKPIscanbe used to optimize service processes on an ongoing basis.

Core Modules Service

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Fullintegrationensurescurrentfinancialdataandavoids duplicate entries

■■ Convenient international consolidation■■ Powerfulanalysesandassessmentsincontrolling■■ CompliancewithGermanandinternationaltaxlawsand regulations

■■ Audit-proof archiving according to GoBD

proALPHA Financial Accounting optimizes business processes: it features electronic payment transactions, transparentvalueflowsandcashforecastswhichcanbecreated at the push of a button.

The module is fully integrated into the ERP system and offers all functions required to create balance sheets aswellasprofitandlossstatements.Italsoallowsanynumber of companies and foreign currencies to be managed. Since all relevant postings from purchasing, sales, materials management and project management areautomaticallyprovidedinfinancialaccounting,theycan be analyzed on an ad hoc basis. Moreover, all values can be traced back to the original document stored in the document management system (DMS).

proALPHA Financial Accounting complies with theGerman commercial code and tax laws as well aswith internationalaccountingprinciplessuchas IFRS(International Financial Reporting Standards) and US GAAP (United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).Powerfultoolsareprovidedforinternationalgroup consolidation, such as multiple consolidation, predefinedconsolidationtables,andautomaticcurrencyconversion.

Compliancewith legal regulations isalso ensured, such as German GoBD (generally accepted principles for keeping and storing accounts, records and documents in electronic form and for data access). proALPHA allowsaudit-proof archiving of all processes in financialaccountingandthedocumentmanagement system. This is regularly checkedandcertifiedbyindependent

auditing companies and Audicon, a leading service provider in thefieldof audits, risk, andcompliance.Companiesarethereforewell-preparedforaudits.

proALPHA Financial Accounting has more to offer than simple standard functions. It features powerfultoolsforliquiditymanagement and controlling.

Finance as the Information Hub

Core Modules Financial Accounting


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Reliable up-to-date information for sound decision-making

■■ Automaticadoptionofcurrentfiguresfromupstreammodules

■■ Multidimensional income accounting offering versatile analysis options for income objects

■■ Detailed analyses and fast queries on an ad hoc basis■■ Suitable for trade, make-to-order and series production

Identifying Key Business Figures

proALPHA Cost Accounting gives companies detailed insights intotheprofitabilityoftheirbusiness. The integrated module provides managers with accurate data and powerfulanalyses of costs and revenues, be it in trade, make-to-order or series production.

proALPHA Cost Accounting features cost center accounting, cost object accounting, and income accounting. It also includes cost item accounting, analyses, planning tools, and ad hoc queries.

Effective cost accounting depends on reliable, up-to-date figures thatallowappropriatemeasures tobe takenquickly. The Cost Accounting module is therefore closely interwovenwithothermodulesofproALPHAERPandautomatically receives values from upstream divisions. BusinessfiguresstoredoutsidetheERPsystemcanbeconveniently imported using Microsoft Excel. Manual workandinterfacesarenotrequired.

Awidevarietyofplanningtoolsandotherfeaturessuchasdistributionseries,weightingfactorsandautomatedinternalallocationofcostcentersalloweffortlesscostaccounting. Income objects can be assessed from different perspectives by means of multidimensional income accounting. The close link to other modules such as purchasing and sales reveals variances and trends, whichcanbecomparedtobudgeted,targetandpreviousyear values.

Aninformationsystemofferingnumerouspredefinedviews forms the basis for analyses. The proALPHAAnalyzer is the perfect tool to carry out customized analysis of large data volumes. It enables controllers to analyze data on an ad hoc basis and identify connections.

Core Modules Cost Accounting

proALPHA Cost Accounting providescompanieswithmaximum transparency in terms of costs and revenues.

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Managementandplanningoffixedassetsincompliancewithlegalregulations

■■ Calculation of depreciation according to different methods

■■ Consistentquantityandvalueflowsthankstotheintegrationoffinancialaccountingandcontrolling

■■ Solid foundation for investment and disinvestment decisions

■■ Powerfulfixedassetinventory

proALPHAFixedAssetManagementoffersawiderangeoffunctionstokeeptabsoncurrentfixedassetsandtheirdevelopment, starting from the date they are procured to the time of their disposal.

The module is fully integrated into the ERP system. Once aninvoiceforafixedassethasbeenpostedinpurchasingorfinancialaccounting,adocument isautomaticallyprovided in fixed asset accounting. Specialists areautomaticallynotifiedbymeansofworkflows,andtheoriginal invoice is stored in the document management system(DMS).AsanintegralpartoftheERPsystem,fixedassetmanagementdrawsonallmasterfiles,suchasG/Laccounts, cost objects, cost centers, and projects. This avoids redundant data.

