The ICS company
We have been developing reliable, secure and intelligent processes for complex digital environments since 1966. With our industry-specific solutions, we support companies in mastering the challenges of the future securely, efficiently and cost-consciously.
How it all began
Since its foundation in 1966 by Dr. Jürgen Hämer, ICS has stood for innovation, reliability and technological progress in the IT and engineering environment. What began as a small management consultancy has developed over five decades into a versatile, technologically leading company with a focus on safety-critical systems.
1966-1975:
The pioneering era
Dr. Hämer started out as a consultant with a clear vision: IT systems should not only function technically, but also support companies in the long term. In 1971, he founded the company "Dr. Hämer & Winkel Computerservice" together with Franz-Josef Winkel. With the development of a real-time operating system in assembler, ICS began to set standards in the field of real-time systems and automation at an early stage.
1976-1990:
Expansion & first in-house developments
With the founding of Mikroprozessor System GmbH, ICS began developing its own products - such as the fiber optic communication system LIBSY-PERNET, which was presented at the industrial trade fair in Tokyo. ICS also set standards in network technologies: ICS was one of the first engineering companies in Germany to wire universities, ministries and the New Palace in Stuttgart.
1991-2000:
Restructuring & new business areas
With the renaming to MPS-Plan GmbH and later to Informatik-Systemtechnik GmbH, the change from a service provider to a solution-oriented consulting company was completed. ICS was significantly involved in studies such as "Netze 2000" for MDR and implemented projects in broadcasting, railroads and administration.
2000-2016:
Digitalization & internationalization
With the transformation to Informatik Consulting Systems AG and the continuous expansion of the business areas in railroad technology, critical infrastructures and software development, ICS positioned itself as a strategic partner for industry, authorities and operators of safety-critical systems. ICS presented its own stand for the first time at InnoTrans 2004 - the start of a strong trade fair presence.
2016 - today:
Stability through change
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, ICS looked back on half a century of challenges, technical pioneering achievements and growth. Under the leadership of Cid Kiefer, the transformation to a future-proof, agile organization was initiated - with a clear focus on security, digitalization and engineering for critical systems.
1966–1975:
Die Pionierzeit
Dr. Hämer startete als Berater mit einer klaren Vision: IT-Systeme sollten nicht nur technisch funktionieren, sondern Unternehmen nachhaltig unterstützen. 1971 gründete er gemeinsam mit Franz-Josef Winkel das Unternehmen „Dr. Hämer & Winkel Computerservice“. Mit der Entwicklung eines Realtime-Betriebssystems in Assembler begann ICS früh, Maßstäbe im Bereich Echtzeitsysteme und Automatisierung zu setzen.
1976–1990:
Expansion & erste Eigenentwicklungen
Mit der Gründung der Mikroprozessor System GmbH begann die Entwicklung eigener Produkte – wie das Lichtwellenleiter-Kommunikationssystem LIBSY-PERNET, das auf der Industriemesse in Tokio vorgestellt wurde. Auch in Netzwerktechnologien setzte ICS Maßstäbe: Als eines der ersten Ingenieurbüros Deutschlands verkabelte ICS Universitäten, Ministerien und das Neue Schloss in Stuttgart.
1991–2000:
Umstrukturierung & neue Geschäftsfelder
Mit der Umbenennung zur MPS-Plan GmbH und später zur Informatik-Systemtechnik GmbH wurde der Wandel vom Dienstleister zum lösungsorientierten Beratungshaus vollzogen. ICS war maßgeblich an Studien wie „Netze 2000“ für den MDR beteiligt und setzte Projekte in Rundfunk, Bahn und Verwaltung um.
2000–2016:
Digitalisierung & Internationalisierung
Mit der Umwandlung zur Informatik Consulting Systems AG und dem kontinuierlichen Ausbau der Geschäftsfelder in Bahntechnik, kritische Infrastrukturen und Softwareentwicklung positionierte sich ICS als strategischer Partner für Industrie, Behörden und Betreiber sicherheitskritischer Systeme. Auf der InnoTrans 2004 präsentierte ICS erstmals einen eigenen Stand – der Beginn einer starken Messepräsenz.
2016 – heute:
Stabilität im Wandel
Anlässlich des 50-jährigen Jubiläums blickte ICS auf ein halbes Jahrhundert voller Herausforderungen, technischer Pionierleistungen und Wachstum zurück. Unter der Leitung von Cid Kiefer wurde der Wandel zur zukunftsfähigen, agilen Organisation eingeleitet – mit klarer Fokussierung auf Sicherheit, Digitalisierung und Engineering für kritische Systeme.
Thomas Stellmach
Yasmin Lenth
THINK SAFE. THINK ICS.
Our motto is not just a marketing message to our customers, but above all an attitude that we live by ourselves. For us, it means thinking "out of the box" in the typical ICS way. This means developing innovative, flexible and yet practical solutions that offer our customers a competitive advantage and at the same time provide them with the best possible protection against operational failures and external attacks.
Our values
Whether as a company or from person to person, we are proud of our values. That is why the ICS guidelines are an important part of our corporate culture: they provide information about who we are and how we act.
Respect
We understand respect to mean treating each other patiently and attentively so that the other person feels respected in their person and way of thinking.
Liability
We understand commitment to mean keeping promises and providing timely feedback in the event of problems.
Drive
We understand motivation to mean the aspiration to be among the best and not to be satisfied with what we have achieved.
Trust
We understand trust to be a grown, sustainable cooperation that creates success and positive emotions.
Transparency
We understand transparency to mean organizing processes and decisions in such a way that all employees can perceive, understand and comprehend them.
Our passion
The development of secure and intelligent processes in complex digital environments is at the heart of everything we do. Our aim is to achieve not just good results, but the best results for our customers. In order to meet this high standard, our team is committed to continuous development. We make targeted investments in expanding our knowledge and developing our professional and technological expertise.
In this way, we ensure that we not only accompany current developments, but actively help to shape them and remain just as committed to our technological heritage as we are to our responsibility towards our partners and customers.
Milestones at a glance
- 1966: Foundation by Dr. Hämer
- 1971: Start of the partnership with Franz-Josef Winkel
- 1976: First in-house development: LIBSY-PERNET
- 1991: Change of name to MPS-Plan
- 1996: Merger of the UHP GmbH group of companies and MPS-PLAN
- 1997: Transformation into Informatik Consulting Systems AG
- 2000: Go-live of a standardized project tool (AXAPTA)
- 2002: First certification according to ISO 9001:2008
- 2004: Own InnoTrans trade fair appearance
- 2009: Donation campaign "Deeds instead of cards" starts
- 2016: 50 years of ICS - anniversary celebration and relaunch
- 2016: Recertification according to ISO 9001:2015 and certification according to ISO 27001
- 2019: Foundation of Informatik Consulting Systems Holding GmbH
ISO certifications
As an organization that is constantly learning and teaching, ICS attaches great importance to working in compliance with standards. We have been certified in accordance with the DIN EN 9001 standard since 2002, and in 2018 we were also certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 27001. We are pleased to have successfully undergone regular recertification for both standards, most recently in 2023 and 2024.
ICS GmbH is also a co-signatory of the Code of Conduct of the German Railway Industry Association (VDB).
