Answers about working with RTE.
Concrete and honest: project flow, pricing, confidentiality, service. General fundamentals of acoustic test technology are in our glossary and use cases.
Project & process
What does a typical RTE project look like?
Three phases: feasibility study (1–4 weeks, on your parts in our acoustic lab in Pfinztal) → pilot or rental system (4–12 weeks, trial in your line) → series solution (12–26 weeks, including SAT/FAT). One dedicated project lead accompanies you through all phases.
How fast do we get a first technical assessment?
Within 24 hours of your inquiry you get a first technical assessment – including a concrete proposal for the next step (online demo, part shipment, on-site meeting).
How do I send you parts for a feasibility study?
You ship 5–20 parts (good parts plus known defective parts, if available) by freight or parcel service to Pfinztal. We send you a pre-filled accompanying form and – on request – a mutual NDA. Return shipment incl. measurement report typically within 2–4 weeks.
What do I get at the end of a feasibility study?
A written report with measurement data, discrimination figures (slip / pseudo reject rate), recommended sensors and a concrete architectural sketch for a series solution – plus effort estimate and a non-binding quote.
Who is my contact during the project?
A dedicated project lead from our application team, paired with a commercial contact. For strategic topics our managing directors (the Krahtov brothers) are reachable directly – not lip service but Mittelstand reality.
Can we trial a pilot system in our production?
Yes. We offer rental systems from 4 weeks as well as a free 4-week SonicTC demo license – so you can validate against your real part stream before any investment decision.
Investment & pricing
What does an RTE test solution cost?
Range from a few thousand euros for mobile SonicTC.Cube lab devices up to six- and seven-figure amounts for fully automated inline systems with robot handling. Concrete prices come after the feasibility study – anything earlier would be a guess.
Which commercial models do you offer?
Three models: (1) Purchase (classic, including hardware, software license and commissioning), (2) Rental (from 4 weeks, no capex), (3) Testing as a Service (TaaS – we test your parts in our lab, per batch or per month).
What is the SonicTC license model?
SonicTC is licensed per system / test station (node-locked or floating). Maintenance and update contract is optional but recommended – it covers all software updates, bug fixes and new features.
Are there recurring costs beyond purchase?
Optional: software maintenance contract (annual), service contract (annual, basic / premium / 24 / 7 tiers) and calibration packages. No hidden consumption fees, no mandatory cloud charges.
Which funding options can I leverage?
Depending on country and industry: ZIM, KMU-innovativ, EXIST, EU programs. We actively support applications with letter of intent, technical description and – where useful – as a consortium partner.
Do you offer leasing or rent-to-buy?
Yes. Through our financing partners, leasing is available for inline systems. Rental fees can also be credited towards a later purchase – which significantly de-risks your investment decision.
Cooperation & confidentiality
Are our parts and data treated confidentially?
Yes, without exception. Before parts shipment we sign a mutual NDA on request. Parts are stored in an access-controlled lab area. Measurement data stays on your systems by default – cloud storage only if you explicitly ask for it.
Can we use you as a reference for investment decisions?
Gladly. On request we provide ROI calculations, reference contacts from comparable industries and anonymized use cases. We only name existing customers in your market segment after their explicit approval.
Which languages can we work with?
Fluent German and English – written and spoken, from quoting to service. SonicTC UI and documentation are available in both languages.
Who is behind RTE?
RTE was founded in 1998 as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing (IZFP). Since 2026 the Krahtov brothers have been leading the company as managing directors – with over 50 employees in Pfinztal and a branch in India (RTE India).
Service, maintenance & training
What support does RTE offer in concrete terms?
Phone support during business hours, remote maintenance via VPN, on-site service in Germany and worldwide. Optional 24/7 stand-by via a premium service contract with defined response times (typ. 2 h phone response, NBD on-site in DACH).
How fast are you on-site in a service case?
In Germany and neighboring countries: Next business day (NBD) with premium contract, otherwise based on availability. International: 2–5 business days depending on country. In India directly via RTE India.
How does maintenance of your systems work?
Software updates remotely. Hardware inspection and calibration annually or based on condition. Wear parts (e.g. sensors, pneumatics) are replaced proactively as part of the maintenance plan. We keep common spare parts available for at least 10 years.
Do you offer training for our staff?
Yes. Operator, administrator and expert training – on-site, at RTE in Pfinztal or remote. Content is tailored to your systems, parts and test tasks. Training is available in German and English.
Can you take over or retrofit existing systems from other vendors?
In many cases yes. We assess existing sensors and mechanics in a retrofit study and propose an economic migration path to SonicTC – often without replacing the entire hardware.
With SonicTC we made the jump from sampling to 100% inline testing – without replacing our existing hardware.
Your question is not here?
Write to us – specifically and honestly. We respond within 24 hours.