Commercial,fiscalandimputedmethodscanbeusedinparallel to calculate depreciation. Useful life and different depreciation methods can be included, too. Calculated depreciationisautomaticallytransferredtofinancialandcostaccounting,creatingaconsistentvalueflow.Asaresult,fixedassetanalyses,balancesheetsandprofitandloss statements are synchronized.

Future investments are entered as planned assets. It is thereforepossibletodetermineinadvancehowfutureacquisitionswill affect the balance sheet andwhatdepreciationtheywillcause.Theasset-specificindexesstored in proALPHA ERP can be used to calculate imputed depreciation based on replacement values. Simulations map different scenarios and help make sound investment decisions.

proALPHA ensures compliancewith statutory stock-takingbyofferingpredefinedcountsheets,barcodes,and info programs displaying the results of stock-taking inchronologicalorder.Thisallowsfastandprecisestock-taking.

EfficientFixedAssetManagementforSound Investment Decisions

Core Modules Fixed Asset Management


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Easy-to-use BI tools tailored to the needs of SMEs■■ Specificfunctionsformanagers,departmentheads,and specialists

■■ Up-to-date information and sound decision-making thanks to interactive business cockpits, even on the road

■■ Standard reports generated from the Information System at the push of a button

■■ EarlywarningsystemforcriticalKPIs■■ Effortless creation of complex analyses using the proALPHA Analyzer

Interpreting Data to Take Action

proALPHA Business Intelligence (BI) supports sound decision-making by identifying, analyzing and providing relevant information in interactive cockpits. The BI applications integrated into proALPHA ERP have been tailored to suit the needs of managers, department heads and specialists in small and mid-sized enterprises. The central database ensures maximum data quality and consistency.

AnalyseswhicharefrequentlyrequiredindailybusinessarecarriedoutbytheInformationSystem.Search,filterandsortingoptionsallowcompany-widereporting.TheKPIandearlywarningsystemsendsnotificationsifKPIsreachcriticallevelsandcomplieswithriskmanagementaccording to Basel II.

proALPHA Business Cockpits display trends and variances inrole-basedviews.Itisalsopossibletoincludedatafromother sources in the interactive analyses.

The proALPHA Analyzer enables controllers and analysts to carry out individual, multidimensional data analysis. Theycanzoomintothedatatogainnewinsightsandare able to search large data volumes fast thanks to in-memory technology.

Special Modules Business Intelligence

proALPHA Business Intelligence lays the foundation for fast and sound decision-making by providing relevant information in an optimum format.

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Holisticviewofcustomersandprospects■■ Optimumsupportforfieldservice–anywhereandanytime

■■ Full documentation of sales processes■■ Identificationofsalesopportunitiesatthepushofabutton

■■ Targetgroup-specificmarketingactivities

proALPHA CRM promotes close customer relationships byprovidingaholisticviewofcustomersandprospectsand enabling companies to offer individual support from the quote to after-sales service.

The module serves as the central information platform and makes consistent data available to departments such as marketing, sales and service in real time. All customer-specificdocumentsareautomaticallyarchivedandcombinedinacustomerfilebymeansofthefullyintegrated document management system (DMS).

Anonlineandoptionalofflinesolutionareavailablewithwhichfieldservicecanaccessanydocumentsstoredinthe ERP system, such as current catalogs, prices, discounts, and recent quotes. Protocols of customer talks are also storedatacentrallocation.Asaresult,theprofitabilityof customers, their demand and appropriate sales promotions can be determined at the push of a button.

All sales activities can be linked to the corresponding salesprojects.Dashboardsandworkflowsforstandardsales processes support service employees in monitoring A leads and organizing appointments at the customer's, for example.

It is also possible to design target group-specific marketing activities. Comprehensive controlling helps conduct follow-up activities even more efficiently,reducingwastageandimprovingresponseratios.

Successfully Establishing Customer Relations

Special Modules Customer Relationship Management


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ All departments have access to digital documents■■ Documents can be conveniently assigned to a business transaction using drag & drop

■■ IntegrationofMicrosoftOfficeande-mailsystems■■ Audit-proof archiving according to German GoBD■■ Company-widedocumentsearch■■ Automatedworkflows

Documents, Processes and Search Options Become a Functional Unit

The proALPHA Document Management System (DMS) is an integral part of the ERP solution and ensures that all documents relevant to a transaction are readily available.

