Seven exciting topics, seven locations and a host of innovative ideas and approaches. A successful continuation of the Packaging Valley Makeathon took place on 9 and 10 November. Current topics were presented by Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH, Syntegon Technology GmbH, Optima packaging group GmbH, Mosca GmbH, Zebra Engineering GmbH, the Virtual Dimension Centre Fellbach and Kempten University of Applied Sciences.
Numerous young and motivated people arrived at the companies on the morning of 9 November. The Packaging Valley Makeathon is now a well-established event. It's a win-win situation for participants and companies. Here, the topics of technology and sustainability relevant to the packaging cluster are combined in a special way. Young talents with different perspectives and new ideas meet experienced employees with extensive industry expertise. „Curiosity meets experience“, says Martin Buchwitz, Managing Director of the network. The results that emerge are Valuable food for thought for innovative solutions. The event also provides helpful feedback on products and functions.
Small teams of no more than 15 participants presented exciting approaches and solutions after two intensive days. The Topics are relevant to the future and particularly topical. So it was about the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act or the reduction of the CO2 footprint. How can packaging also be designed sustainably for in-house transport?
Efficiency and security issues were also tasks. What will the machine operation of the future look like, what advantages will it offer us? Virtual and augmented reality technologies? Within a very short time, great realisations and realistic prototypes were created with which operations could be simulated. At VDC Fellbach, a digital 3D environment could finally be entered using a VR headset. The location and co-operation partners provided the Product-related realisation Machines, technologies and knowledge ready. Components, programmes and helpful coaching were also provided by Balluff GmbH, hfcon Digital Hub Heilbronn-Franken and Mathworks.
„We can use real products and modern technologies provided by our partners. We can go down paths that we wouldn't normally go down because they might be too cumbersome or seem flawed at first glance.“
Martin Buchwitz, Managing Director of the Packaging Network
The possibility To try things out is what makes the Makeathon format so special. Together with the member ITQ GmbH Packaging Valley regularly develops the format further. ITQ is a long-standing expert in such formats. It is a Good tool for publicising the companies based here and their innovative strength to young talent. So factory tours were an almost natural start to the event. The enthusiasm was great. Continuations are planned.
The companies were impressed by the motivation, independence and above all the aplomb with which the young people mastered the final pitches. Managers and board members from the company side also took the opportunity to attend and exchange ideas with the young talents. Participants are sure to come on board in the form of internships, student traineeships or dissertations, or even develop one or two Makeathon topics further. On the exchange, the networking opportunities and impulses, that this event offers is something that no company wants to do without. And as the saying goes: after the event is before the event. The third Packaging Valley Makeathon is sure to come.
Source: Packaging Valley e.V.
