For one semester, 42 students from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and its Institute for Product Development and Innovation (IPEK) conducted research for machine manufacturer Schubert on the topic of „Customer-orientated, flexible packaging processes and packaging machine systems for the packaging of the future“. They have now presented their research results at the final event.
Around six months ago Schubert in a co-operation project of the KIT and the IPEK. For one semester, 42 university students conducted research for the packaging machine manufacturer from Crailsheim. The final event took place a few days ago. „The students presented their research results to us in short presentations and at a trade fair - and I can say: they inspired us with their ideas,“ says Manuel Schuster, Head of New Assembly Development and also KIT Project Manager at Schubert.
„Our expectations of the project were fully met. The students inspired us to come up with new solutions.“ But that's not all: The company has become better known thanks to the cooperation. „We hope that young people will continue to be interested in the packaging industry in the future and not just in the automotive sector,“ says Schuster.
Research was conducted on the three main topics Packaging machines, processes and packaging of the future. Schuster supervised the project together with his colleague Achraf Ben Salem, Head of Cobot Development at Schubert. Before the research could begin, the students were given an insight into the world of packaging and Schubert technologies at a two-day kick-off event. They were completely free to realise their ideas. Schuster: „Nevertheless, the students were never left alone by us during the entire process.“
In the area of processes, the students developed ideas on how to automate mechanical processes in the machine and improve efficiency. The Crailsheim-based company was also impressed by the solution of positioning packaging machines as production islands rather than in a line. „We also found a new type of packaging that the students developed as part of the collaboration very interesting,“ says Schuster. „This packaging can be sealed without glue, therefore offers great opportunities in terms of sustainability and has of course been registered for a patent - as have several other ideas."
Source: Gerhard Schubert GmbH