Forthispurpose,itcreateslinksbetweendocumentsand the corresponding business transactions, be it engineering drawings, purchase order documents,shipping documents, e-mails or memos. The module puts an end to time-consuming searches and speeds up the completion of tasks. Documents can be conveniently assigned using drag & drop.

All departments will find DMS functions whereverthey need them in the ERP system, be it purchasing, accounting or service. It is also possible to manage documentsbymeansofworkflowstostandardizeandstreamline processes in the DMS. Audit-proof archiving

incompliancewithGermanGoBD(generallyacceptedprinciples for keeping and storing accounts, records and documents in electronic form and for data access) is ensured, too.

Another key featureof theDMS isMicrosoftOfficeintegration.SinceOfficedocumentscanbecreatedandedited directly in the ERP system, they are automatically assigned to the corresponding transaction.

Moreover, each e-mail created in proALPHA contains information and keywords based on which it canbe clearly assigned to a business transaction. This significantlyincreasesproductivityindailybusiness.Allattachments and electronic signatures are stored, too.

Comprehensivesearchoptionssuchaskeywordandfulltextsearchhelpfinddocumentsquickly.

Barcode-based document assignment significantly increasesefficiency.Sincekeywordsareautomaticallyassigned, documents can be attributed to the corresponding business transaction and specific workflowscanbeinitiatedtocompletefurtherprocessingsteps.

Special Modules Document Management System

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Theentiregroupworkswithasinglesolutionthatcan be used in more than 100 countries

■■ All central human resources (HR) processes and functions are directly connected to proALPHA ERP

■■ Strategicfieldssuchastalentmanagementandrecruiting are mapped in innovative modules

■■ Cloud options relieve IT and HR staff■■ AutomaticdataexchangewithproALPHAERP

Optimum Support for Human Resources

Be it recruiting, payroll accounting or personnel development, proALPHA offers all functionalities that are required for modern human capital management (HCM).proALPHAHumanResourcespoweredbyADPenables companies to provide optimum support for their employeesworldwide.Compliancewithcountry-specificregulations is ensured at all times.

ADPEmployerServicesisamongtheworldmarketleadersfor HCM systems. The company's portfolio covers all HR functionalities,fromtalentmanagementandbenefitsadministration to payroll accounting.

The most outstanding feature of proALPHA Human Resources is the extensive support of cloud services. They enable small and mid-sized enterprises to outsource operation, data processing or entire processes such as payroll accounting and travel expense accounting. proALPHA Human Resources can be run according to any of these three models:

Managed Services: With this solution, the entire process is outsourced. Payroll accounting and travel expense accounting are handled by the experts at ADP.

Processing Services: This is the classical type of hosting. The outsourced modules are operated and administered by the ADP data center. Internal employees settle travel expenses,salariesandwagesintheirusualenvironment.

Application Services: With this solution, proALPHA Human Resources is operated on the premises. Support and maintenance is provided by proALPHA.

proALPHA Human Resources consists of various modules. Thesolutioncanbeputtogetherjustthewayitisneededfor a company's personnel management.

ADP AdvancedPay features all functions and processes required for personnel management and payroll accounting. The personnel time keeping module "proALPHATime"providesdatawhicharerequiredforpersonnelplanningandensurescompliancewithlegalregulationsregardingdocumentation.ADPReportallowsthe current personnel situation to be analyzed at the pushofjustafewbuttons.Graphicanalysisoptionsareavailable, too. Personnel documents can be archived in compliancewiththelawbymeansoftheADPDocumentManager. The personnel cost planning module ADP Plan computes prospective scenarios based on salaries and workinghours.Themoduleformanagingtravelexpenses,ADP Travel, encompasses travel planning, preparation and accounting. The ADP Communication Manager features interfaces to social insuranceagencies andfinancialauthorities.

Special Modules Human Resources


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Productvariantsinsmallquantitiesdowntolotsize1■■ Reducedworkloadforengineers:productscanbedesigned by customers and sales employees

■■ Integrated feasibility checks■■ Partdrawingsillustratethefutureproduct■■ Reliable prices and deadlines■■ Short cycle times thanks to automated data transfer

TheproALPHAProductConfiguratorallowsuserstoselectproduct features and combine components as desired. It bringsawiderangeofvariants,standardizedproductionand seamless processes together.

The module is available as an online service or part of on-premises softwareandpresents theentire rangeof product variants. Plausibility checks ensure that only technically feasible products can be selected. The configuratoraccessesalldataoftheERPsystemfrompartdata to current machine utilization. It is therefore possible toassessimmediatelyhowamodifiedconfigurationwillinfluencetheprice.Oncetheconfigurationiscomplete,a quote is created that features all relevant prices and the expected delivery date. Moreover, part and CAD drawingsillustratethefutureproduct.

