In December 2025, we had the honor of celebrating a very special anniversary: 25 years of gds Sprachenwelt GmbH. A quarter of a century in which we have established ourselves as a reliable partner for technical translations, terminology work, and language services in technically demanding industries.
If I look back today on those 25 years, I see one thing more than anything else: continuous change – and a clear-cut approach.
An anniversary that unites
On January 29, 2026, we celebrated this anniversary at our headquarters in Sassenberg, Germany, together with our team, long-standing partners, and numerous colleagues from gds GmbH. The presence of Ulrich Pelster (CEO gds), Natascha Sander (CFO technotrans SE), and Michael Finger (CEO technotrans SE) was particularly pleasing for me. Their attendance underlines just how closely gds Sprachenwelt is networked within the gds and technotrans Group – and what strategic importance professional language services have for our group.
In her address, Natascha Sander emphasized the role of quality-assured translations for international value creation and competitiveness. That is precisely what we aspire to every day: language as the key to success in international markets.
One special moment for me was the presentation of the anniversary certificate from Ms. Inna Gabler from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. This accolade singles out our resilience and reliability – characteristics that are more important than ever in our industry.
From pioneering spirit to established organization
Our story began in 1995 with Jan Schulz who started as a freelance translator. The signing of the articles of partnership in December 2000 turned this idea into a company, with the entry in the commercial register following in 2001. In 2012, we became part of the technotrans Group – an international technology group with over 1,450 employees in 18 locations.
From the very early days, we used technology to help us. Back in 2001, the first projects were being implemented with assistance from software – at a time when computer-assisted translation was anything but standard. This courage to innovate, coupled with a consistent commitment to quality has been our hallmark ever since.
Today our core team of seven employees handles around 4,200 translation projects a year – many of which go into 14 to 28 languages. We’re supported by an international network of several thousand specialized technical translators. This way we combine personal project management with global scalability – especially for complex, safety-critical, and liability-related content.
Quality instead of hype – our approach in the AI era
If I had to summarize our 25 years in one sentence, I’d say: Change instead of standing still. Substance over hype. Quality rather than luck.
The translation market isn’t shrinking – it’s getting bigger. And not despite but because of AI. Translation is increasingly becoming the infrastructure. It’s not the exception anymore but an integral part of global value chains, digital product information, and regulatory processes.
Our answer was never: “Either human or machine.”
Our answer is the right quality in the right place.
Wherever content is liability-related, safety-critical, or brand-defining, quality is becoming more decisive than ever. AI translation on its own knows nothing about industry logic, nothing about the function of text – and certainly nothing about responsibility. Machines optimize based on probability, not on liability protection, standard conformity, or brand identity.
Particularly in the industrial arena – in mechanical engineering, medical technology, automation, or plant engineering – “sounds good” simply doesn’t cut it. Our remit is to combine linguistic precision with technical coherence and regulatory understanding.
25 years of trust – and a clear vision forward
The fact that we’re here today is thanks to a dedicated team that assumes responsibility, thinks for itself, and embraces quality. And it’s also thanks to our customers, who have placed their trust in us for many years.
The anniversary is not an end point for us but an incentive. The requirements for international communication are growing – through new markets, new regulations, digital product information, and increasing liability requirements. At the same time, technologies are progressing in leaps and bounds.
Our remit remains clear: to bring together linguistic responsibility and technological development – with a sense of proportion, technical expertise, and strategic vision.
25 years of gds Sprachenwelt are far more than just a success story for me. They stand for a promise: quality with conviction. Partnership with substance. And language as the viable infrastructure for the industry of tomorrow.
And personally it fills me with enormous gratitude and also a little pride to be part of this development – together with a team that assumes responsibility and brings our values to life day in, day out.
