Uwe Hübler discovered his fascination for mechanics early on. His professional journey started as a mechanic for office machines, leading him through a degree in precision engineering with a focus on micromechanics to the development of sensor technology—and ultimately to predictive maintenance in the railway sector. As CTO and COO at AXO, he oversees the entire technical development (R&D), operations (production, processes, IT), and intellectual property rights. What drives him? The perfect blend of complex technology, pragmatic solutions, and real-world benefits.
Interest in “Things”: The Path to Sensor Technology
Uwe Hübler has always been intrigued by “things.” How do they work? How can they be improved? His studies in precision engineering, specializing in micromechanics, introduced him to the world of sensor technology. He conducted research on airbag sensors that integrate mechanical structures directly into silicon circuits.
Instead of staying in sensor development, he initially moved into manufacturing automation at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. There, he developed robot-controlled rear axle assembly for the VW Golf. “Having VW implement and deploy my initial work across all production lines in Wolfsburg immediately made me very proud,” he recalls.
After two years, he returned to the world of sensors, this time focusing on office and mail automation. Here, he delved deeply into mail automation, cryptography, and security technologies. “Postage meters may seem unspectacular at first glance, but in reality, they print real money for the user.” They print postage marks linked to real payment processes, requiring complex, government-approved security infrastructures, cryptographic protections, and secure identification of machines and transactions.
“I was already involved with IoT back then, although it was called M2M communication or remote monitoring.” “IoT Security” wasn’t a term yet, but the principles were the same: secure data collection, protected data transfer, and tamper-resistant processing.
The Move into the Rail Industry as a Natural Progression
Today, new technologies like 5G, NB-IoT, or high-performance sensors ensure that IoT solutions are increasingly used in critical areas. After decades in sensor technology, the move to the rail industry was a logical progression for him. “Rail infrastructure offers precisely the challenges that fascinate me: harsh environments, extreme stresses, complex measurement tasks, high data criticality.” It’s particularly challenging to reliably collect data over long periods with sensitive measuring technology in the rough railway environment. Yet, the industry needs secure and meaningful data to derive informed recommendations. “With AXO sensors, we’ve developed solutions that are reliable in terms of measurement and can survive and operate in this challenging environment for years.”
Predictive Maintenance Will Transform the Rail Industry
Uwe is convinced that the rail industry will fundamentally change with technologies like predictive maintenance. “The rail sector can no longer afford to maintain its infrastructure reactively – predictive maintenance becomes a necessity.” AXO addresses several aspects, including transparency, security, efficiency, and effectiveness. “Efficiency means doing things right, such as working faster or more resource-efficiently. Effectiveness means doing the right things. That’s where we come in: We identify where maintenance is needed and which measures are effective.”
Identifying where resources should be allocated generates significant benefits for infrastructure availability, especially with increasing infrastructure utilization and demographic trends across the entire rail sector.
Technology as a Solution, Not an End in Itself
Uwe’s approach is clear: he works calmly, pragmatically, and consistently with a focus on user needs. “There are many technical solutions where a suitable customer is then sought. I prefer the reverse approach: first identify genuine customer needs and then develop the leanest, most effective solution.” Transparency is crucial to him -both within the team and towards customers, friendly in tone, clear in substance.
He remains flexible and adaptable, emphasizing collaboration. “Unbridled technological progress today enables things that were economically and technically impossible years ago. No one can solve everything alone – openness, transparency, and willingness to cooperate with other specialists are essential.”
AXO: Clear Vision, Right Product
With his experience in development and production, the IoT specialist could have pursued many paths. So why AXO? “AXO has a clear vision and the right product at the right time. Oliver’s team is excellent, the technology convincing, and the potential immense. I enjoy helping to build companies from the ground up—and everything fits perfectly here.”
Since day one, he has been on board as CTO/COO, significantly driving the development of AXO sensors. The technology he developed not only provides precise measurements but also withstands extreme conditions, is easy to retrofit, and does not require track closures for installation. This aligns with Uwe Hübler’s pragmatic approach.
What Sailing Has to Do with Strategy and the Big Picture
Despite his technical focus, he doesn’t just think in algorithms but also in strategies. As a passionate sailor, he understands the importance of planning, teamwork, and strategic decision-making. “Without knowledge, preparation, and consistency, you won’t get far – this applies in business as well as in sailing.”
His life motto? Be reliable, communicate transparently, and never lose sight of fun. Because in the end, it’s not just about winning – it’s about staying on the right course.
Reach out to Uwe on LinkedIn and connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uhuebler/