With proALPHAWorkflowManagement integrated,the configurator maps digital process chains and automatically triggersworkflows.When an order isplaced, it provides the data relevant to production planning and generates production documents such as drawings,billsofmaterials,androutings.

Customer-specificdocumentationcanbecreatedbasedonthedataprovidedbytheconfigurator,too.

Theconfiguratorcanalsobeusedtogroupthemostcommon cases into "standard variants". This reduces engineering expenses and creates more room for creative solutionswhenitcomestocomplexcustomizedproducts.

Customer Wishes Come True At Reasonable Expense

Special Modules Product Configurator

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Fullintegrationfacilitatesprojectworkacrossdepart-ments

■■ Efficientscheduling,resourceplanning,andbudge-ting

■■ Numerous graphics for convenient planning■■ Multi-project management helps keep tabs on capaci-ties and utilization to avoid bottlenecks and delays

■■ Detailed costings and forecasts■■ Projectfiles

Competent Project Handling

proALPHA Project Management is an integral part of the ERPsystemandallowscomplexprojectstobeprocessedefficiently by facilitating planning and coordinationbetweendepartments.

Everyone involved in a projectworks in their usualenvironmentinasinglesystemanddrawsonacentraldatabase. Project managers have the required commercial and technical information at hand. Purchasing, production and other departments can check the current status of all projects at any time.

Tasks,resourcesanddeadlinesareefficientlyscheduledand monitored. Numerous graphics and charts ensure transparency even if complex projects have to be completed.

Workbreakdownstructuresallowindividualplanningof projects. The schedule and logical order ofworkpackagescanbedefinedinnetworks.Ganttchartsshowthescheduleofaprojectcompletewithalldeadlines,achieved milestones, and backlogs.

proALPHA Project Management facilitates resource planning, highlights dependencies, and indicates conflicting resources by means of multi-project management.Continuouscostingprovidesanoverviewof all costs and can be used to create comparisons of actualandtargetvaluesaswellasforecastsontotalexpenses.

All project-related documents can be stored as a project fileinthedocumentmanagementsystem(DMS).

Special Modules Project Management

proALPHAProjectManagementfacilitatesprojectworkacrossdepartmentsandallowsefficientscheduling,resource planning, and budgeting.


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Business partners and employees take an active part in ERP processes, regardless of the devices, platforms and sites involved

■■ Roles and authorizations control access to real-time ERP data

■■ Full integration avoids redundant data■■ Targetgroup-specificwebportalshelpmeetspecificrequirements

■■ Standardizedmultishopinterfaceallowsseveralwebshops per installation

proALPHAprovideswebportalsandamultishopinterfaceto map digital business relations in the ERP system and integrate business partners and e-commerce.

proALPHAWebPortals aregeared to specific targetgroups such as customers, retailers, suppliers, sales agents and employees. They enable these groups to access ERP data in real time, regardless of the devices, platforms and sites involved. Roles and authorizations can bedefinedtodisplayonlythosedatathattargetgroupsrequirefortheirwork.

Customers can check data and configure or orderproductsviathewebportal,forexample.Fieldservicehas up-to-date information at hand during customer appointments. Since suppliers are actively involved in the corporate process chain, they can check current stock in realtimeanddelivergoodswithoutapriorrequestifthishasbeendefinedinanagreement.Webportalshelptaketasks off the hands of employees, reduce cycle times, and cutdowncosts.

Their full integration into proALPHA avoids redundant dataaswellaseffortrequiredtomaintainothersystemsand interfaces.

AmultishopinterfaceisprovidedtoconnectwebshopstoproALPHAERPfore-commercepurposes.Italsoallowsseveralwebshopstobemanagedperinstallation.Asaresult,theportalscanbefilledwithdifferentoffersforgoods and services from the same data pool.

Web Portals Promote Business Relations

Special Modules Web Portal

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Automatedworkflowsreduceprocessingtimes■■ Convenientdefinitionofrulestohandlecorporateprocesses

■■ To-dolistswithoverviewsofpendingtasks■■ Automated process documentation ensures compliance

■■ Feature of the proALPHA standard version, no additional license costs

CreatingEfficientandReliableProcesseswithAutomatedWorkflows

IntegratedWorkflowManagementincreasesefficiencythroughout the entire company by automating routine tasks and achieving maximum process quality and reliability.

Predefinedworkflowsareespeciallyusefulinhandlingbusiness-critical transactions because they ensure that all requirementsaremet,beitcompliancewithcorporateregulations or high quality standards in service and consulting.proALPHAWorkflowManagementfeaturesato-dolistinwhichallpendingtasksofanemployeeare listed. Even complex processes can be effortlessly managed.

