Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH

COPA-DATA, legally Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH, is an Austrian industrial software company headquartered in Salzburg. It was founded in 1987 by engineer Thomas Punzenberger, who began developing software in a two-room apartment in Salzburg with the aim of simplifying plant control. The company name reflects its origins: "COPA" stands for "Computer Optimized Process Automation," while "DATA" refers to the collection, processing, visualization, and analysis of data in industrial processes. Thomas's brother Alexander Punzenberger joined in 1988, and in 1989 Thomas wrote the first lines of code for what would become the company's core product, zenon. COPA-DATA's flagship offering is the zenon Software Platform, an industrial automation software suite used for HMI/SCADA, process control, data collection, and analysis. zenon was launched as an HMI/SCADA system in 1991 and first installed at AEG AG in Berlin. It is used across industries including energy and infrastructure, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, process manufacturing, automotive, and mechanical engineering and OEM. The platform supports standards such as ISO, ISA, IEEE, and IEC, and offers features like ISA-88 batch control, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance support, and GAMP5 Category 4 compliant solutions. The company is independent and family-owned, with a global network of partners including system integrators, OEMs, machine builders, educational institutions, and research facilities. Its Partner Community has two membership categories (certified and non-certified) and four levels (Listed Member, Bronze Partner, Silver Partner, Gold Partner). COPA-DATA has expanded internationally, establishing subsidiaries in Germany (1999), Italy (2000), and France (2002, via a 55% stake in COPALP). It remains headquartered in Salzburg and sells zenon worldwide.

COPA-DATA was founded in 1987 by Thomas Punzenberger in Salzburg, Austria. The company began in a two-room apartment, where Punzenberger, a young engineer, dedicated himself to developing software that would simplify plant control. In 1988, his brother Alexander Punzenberger joined the company. In 1989, Thomas Punzenberger wrote the first lines of code for the zenon software, which would become the company's core product. In 1991, COPA-DATA launched zenon as an HMI/SCADA system and installed it for the first time at a customer site, AEG AG in Berlin. In 1993, the company welcomed its first major customers: Krones AG and VA TECH SAT GmbH. In 1995, VA TECH SAT GmbH acquired a 30% stake in COPA-DATA. In 1999, COPA-DATA introduced zenon as the first HMI solution on Microsoft Windows CE in the automation market, and established its first foreign subsidiary in Ottobrunn, Germany, at Alte Landstraße. In 2000, the company opened a second subsidiary in Eppan, Bolzano, Italy. At that time, group turnover was €2.7 million with 46 employees across the group. In 2002, COPA-DATA expanded by acquiring a 55% stake in the new COPALP in France, and development of the straton software began. In 2003, the company moved into its office building at [location not fully specified in the snippet]. The company has continued to grow as an independent, family-owned business, selling its core product zenon worldwide. Today, COPA-DATA operates with a global partner community and serves industries such as energy and infrastructure, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, process manufacturing, automotive, and mechanical engineering.

• 2003

  COPA-DATA moves into its office building.

• 2002

  COPA-DATA acquires a 55% stake in COPALP in France; development of straton software begins.

• 2000

  Second subsidiary opens in Eppan, Bolzano, Italy. Group turnover: €2.7 million; employees: 46.

• 1999

  zenon becomes the first HMI solution on Microsoft Windows CE in the automation market; first foreign subsidiary opens in Ottobrunn, Germany.

• 1995

  VA TECH SAT GmbH acquires a 30% stake in COPA-DATA.

• 1993

  First major customers: Krones AG and VA TECH SAT GmbH.

• 1991

  zenon is launched as an HMI/SCADA system and first installed at AEG AG in Berlin.

• 1989

  Thomas Punzenberger writes the first lines of code for the zenon software.

• 1988

  Alexander Punzenberger, Thomas's brother, joins the company.

• 1987

  Thomas Punzenberger founds COPA-DATA in Salzburg, Austria.

Independent, family-owned provider of industrial automation software for manufacturing and energy, emphasizing ease of engineering and operation.

• zenon Software Platform

  Industrial automation software platform for HMI/SCADA, process control, data collection, and analysis.

• straton

  Software developed following the acquisition of a stake in COPALP in 2002.

1. 1Automation software & energy software | zenon by COPA-DATAcopadata.com
2. 2Company history | COPA-DATAcopadata.com
3. 3About the Partner Community | COPA-DATA Partner Communitycopadata.com
4. 4Industrial automation software from COPA-DATAcopadata.com
5. 5Ing. Punzenberger Copa-Data GmbHwikidata.org