Technological challenges in stamping technology, the search for skilled workers and the future of work were the focus of the 13th Stamping Technology Congress at the 17th and April 18 in Dortmund.
© KIST
Innovations from manufacturing technology, especially from mechanical engineering and toolmaking, as well as the topics of “electromobility,” “smart tooling” and “networked processes” formed the focal points of the technical presentations. On the second day of the congress, approaches and discussions about the future challenges of the world of work and how companies can prepare for them took up a lot of space.
Around 250 German and foreign participants from production, development, design, research and teaching attended the intensive and lively industry meeting in the Westfalenhallen congress center. Numerous companies from the stamping technology sector also exhibited at a thematically wide-ranging exhibition in the foyer.
Manufacturing technology: innovations and exchange
On the subject of “electromobility”, the focus was on the production of new components for the automotive industry and the resulting forming challenges. Presentations on “Smart Tooling” revolved around, among other things, tooling concepts for fine blanking, the possibilities offered by additive manufacturing, and virtual tool testing.
Contributions to the focus area “Networked processes – planning, simulation and monitoring” dealt with the transport of components through progressive dies as well as the advantages of a holistic optimization of processes.
New worlds of work: New Work
Tuesday morning was dedicated to the changing world of work and its demands on companies. How employers can find, retain and motivate employees in the long term was explained by Thomas Kamphausen, CFO and Labor Director of Schuler Group GmbH. Andreas Herthun, Head of the MAN Academy at MAN Truck & Bus SE, described megatrends in human resources and the opportunities they present.
The subsequent panel discussion chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Volk, holder of the Chair of Forming Technology and Foundry Engineering at the Technical University of Munich, delved deeper into the topic. In addition to the two speakers, Mathias Bihler, Managing Partner of Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Bernhard Jacobs, Managing Director of the Sheet Metal Forming Industry Association, and Achim Kuhli, Managing Director of Bruderer GmbH, discussed a number of aspects, sometimes quite controversially.
Evening alarm
Things got unintentionally sporty at the evening event in the Signal-Iduna-Arena, the venue of BVB Dortmund. Shortly after the menu began, attendees had to interrupt their lively conversations as a fire alarm prompted them to leave the stadium. As it was a fault-triggered message, networking could be resumed after a short interruption – in some cases until late into the night.
The 14th Stamping Technology Congress is scheduled for the 8. and April 9, 2024 planned.
Competence and Innovation Center for Stamping Technology Dortmund e.V. (KIST):
KIST sees itself as a technology catalyst in the stamping industry and promoter of personnel development for machine operators and managers. Among other things, specialized training and courses are offered. The center employs about 10 people. The initiator and chairman of the board of KIST is Adolf Edler von Graeve, who was previously managing partner of Bruderer GmbH Germany for more than 40 years.
The association was founded in 2005 as an innovative model project with the support of the European Social Fund, the North Rhine-Westphalian state government and the city of Dortmund. Its members include around 100 companies from German-speaking countries, other European countries and the USA.
KIST is also internationally known as the organizer of the Stamping Technology Congress, Europe’s leading trade event for the industry, which it has been organizing together with the Technical University of Munich since 2009.