The EDAG Group, one of the world's largest independent engineering service providers, and its project partners voestalpine Additive Manufacturing Center and Simufact Engineering have received the the Design Council's coveted "German Innovation Award" in gold in the category "Excellence in Business to Business / Automotive Technologies" for their additively manufactured hood hinge "LightHinge+". The award was presented to Dr. Martin Hillebrecht, Head of Competence Centre & Innovation at EDAG, and his project team, and Volker Mensing, Director of Marketing & Communications at Simufact Engineering GmbH, during a ceremony held at the German Technical Museum in Berlin.
"LightHinge+", an ultra lightweight hood hinge manufactured in a toolless, metallic additive manufacturing process, integrates an active pedestrian protection function, weighs 50% less than comparable systems, and toolless production makes it considerably more investment-friendly for low-volume and sports car production. Created in a joint innovation project, the innovative product concept won the jury over.
"We were pleased to be able to apply our expertise in additive manufacturing design and its implementation in laser beam processing to this innovative product," stated Dr. Eric Klemp of CTO voestalpine Additive Manufacturing GmbH. "The Simufact additive software enabled us to optimise the product at a very early stage, and, by minimising warp, to guarantee an OK component in the very first construction job," added Volker Mensing of Simufact Engineering.
The current transformation process in the automotive industry is giving rise to further digitisation in the product development process. "And it is precisely here that additive manufacturing can help us to speed up development and production, increasing efficiency and cost-effectiveness," explained Dr. Martin Hillebrecht, Head of Competence Centre & Innovation at EDAG.
The German Innovation Award
With over 650 entries in its first year, the German Innovation Award has achieved re-markable results. Almost 40% of the entries were in the »Excellence in Business to Consumer« category, and a good 60% in »Excellence in Business to Business«. The jury is composed of independent, interdisciplinary experts from the fields of industry, science and finance, and various institutions.
The German Innovation Award is conferred across the various branches of industry, for products and solutions which stand out on account of their user centricity and add-ed value compared to previous solutions. Innovations that are life-enhancing and shape the future can be found in all industrial sectors. Sometimes they are evident at first glance - but often they are not. The German Innovation Award can change this. It generates a wide public interest in great achievements and helps to position them successfully on the market. With over 650 entries, the award has achieved remarkable results in its first year. Almost 40% of the entries were in the »Excellence in Business to Consumer« category, and a good 60% in »Excellence in Business to Business«. The jury is composed of independent, interdisciplinary experts from the fields of indus-try, science and finance, and various institutions.
For more information on the "„EDAG LightHinge+", see the video:
Design Council – the Organisers
Initiated by the German Bundestag and sponsored by German industry, the Design Council is an inde-pendent, internationally active institution that supports the competitiveness of companies. With its competitions, exhibitions, conferences, seminars and publications, the Council makes a key contribution to the transfer of knowledge in the field of design. Since 1953, the Design Council has been holding competitions to reward international standard entries in design, brand performance and innovation. The network of foundation members, which currently includes over 300 German and international companies, employs a workforce of more than three million.