Extrusioneers Innovation Contest
October 01, 2011 - Germany
Best Ideas Awarded in Plastics Extrusion
The winners of the Extrusioneers® Innovation Contest, an open idea contest on the topic of plastics extrusion sponsored by Reifenhäuser, can now be announced. A jury of external experts and experts from the Reifenhäuser Group has selected the best ideas, the most unconventional idea and the most valuable participant.
The Winners
The first prize goes to the idea Energy Recovery. The idea shows a solution for energy recovery that exploits the great temperature differences in extrusion and is thereby relevant in many areas of extrusion. The second prize goes to the idea Exow Street; a drainage system for streets made of extruded tiles that can contribute to reducing street damages and help improve safety on the streets. The idea Use of Non Woven Material in layering artificial turf, which receives the third prize, concerns itself with the construction of artificial turf with nonwoven material as substrate. The idea could bring artificial turf a bit closer the natural original. The winners can look forward to receiving 7000, 5000 and 3000 euro prize money.
The idea to employ the principle of a Wankel rotary engine for pressure build-up and for feeding in extrusion is a new way of thinking though and a completely different mode compared to the usual extrusion of today. The idea Compact extrusion therefore receives the price for the most unconventional idea that still seeks a sensible application. The winner receives an ipad and an invitation to a Reifenhäuser innovation workshop. The same is valid for the most valuable participant, who contributed to the thinking through and further development of the ideas with his own ideas, countless commentaries and valuable criticisms.
The Community Vote, which the competition community itself voted on, goes to the idea Write in Plastic - a portable extruder with attached tablet-PC for operation by artists, designers or craftsmen that can extrude plastic in various thicknesses and shapes. An idea that shows that good design and a well thought-out man-machine interface is also popular with technicians.
The Competition
For eight weeks, participants from over 20 countries have met on the platform http://www.extrusioneers-innovation-contest.com to submit their ideas on the theme of plastics extrusion, to discuss them and to correspond with other participants and experts from Reifenhäuser. 101 ideas and almost 1000 commentaries have thus been collected during the duration of the competition in the three categories product, process and machine.
Reifenhäuser is satisfied with the result: "We are surprised how much time the participants have invested in the competition and how open and intensively the ideas were discussed," said Dr Bernd Kunze, member of Reifenhäuser's corporate management and responsible for innovation management in the holding. "The sometimes unconventional approaches true to the competition motto 'Thinking outside the box' have definitively stimulated us to reflection and to discussions. It is therefore advantageous also during brainstorming to be open for new paths. Currently, we are thinking about how we can continue open innovation."
The Extrusioneers® Innovation Contest was started on April 4th, 2011. It was the first completely open competition in plastics extrusion. It called on students, experts, hobby tinkerers and all who are interested in the subject of extrusion.
The winners of the Extrusioneers® Innovation Contest, an open idea contest on the topic of plastics extrusion sponsored by Reifenhäuser, can now be announced. A jury of external experts and experts from the Reifenhäuser Group has selected the best ideas, the most unconventional idea and the most valuable participant.
The Winners
The first prize goes to the idea Energy Recovery. The idea shows a solution for energy recovery that exploits the great temperature differences in extrusion and is thereby relevant in many areas of extrusion. The second prize goes to the idea Exow Street; a drainage system for streets made of extruded tiles that can contribute to reducing street damages and help improve safety on the streets. The idea Use of Non Woven Material in layering artificial turf, which receives the third prize, concerns itself with the construction of artificial turf with nonwoven material as substrate. The idea could bring artificial turf a bit closer the natural original. The winners can look forward to receiving 7000, 5000 and 3000 euro prize money.
The idea to employ the principle of a Wankel rotary engine for pressure build-up and for feeding in extrusion is a new way of thinking though and a completely different mode compared to the usual extrusion of today. The idea Compact extrusion therefore receives the price for the most unconventional idea that still seeks a sensible application. The winner receives an ipad and an invitation to a Reifenhäuser innovation workshop. The same is valid for the most valuable participant, who contributed to the thinking through and further development of the ideas with his own ideas, countless commentaries and valuable criticisms.
The Community Vote, which the competition community itself voted on, goes to the idea Write in Plastic - a portable extruder with attached tablet-PC for operation by artists, designers or craftsmen that can extrude plastic in various thicknesses and shapes. An idea that shows that good design and a well thought-out man-machine interface is also popular with technicians.
The Competition
For eight weeks, participants from over 20 countries have met on the platform http://www.extrusioneers-innovation-contest.com to submit their ideas on the theme of plastics extrusion, to discuss them and to correspond with other participants and experts from Reifenhäuser. 101 ideas and almost 1000 commentaries have thus been collected during the duration of the competition in the three categories product, process and machine.
Reifenhäuser is satisfied with the result: "We are surprised how much time the participants have invested in the competition and how open and intensively the ideas were discussed," said Dr Bernd Kunze, member of Reifenhäuser's corporate management and responsible for innovation management in the holding. "The sometimes unconventional approaches true to the competition motto 'Thinking outside the box' have definitively stimulated us to reflection and to discussions. It is therefore advantageous also during brainstorming to be open for new paths. Currently, we are thinking about how we can continue open innovation."
The Extrusioneers® Innovation Contest was started on April 4th, 2011. It was the first completely open competition in plastics extrusion. It called on students, experts, hobby tinkerers and all who are interested in the subject of extrusion.