Eachworkflowisinitiatedbyaspecificevent,suchasanincomingorder,whichtriggersapredefinedprocess.Ifthecredit limit of a customer is exceeded due to an order, a warningisissued,forexample.Itcanalsobedefined

that a release process is to be initiated if customers are allowedtoexceedtheircreditlimitinexceptionalcases.After one step has been completed, for example, after thecustomer'ssolvencyhasbeenproven,theworkflowcontinuesautomatically.Thespecialistalwayshasup-to-date information about the current status of the task. Once the task is complete, related documentation is archived.

TheproALPHAstandardversioncomeswithmorethan800 sample events forWorkflowManagement andfeaturesagraphicdesignerwithwhichthesecanbeadjusted and extended. Automation ensures that each step is documented in detail so that processes can be traced at any time.

Special Modules Workflow Management

proALPHAWorkflowManagementautomatesalltasks required to process orders, from sales and technical preparation to production and assembly.


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Integration of all common CAD systems into ERP■■ Transfer of commercial data to engineering■■ Interactive 3D models for employees in purchasing, sales, assembly, and service

■■ IntegratedPDMandPLMwithconsistentdata■■ Centralstoragelocationforproductfilesandcomprehensive engineering change management

Companies in the manufacturing industry rely heavily ontheintegrationofCADsystemsinERPsoftware.Theonline integration proALPHA CA-Link perfectly meets this demand. It connects virtually all common CAD systems withproALPHA.Onlineinthiscasemeansthatengineerscan access proALPHA's central database from their CAD application.Theycandrawonallrelevantpartdata,suchas dimensions, availability, and delivery times. Moreover, theycanstoreCADmodels,technicaldrawingsandbillsof materials in proALPHA. This avoids redundant data and puts an end to high-maintenance interfaces. CA-Link allowsengineeringdatatobeautomaticallymanagedintheERPsystemwhilegeometricmodelingiscarriedoutin the CAD system.

Thanks to the integration of CAD and ERP, product data management (PDM) and product lifecycle management (PLM) can be mapped in proALPHA, too. The entire life cycle of a product is documented, from its development through to its disposal.

All engineering data complete with interactive 3Dmodels are readily available and can be accessed by any department. This not only helps reduce the risk of errors in assembly and maintenance but also supports sound decision-making if newscenar ios are to be tested or supplier requests

havetobehandled.TheintegratedproALPHAWorkflowManagement automates information flows acrossdepartments.

The documents of a product can be stored in a product fileusingthedocumentmanagementsystem(DMS).Comprehensive engineering change management ensures that all changes to CAD documents, bills of materials and production processes can be traced at any time.

proALPHA CA-Link creates a consistent dataandinformationflowbetweenengineering and proALPHA ERP.

BridgingtheGapBetweenCADandERP

Connectivity CAD Integration

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Integrated processes across systems, sites, and companies

■■ Easyconfigurationofinterfaces■■ ReducedITworkloadthankstostandardizedconnectors, formats, and templates

■■ Additional communication layer to protect ERP systems and data

■■ Effortless implementation of Industry 4.0 scenarios

BeyondCompanyandSoftwareBorders

The proALPHA Integration Workbench (INWB) creates seamless business processes along the entire value-added chain by connecting systems, sites, employees and businesspartnerswithproALPHAERP.

The INWB is an integration platform based on standardized service-oriented architecture (SOA). It connects IT systems, machines and sensors with ERPsoftwareandcanhandleany number of interfaces and data thanks to its high scalability. This is a key feature to map innovativeconceptssuchasIndustry4.0,wheremachinesinteractwithproductionsystemsandworkpieces.

The INWB enables companies to create seamless processes and provide data in real time by digitizing intercompany processes, integrating external applications intotheITenvironmentandautomatingworkflowsinwhichsuppliersandcustomersareinvolved.

SOAallowseffortlessconfigurationofinterfaces:theirimplementation is easier than that of direct interfaces betweensystems.Standardconnectors, formatsandtemplatessignificantlyreduceeffort.Asanadditionalcommunication layer, the INWB also protects ERP softwareandthecorporatedatabase.

Connectivity Integration Workbench

The Integration Workbench (INWB) creates reliable, seamless business processes by connecting systems, sensors, sites, and external business partners.


