Dillinger Innovation Days

How is innovation developed? What drives us and how can we systematically achieve innovative advancement? How do innovation and digitalization interact? These questions are answered by the Dillinger Innovation Days on 11 and 12 September 2018, being held in the Lokschuppen in Dillingen under the patronage of Saarland's Prime Minister Tobias Hans. Numerous lectures, discussions, poster sessions and video clips provide interesting insights into the innovative research and development work being conducted on various Dillingen products and processes.

Following the success of the last Dillinger Innovation Day in 2016, this time the event will take place on two days so that all Dillinger employees as well as the public can also experience Dillinger innovation through lectures and the Innovation Exhibition on 12 September. One more innovation: a research prize for schoolchildren will be awarded during the Innovation Days. Students can perform research in topics from Dillinger divisions including raw materials, logistics, materials research, process engineering or production engineering. 

“The best research activities are rewarded with attractive prizes and exceptional efforts can even provide the possibility of a career at Dillinger,” explains Dillinger Chairman of the Board of Directors Tim Hartmann, who sees this as an important contribution to getting students interested in science, innovation and digitalization at an early age. Hartmann added: “Innovation and digitization set the pace for the future. Together we want to even further accelerate the pace of innovation.”

Patron of the event Prime Minister Tobias Hans views Saarland as being well equipped for this: “Innovations do not emerge out of nowhere. They require a fertile breeding ground. Innovation can flourish exceedingly well in Saarland, not least because we see digitalization as an opportunity and offer excellent conditions, with a dynamic university and research landscape. For us, innovation is no futuristic fantasy – and indeed, we want to continue improving these framework conditions. For example, the expansion of the Helmholtz Center will significantly increase the size and internationality of our future research community.

A panel discussion entitled “Digitalized primary industry: a model for the future” took place during the Dillingen Innovation Days involving Prime Minister Hans, Dillinger Chief Technical Officer Dr. Bernd Münnich, Clausthal Technical University President Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanschke, and Sven Busch, Member of the Management Board of PSI Metals GmbH.

Twenty-six departments will be exhibiting at the Dillingen Innovation Days by means of 68 posters. A wide range of practical examples of innovation and digitization will be presented, from twin digital rolling mills and creative techniques to microstructure-based materials development.