Six young scientists received the Innovation Award 2017 from the Schaeffler FAG Foundation for their outstanding work. Our photo shows (from left): Stefan Spindler, Chief Operating Officer of Schaeffler AG, B.Sc. Felix Ballendat, Dr.-Ing. Christian Schadow, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer of Schaeffler AG, M.Sc. Tobias Schirra, Dr.-Ing. Yves Gemeinder, Dr.-Ing. Timo Kiekbusch, M.Sc. Michael Jüttner and Andreas Hamann, Head of Human Resources Europe and Chairman of the Foundation Board.

Award for pioneering work
Stiftung has supported science, research and teaching at schools, colleges and universities in the field of storage technology for more than 30 years
Engine for knowledge and knowledge transfer
The Schaeffler FAG Foundation has awarded six young scientists the Innovation Award 2017 for their forward-looking and benchmarking work. The prizes were awarded in the categories "PhD" and "Diploma, Bachelor and Master Theses". In a ceremony in Schweinfurt, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer of Schaeffler AG, Dr. Ing. Stefan Spindler, Chief Executive Officer of Schaeffler AG and Foundation Board, and Andreas Hamann, Head of Human Resources Europe and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the awards to the winners: Dr.-Ing. Christian Schadow, Dr.-Ing. Yves Gemeinder, Dr.-Ing. Timo Kiekbusch, B.Sc. Felix Ballendat, M.Sc. Michael Jüttner and M.Sc. Tobias Schirra.

Schaeffler FAG Foundation as an engine for knowledge transfer

Since its founding in 1983, the Schaeffler FAG Foundation has distributed more than one million euros in subsidies. Science, research and teaching at colleges and universities in the scientific and technical field with regard to storage technology are promoted. The Chairman of the Board, Andreas Hamann, also commented on the purpose of the foundation: "The Foundation is an engine for knowledge, knowledge transfer and the development of potential. We promote innovation and competitive services. "In addition to the Innovation Award, which was endowed with a total of 21,000 euros in 2017, the Schaeffler FAG Foundation also awards the Honorary Award, which recognizes the innovative, technical overall performance of a faculty. In addition, the foundation is involved in promoting schools for scientific and mathematical projects at elementary schools and all secondary schools. Hamann congratulated all winners and was enthusiastic about the high quality of the individual works.

"Need holistic approach"

In his speech, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer with the question whether the mobility of tomorrow requires an innovation in innovation behavior. "The industrial world is becoming more demanding. Mechanics, electrics, software and artificial intelligence continue to grow together. We also need our core competencies in the future, but we also need a holistic approach. On the one hand, we have to constantly develop our skills, but at the same time question them. If we can resolve this contradiction, then we will be able to shape the future. "He cited the example of Bio-Hybrid Cargo and the Schaeffler Mover as examples of open innovation behavior at Schaeffler.

New standard work created

Dr.-Ing. Christian Schadow then gave an insight into his dissertation on "Static grease-lubricated rolling bearings under dynamic load", in which he worked a total of six years and for which he received the first prize and 7,000 euros. The experts agree that his work has created a new standard work on "False Brinelling". This is a damage that can occur with grease-lubricated, stationary and under dynamic load bearing bearings. For wheel bearings, this damage shows, for example, during the transport of vehicles on trains or ships, in wind turbines, it can occur in the blade bearings. Schadow has examined various load scenarios, many different lubricants and also ceramic bearings and has demonstrated a reduction in life of so damaged bearings.

With Bachelor to "UrmO"

Felix Ballendat presented his bachelor thesis on the topic "Development and design of a wheel with integrated ball bearing made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic for a miniature electric vehicle". The result is called UrmO, derived from Urban Mobility: A small electric vehicle that travels 20 kilometers, is 15 kilometers per hour and weighs only 6.5 kilograms. "Thanks to its patent-pending folding mechanism and short loading time, the UrmO is always there and allows the user to efficiently cover short distances in everyday life. Also in combination with other means of transport, such as public transport, "says Ballendat, whose start-up company already counts eleven employees.

The other winners

In the "Promotion" category, the 2nd prize went to Dr.-Ing. Yves Gemeinder for his work on "bearing impedance and bearing damage during current passage in converter-fed electrical machines". Dr.-Ing. Timo Kiekbusch received the 3rd prize with 3,000 euros; he dealt with "Strategies for Dynamic Simulation of Rolling Bearings".

In the category "Diploma, Bachelor and Master Theses" Felix Ballendat and the two other winners received 2,000 Euros for their outstanding work. M.Sc. Michael Jüttner examined "Rotor Blade Bearings of Wind Turbines with Individual Pitch Control", while M.Sc. Tobias Schirra dealt with the "Development of a Test Bench Concept for the Investigation of Current-Flowing Rolling Bearings".