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Experience gained from research projects in the area of Industry 4.0 is applied to customer projects

■■ Consultingservicesandworkshopstakeanintegratedapproach to Industry 4.0 requirements

■■ proALPHAgearsthedevelopmentofitsERPsoftwareto Industry 4.0 scenarios

Digital transformation lays the foundation for the smart factoryoftomorrow:proALPHAtakesanactivepartininnovative Industry 4.0 projects and leading research collaborationstoachievemaximumbenefitforsmallandmid-sized enterprises.

Small and mid-sized enterprises especially can get an edge over their global competitors by using Industry 4.0. proALPHA therefore strives to develop practical solutions and teams up with innovative research institutions,representatives of the manufacturing industry and software experts in collaboration projects such asSmartFactoryKL, Smart Electronic Factory, and the Center Enterprise Resource Planning (CERP) on the campus of RWTH Aachen.

proALPHAdrawsontheexperiencegainedfromtheseprojects tooptimize itssoftware,consultingservices,and concepts. A typical Industry 4.0 scenario is the use of production data to achieve high automation in quality control. Machine-to-machine communication canbecombinedwithnetworkedsensorstodevelopapplications for predictive maintenance. The use of autonomous transport robots in intralogistics is another key topic. Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are to provide the basis for big data analytics of process, product and qualitydatainordertooptimizeworkflowsandavoiderrors automatically.

The Industry 4.0 scenarios proALPHA has put into practice provethatevenminimumefforthassignificanteffects.SmartnetworksinproductioncoupledwithpowerfulERPsoftwarepromoteinnovativebusinessmodelsandservicesandopenupnewmarkets.

HowtoPutanIdeaintoPractice:Industry4.0 in SMEs

Trends and Technologies Industry 4.0

proALPHA takes an active part in research and pioneer projects to develop Industry 4.0 solutions that create real added value for its customers.

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Reliable cloud solution made in Germany■■ Comprehensive package from a single source, tailored to suit every need

■■ Reducedinitialexpensesaswellasmaintenanceandoperating costs

■■ High IT security, availability, performance, and scalability

■■ Convenientconnectionofsitesandfieldservice

proALPHA from the German BusinessCloud: Tailored to SMEs, On Demand, Versatile

TheproALPHABusinessCloudisapowerfulcloudsolutionmade in Germany. It enables small and mid-sized enterprisestoboosttheirgrowthandincreaseITsecuritywithouthavingtomakehighinvestments.

The BusinessCloud excels in high availability and offers dataprotectionaccordingtoGermanlaw.IncooperationwiththeITandcloudserviceproviderPIRONET,proALPHAhas developed a comprehensive package for ERP from thecloud,completewithsoftware,services,support,andhosting. The cloud packages suit every need: if companies areonlygettingstartedwiththecloud,theycanrentasolution, or they can choose a hosted private cloud if they onlyhavefewusers.Moreover,enterprisecloudsolutionsareavailablewhichinvolvetheoutsourcingoftheentiresystem landscape.

The proALPHA BusinessCloud offers companies of any sizethebenefitsofcutting-edgeERPsoftwarewithoutrequiring high investments. They are only charged for the services they actually use. The cloud solution dispenses with costs formaintenance, updates, and backups.Moreover,itreducestheworkloadoftheITdepartment.ERP from the cloud offers high IT security and availability andbooststheperformanceofsystemswithdynamicscalability.

Users can access required data and functions at any time, regardlessofwheretheyarelocated.Moreover,mobiledevices,fieldserviceandserviceemployeescanbeeasilyconnected to the cloud solution.

The German company PIRONET sees to the smooth operation of the ERP application and uses its ownbackbonetomonitorallend-to-endprocessesworldwidedowntoindividualworkstations.AlldataarestoredinaGerman high-security datacenter run by PIRONET.

Trends and Technologies ERP from the Cloud


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Intuitive user guidance■■ Working environments can be customized using scenarios

■■ Dependent data are automatically refreshed according to the concept of corresponding information

■■ Iconsallowfastnavigationthroughthesystem■■ Fonts and modern colors for optimum readability

The proALPHA GUI promotes intuitive operation and features numerous customization options to achieve maximum productivity. It provides users with thefunctionsandinformationtheyneedfortheirwork.

Scenariosarekeyhere.Byarrangingwindowsaccordingto their requirements, users can create scenarios and savethemasanindividualstartingpointtotheirworkingenvironment.Theycanswitchbetweenscenariosbyclickingthem,justliketabsinawebbrowser.Itisalsopossibletopredefinescenariosforspecificusergroupsand tasks.

Themainwindowandsubwindowsofascenariohavebeen designed according to the concept of corresponding information.Ifthedatainthemainwindowarechanged,the data in the dependent windows are refreshedautomatically.

