"Food goes Powder" and "Young Professionals": key topics of the new format at SOLIDS and RECYCLING-TECHNIK Dortmund
For a more innovative process industry – this is the credo behind the new “BULK MASTERS” format. The hackathon will take place from 8 – 10 October 2024 as part of the SOLIDS & RECYCLING-TECHNIK Dortmund trade fair duo and serves to promote innovation and creativity in the process industry. Within 48 hours, interdisciplinary teams of students, engineers, developers, designers and other creative minds will develop solutions to real-life problems posed directly by companies from the industry.
The new format was developed by trade fair organiser Easyfairs Deutschland GmbH in collaboration with Bochum University of Applied Sciences (ruhrvalley Start-up-Campus & ruhrvalley), REMBE® GmbH Safety+Control, CADFEM and the German Bulk Solids Industry Association (DSIV), among others. “BULK MASTERS offers an ideal platform for bringing fresh and innovative ideas to our industry. This is extremely important because, as in many other sectors, the process industry is facing ever greater challenges in areas such as sustainability and the shortage of skilled labour. At the same time, the use of artificial intelligence offers numerous opportunities to find innovative solutions and optimise processes. These three topics alone harbour great potential for thinking and developing new approaches,” explains Anna Lena Sandmann, Exhibition Director of SOLIDS & RECYCLING-TECHNIK Dortmund at Easyfairs.
"Zeppelin Systems" on board as challenge provider
The first challenge organiser for the BULK MASTERS has been announced: Zeppelin Systems. “As a global plant manufacturer, the hackathon is a wonderful opportunity for us to leave the beaten track and find new, innovative solutions. That’s why we see it as a great opportunity to be a challenger here. We have the opportunity to utilise maximum creativity for innovations in the shortest possible time – something that is rarely possible in the stressful day-to-day work environment, which is why we are very much looking forward to the hackathon and the results it will produce,” says Schneider, Vice President Technology & Innovation at Zeppelin Systems. The company specialises in the design, construction and technological development of industrial systems for storing, conveying, mixing, dosing and weighing high-quality bulk materials and raw materials. With around 1,900 employees worldwide, Zeppelin Systems creates solutions for customers in the plastics, chemicals, rubber and tyre industries on a daily basis. The food and beverage industry also appreciates Zeppelin Systems’ many years of turnkey experience and technological expertise.
Focus topics: "Food goes Powder" and "Young Professionals"
This year’s BULK MASTERS will focus on two central themes:
“Food goes Powder”
Germany, as one of Europe’s largest food exporters, is facing new challenges and opportunities in the pulverisation of food. The ability to transport food in powder form eliminates the need for water transport, which offers ecological benefits and minimises logistical challenges. At the same time, pulverisation brings with it considerable technical challenges: nutrient losses, contamination during the grinding process and clumping due to different moisture contents of the raw materials. With the highest concentration of food producers, North Rhine-Westphalia – and therefore the BULK MASTERS – is an ideal place to tackle these challenges.
“Young Professionals”
The attractiveness of the process industry for young talent is crucial for the future of the sector. Young professionals bring fresh perspectives, creative ideas and technological understanding. “With a modern and dynamic format like the BULK MASTERS, we kill two birds with one stone. We not only promote the development of creative solutions for current challenges in the process industry. By bringing together young talents, we also show participants the potential of the industry and at the same time create a modern platform for exchange between the next generation of specialists and technology providers and users,” emphasises Anna Lena Sandmann.
Focus on innovations: Presentation of the results on the second day of the trade fair
The results of the BULK MASTERS will be presented on the second day of the trade fair as part of the trade fair duo. In short pitches, the teams will present their solutions to an expert audience and a selected jury. The winning team can look forward to attractive prize money. Companies and institutions have until 15 July to apply as challenge participants and receive innovative solutions for their specific challenges.
The trend reports of SOLIDS, RECYCLING-TECHNIK and PUMPS & VALVES Dortmund are compiled by specialised journalists with in-depth knowledge of the industry and are available to the press for free reprinting, provided the source is quoted.
Source: SOLIDS & RECYCLING-TECHNIK Dortmund