"InnovationCircle digital business models" at Herkules and WaldrichSiegen

Together with Fabian Steinberg, managing director of SDFS Smarte Demonstrationsfabrik Siegen, and René Sauer, head of the working group, the participants from several companies in the Siegerland region and our experts from sales, engineering and service spent an exciting day with presentations, in-depth discussions and successful workshops! The aim of the series of events is to develop strategies for sustainable digital business models and to share valuable experiences.

The day at the HerkulesGroup focused on "Connected Manufacturing - long-term partnership between customer and machine supplier". This model for the production of the future includes the vision of a seamlessly connected, digitized and data-driven manufacturing environment in which the machine supplier is fully integrated as a long-term strategic partner. The main goals of that approach are the full exploitation of the technological potential of the production equipment and the necessary change in the customer's production culture. Following the presentation and discussion of the model approach, questions regarding production technology, service and digital features were discussed intensively in three workshops to outline solution approaches for potential business models.

"These regular events offer all cooperation partners an exchange at the highest level" Marco Tannert, President & COO of WaldrichSiegen, explains. "The meetings in the form of presentations combined with interdisciplinary workshops take place in alternating cycle at the member companies of the InnovationCircle. We want to use this working group to learn from each other to be able to react as efficiently as possible to the individual and challenging technical and economic challenges of the future."

A joint tour through the production halls of Herkules and WaldrichSiegen left a long-lasting impression and provided a great conclusion to a successful day.

SDFS

The "Campus Buschhütten" is located on the company premises of Achenbach Buschhütten: an association of various institutions and initiatives, including the SDFS Smarte Demonstrationsfabrik Siegen. The SDFS was established in the environment of the University of Siegen and combines theory and regional industry with a real research laboratory. Through research and development under real market conditions, developed solutions can be transferred quickly and efficiently to the industry to increase the competitiveness of traditionally shaped metal processing and to meet the future challenges of digitalization.

The HerkulesGroup is Connect-member of the SDFS and founding member of the "InnovationCircle digital business models".