The centralnavigationpaneprovidesuserswith theinformation and functions they need to quickly gain an overviewandworkefficientlywiththesoftware,suchasuser-specifictasks,resubmissions,andpersonalfavorites.

Descriptive icons help users identify functions and navigate through the system fast. Adjustable font sizesandmoderncolorscreateacomfortableworkingenvironment, enhance readability and offer a great user experience.

Intuitive User Guidance Increases Productivity

Trends and Technologies User Experience

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Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Highdegreeofflexibilitythankstoservice-orientedarchitecture

■■ Central data management ensures consistent information

■■ Repositoryallowscustomizationswithoutmodificationsoftheprogramcode

■■ Convenient connection of external systems using the INWB

■■ HighlevelofautomationduetoWorkflowManagement

Flexibility and Investment Protection thanks to Future-Proof Technology

The modular structure and central database of proALPHA ERP are based on service-oriented architecture (SOA) to create versatile, seamless processes across companies. proALPHA's system architecture has three key features:

Application:proALPHAiscomposedofmoduleswhicharebuiltona jointdatamodelandthereforeclosely interwoven.Several ERP functions have been designed as a service toallowconvenientcombinationwiththefunctionsofexternal systems.

Architecture:proALPHAfeaturesclassicthree-tierarchitectureinwhichdata management, business logic and presentation are separated. The entire application is controlled by the proALPHARepository,whichcontainsnumerousmetadataofthesystem.Itisthereforepossibletoconfigurecustomizationswithouthavingtomodifytheprogramcode.

Infrastructure:Theentire infrastructurehasbeendesignedtoallowintegration of different technologies and data formats. A high-end enterprise service bus (ESB) provides the basis for this: the Integration Workbench (INWB). As the

backboneoftheERPsolution,theINWBallowseffortlessintegration of intercompany processes and convenient connection of external systems, customers, and suppliers. The INWB is an important feature of Industry 4.0 because it ensures the communication of vertically linked systems.

Individualprocessesareautomatedbyaworkflowengine.This is available in all proALPHA applications and used to configureworkflows.

Technology


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ Integrated ERP system offering numerous language and country versions for international business

■■ Countryversionscomplyingwithnationallegalregulations

■■ Unicode provides Chinese, Indian, Cyrillic and Arabic characters

■■ 27proALPHAsubsidiariesandcertifiedpartnersworldwideensurefastrolloutofinternationalprojects

Efficientcorporatemanagementforinternationalgrowth:with25subsidiariesallovertheworld,aglobalnetworkof partners and numerous language and country versions, proALPHA supports its customers in doing international business.

Language versions allow the proALPHA GUI to bedisplayedinvariouslanguages,withthirteencurrentlyavailable. Country versions serve localization and feature functional modifications complying with the legalregulations of a country.

All proALPHA language and country versions are based ontheinternationalstandardUnicode.Itallowscharactersetsandlanguagesfromallovertheworldtobemanagedand used. Chinese, Cyrillic, Indian and Arabic characters are also available.

proALPHA helps companies expand by fostering the growthoftheirinternationalsites while ensuringcons istent corporate management. Companies in more than 50 countries use proALPHA ERP.

proALPHA offers country versions for Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Switzerland,Slovakia,theCzechRepublic,Hungary,andtheUSA.Moreover,project-specificsolutionsareavailablefor other countries. Standard interfaces to leading local financialaccountingapplicationsareavailableforcertaincountries, too, such as the interface to 1:C Accounting in Russia.

The proALPHA language and country versions provide optimum support for international business and map country-specificlegalregulations.

proALPHA Language and Country Versions Make Companies Fit for Internationalization

Language and Country Versions

Available language versions include Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish.

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Well-Informed

Our product brochures provide detailed information about the functions of proALPHA ERP. The PDFs are available for downloadatwww.proalpha.com/de/produktbroschueren

Sales

Production

Cost Accounting

Document Management System

Purchasing

Service

Business Intelligence

Human Resources

Materials Management

Financial Accounting

Customer Relationship Management

proALPHA Product Brochures

Fixed Asset ManagementCA-LinkProject Management

Product Configurator


Key Benefits at a Glance■■ 360 member companies offer in-depth ERP knowledge

■■ Best practices for a variety of industries■■ Work groups, events and online forums for comprehensive strategic and technical support

■■ ClosecooperationoftheUserGroupwithproALPHAanditspartnersallowsideastobeputintopracticefast

With its 360 member companies, the proALPHA User Group is unrivaled in the ERP sector. It not only provides a forumfornetworkingbutalsogivesimpetustosoftwaredevelopment. Since its foundation 20 years ago, the User Group has become an exclusive association of highly skilled ERP and industry experts.

