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The requirements of future markets, the opportunities of digitalisation, and new processes for the surface functionalisation and structuring of glass are the focus of the newly established “HEGLA New Technology” centre. The HEGLA Group headquartered in Beverungen, Germany, founded the innovation centre to expand its research and development capability and increase its innovation power.

“Automation, interconnection, and digitalization are developing rapidly, and we are facing the ensuing challenges with our innovative solutions,” said HEGLA Managing Directors Bernhard Hötger and Dr Heinrich Ostendarp. “To work on new solutions for our customers in a more in-depth, concentrated manner, we have created a work forum that offers the necessary space for visions, experiments and innovation projects away from the daily routine: New Technology.” Strategic development will be located in the new company, while the teams in the relevant departments will be responsible for further developing machines, processes and technologies.

HEGLA New Technology was established as an innovation centre that takes up ideas and potential from HEGLA’s individual companies and reflects on, evaluates and drives them forward.

“Through intensive exchange and joint projects with HEGLA boraident and the HEGLA-HANIC software house, we have been able to clearly perceive the great, profound and supplementary potential available in open, creative collaboration,” said Jochen H. Hesselbach, HEGLA Group CEO, to sum up the situation.

“New Technology provides the ideal framework for innovation processes in order to try something out or include the expertise of other experts and unconventional thinkers,” explained Dr Markus Schoisswohl, the Managing Director of HEGLA New Technology.

The new development team is headquartered in Paderborn in close proximity to the university, and is tasked with being the fast, flexible testing and implementation partner for the entire Group. The first concrete results are on the agenda for Glasstec 2020, including new technologies for manufacturing smart glass applications with HEGLA boraident lasers.

Dr Thomas Rainer, the head of development there, is also pleased about the new research centre that will offer customers direct added value in future. Tasks and customer projects have become ever more complex; not only at HEGLA but also at the laser specialists from Halle/Saale and the software professionals from Bochum.

“Sometimes we are asked to realise new ideas and requirements in the short term for specific projects but are unable to do so. It will be advantageous to transfer them to New Technology, where we are optimistic about our ability to develop them further as a team and in partnership with our customers,” said Dr Rainer.

“We have clearly defined our initial aims and have already started to work on them,” added Dr Schoisswohl. “With our current projects, we strive to develop solutions that give customers greater transparency and more profound insight into their production processes.”

In particular, topics such as improving communications between humans and machines or the increasing capabilities of artificial intelligence have provided a good basis for the centre’s work. In terms of content, it follows up on the ongoing further development and modularisation of the production control systems and machine controls of HEGLA and HEGLA-HANIC, emphasised Dr Jan Schäpers, the Managing Director of HEGLA-HANIC. “Together, we define open interfaces to all providers, structure the flow of data, and interconnect systems to arrive at perfectly harmonised shop floor logistics.”