Buying a laser machine for micro material processing (also known as a USP laser machine) is often a major investment for companies that want to improve their production processes and expand their manufacturing capacities. Often, these machines are high-tech machines that perform component-adapted manufacturing processes and have a variety of functions. It is therefore crucial that the purchasing process is carefully planned and executed. You can find out how to do this here.

When the 2:45 p.m. ferry arrived on the Isle of Wight on November 19, 2020, a very special passenger disembarked: the first of a total of five trains for the completely refurbished fleet of the modernized Island Line. The trains thus continue the Island Line‘s long-standing tradition of using refurbished and rebuilt London Underground equipment. Adrian Handley, Sales and Marketing Director of Sabre Rail, the UK's leading independent specialist in the overhaul of rail systems and components, shares the challenges the vehicle manufacturer faced in order to be able to operate the trains on the island and the solution that was developed together with Schunk.   (Image below: The first Island Line Class 484 train arrives at Wightlinks Fishbourne ferry terminal. © James123pilbeam, license.)

A dual study program is an attractive career path that allows you to combine theoretical knowledge at university with practical experience in a company. This means that you can acquire both academic knowledge and develop professional skills during your studies. If you are interested in a dual bachelor's degree program with Schunk as a partner company, you probably have a lot of questions about it. You'll find answers to 10 of the most common ones in this blog post.

Lightning strikes to wind turbines are not uncommon. According to the industry portal Windbranche, each wind turbine is struck by lightning 0.6 to once a year on average - usually on a rotor blade. The risk is even higher for multi-megawatt turbines. Studies show that these are exposed to direct lightning strikes at least ten times a year. No wonder, due to their exposed location on hills or off coasts, wind turbines attract lightning particularly strongly. Strikes can have serious consequences - from repair-related failures to the destruction of the entire plant.

The team of helpers are the Schunk apprentices Tom Ackermann, Erik Bender, Valentino Bonello, Mats Bormet, Silas Förster, Marvin Lemke, Joris Lotz and Nicklas Wagner, their instructors Jens Crombach and Florian Peter, as well as Mario Theiss, Jan-Simon Schmidt, Leon Schmidt and Claus Wagner. 

Anyone applying for an apprenticeship or a dual bachelor's degree program at Schunk will - in the best case - go through a three-stage application process. This consists of

1. a written online application
2. a digital recruitment test
3. an interview

We know from experience that many students are afraid of the recruitment test. In order to take away that queasy feeling, we have compiled some information for you here on the proper preparation and procedure of the recruitment test:

When you need structural components made of ceramics that are as large as a human being, it can become a challenge. A challenge that was also faced by the Zeiss company. That's because the conventional manufacturing process, in which silicon carbide powder is pressed into a block and then milled, presented a major technical hurdle here. "A new idea was needed," says Stefan Unger, who is responsible for supply chain sustainability at Zeiss.

E-mobility continues to gain ground: according to a study by the IEA (International Energy Agency), there were around 16.5 million e-cars on the roads worldwide in 2021 - three times as many as in 2018. Forecasts predict that the share will rise to 116 million electric cars by 2030.  However, no matter how successful electric mobility is, manufacturers still face challenges in addressing concerns potential buyers may have about purchasing an electric car.

Since Pulsar Photonics has become part of the Schunk Group, the laser micromachining specialist has been able to fully develop its potential - also thanks to joint projects with other Schunk companies. "Schunk's financial strength and the technology company's existing networks around the world open up completely new opportunities for us to further develop our cutting-edge technologies and market them globally," Dr. Jens Holtkamp, one of the three founding managing directors, said happily last June. At that time, the Schunk Group acquired a majority stake in Pulsar Photonics, the Aachen-based full-service provider for laser micromachining with short-pulse and ultrashort-pulse lasers.

Materials expert Stefan Günther explains why manufacturers of conductivity measurement technology who use measuring electrodes made of graphite can rely on permanently accurate measurement results. Schunk has been manufacturing conductivity measuring electrodes made of graphite for over 20 years. They are used worldwide for quality monitoring in analysis and measurement technology in laboratories and industrial processes. Special applications in dialysis are also possible. Very good chemical and thermal resistance, good thermal as well as electrical conductivity and high purity make graphite the material of choice for many users here.

Achieving the European climate protection targets in the transport sector requires a strong European railway. The EU is therefore planning to double passenger traffic and significantly expand rail freight transport by 2030. In addition to alternative drive concepts and the expansion of rail infrastructure, digitization of the rail system for more efficient use of resources is one of the prerequisites for meeting the political framework conditions.

Krakow is committed to clean air and is investing in electric mobility in public transport. The first electric buses have already been operating in the city since 2014. In 2021, 50 more vehicles have been added, transporting passengers in the area of Krakow where the highest levels of air pollution are recorded (see: https://cleantechnica.com). But the expansion of the e-bus fleet presented the city with a challenge:

If one of your production plants breaks down, this is associated with high costs. Damaged bearings are often the reason for expensive downtimes. The cause: parasitic currents that find their way through the rolling bearings of the plant. Shaft grounding systems can reliably remedy this situation and discharge voltages to the plant ground. But we know that many of our industrial customers still face a dilemma: This is because shafts with a wide variety of diameters are installed in the gear units of their production plants. This means high storage costs, as they have to keep various sizes of shaft grounding systems in stock for emergencies. We will show you how you can now ground a wide variety of shafts with just one system and reduce your storage costs:

You want to start your professional life with an apprenticeship and have found a suitable apprenticeship position for which you would like to apply? Perfect! We'll show you how to create application documents that are convincing in terms of content and structure. First of all, most companies today only accept application documents in electronic form. Our tips are therefore designed for digital application documents.

The fact that electric vehicles are too expensive, take too long to charge, can't drive far enough, or that a cable always has to be touched to charge them are arguments that still keep many customers from buying an electric car. But the development in terms of e-mobility is progressing rapidly - also at Schunk: "Charging an e-vehicle will become as easy as refueling," our expert Ahmad Kamar is convinced. Since 2018, the product manager has been driving the development of the prototype of an autonomous fast charging system for electric vehicles.

Are you approaching the end of your schooling and want to start your professional life with an apprenticeship? We have summarized the most important information that will help you find the right apprenticeship.