Its members identify best practices, determine the requirements of future-proof ERP solutions and promote cooperationbetweenusers,theproALPHAgroupandits partners.

Together,wecangetthingsmoving–theUserGroupwantstoliveuptothisprincipleandhasestablished30workgroupsontheuseofproALPHAindifferentindustries and with different production types. Inworkshops,seminarsandmeetings,usersgettogethertosharetheirexperienceandbrainstormhowtodevelopproALPHA further.

Best practices in the real world – visits tomembercompaniesgiveusersafreshlookattheirownbusiness.Colleaguesfromotherindustriesshowhowtheyoptimizeprocesses, make full use of functions, put innovations into practice, and get an edge over competitors.

Fast support in daily business – members of the User Group can discuss recent issues in online forums. New posts are published on an ongoing basis andsortedbyfieldofapplication,workgroup,andsystemadministration.

Astrongnetwork–all-dayinformationsessionstakeplacetwiceayearinspringandautumn.MembersoftheproALPHAUserGroupalsobenefitfromspecialratesfor attending seminars at the proALPHA Academy.

Best Practices – Users Help Users

proALPHA User Group

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In-DepthKnowledgeofIndustries

proALPHAisthethird-largestERPproviderinGermany,AustriaandSwitzerlandandspecializesintherequirementsofsmallandmid-sizedenterprises.Uniquebusinessprocessesreflectthespecificsofanindustry.TheproALPHAstandardversionandnumerousindustry-specificfunctionsmakeupapowerfulcomprehensivesolution.Ithelpscompaniesoptimize their processes, save time and costs, and ensure high quality.

Automotive & Supply

Wholesale

Medical Technology

Other Industries

Vehicle Construction

Plastics Technology

Metal Processing

Electronics & High Tech

Mechanical and Plant Engineering

Furniture and Store Construction

Industries


The proALPHA Group

The proALPHA group is the third largest ERP provider for small and mid-sized manufacturing and trading companiesinGermany,Austria,andSwitzerland.For25years,proALPHAhasofferedapowerfulERPsolutionaswellasconsulting,support,training,andmaintenanceservicesfromonesource.TheflexibleandscalableERPcompletesolutionfeaturesawiderangeoffunctionsthatenable the controlling of all processes along the value-added chain. Among our customers are more than 1,800 small and mid-sized companies from 50 countries and from various industries, such as mechanical and plant engineering,electronicsandhightech,metalworking,plastics,wholesale,andautomotiveandsupplyindustries.

With25subsidiariesandcertifiedpartnersandmorethan 900 employees, the fast growing company isclosetoitscustomersallovertheworld.Morethanahundredsoftwaredevelopersareconstantlyexpandingand improving the solution. Thanks to them, proALPHA has been named one of the most innovative mid-sized companies eight times. This innovation is also possible thanks to the cooperationwith renowned researchinstitutions such as Fraunhofer, RWTH Aachen (Rhine-Westphalia Institute of Technology Aachen), Smart Electronic Factory and SmartFactoryKL. Numerous language versions and country versions make the German ERP provider an interesting partner for companies operating on an international scale.

1,800 customers from 50 countries and a range of different industries currently rely on proALPHA ERP.

About proALPHA

proALPHA Business Solutions GmbHAuf dem Immel 8 67685 [email protected] www.proalpha.com

ERP for SMEs

As of 02/2017

Germany09111 Chemnitz +49 371 262516-010245 Berlin +49 30 467825-022926 Ahrensburg +49 4102 803-030163 Hannover +49 511 65596-032547 Bad Oeynhausen +49 5731 3018-30039179 Barleben +49 39203 966-042651 Solingen +49 212 221494-10067657 Kaiserslautern +49 631 30347-067685 Weilerbach +49 6374 800-071034 Böblingen +49 7031 41082-085737 Ismaning +49 89 92306841-10097080 Würzburg +49 931 404735-100

China215400 Taicang +86 512 533088-28

France68110 Illzach +33 389 636570

Austria1100 Wien +43 57997-04600 Wels/Thalheim +43 57997-06175 Unterperfuss +43 57997-08200 Gleisdorf +43 57997-0

Poland44-100Gliwice +4868506659065-021 Zielona Góra +48 68 5066500 02-222Warszawa +48685066500

Switzerland4142 Münchenstein +41 61 41770706343 Rotkreuz +41 41 7981515

ThailandPhuket 83100 +66 76 381755

Hungary1119 Budapest +36 1 371-1560

USANashua, NH 03063 +1 603 881-3635

TheproALPHAGroupWorldwide