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2008 IDEAS PARK IN STUTTGART |
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From bowling atoms to steering a submarine |
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The Ideas Park in Stuttgart exceeded all expectations and attracted attention from all parts of Germany as a major event. This would not have been possible without the countless assistants and exhibit attendants from the Group subsidiaries. From the Technologies segment alone over 100 apprentices from twelve German locations made their way to Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg. They had the support of over 60 exhibit attendants. Together their job was to quench the thirst for knowledge of 292,000 visitors young and old. |
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The list of things to organize seems endless: From tots’ laboratories and satellites to starting off the children’s expedition. It goes without saying that a major event like this has to be organized like clockwork. The visitor management team especially needed as many helpers as possible. Working as hostesses, scouts, on the information stands, in the employee accreditation area, or handing out audio and tour guides, the apprentices from Beckum, Dortmund, Ennepetal, Esslingen, Hamburg, Heilbronn, Ilsenburg, Kassel, Kiel, Lippstadt and St. Ingbert were on duty throughout the park. A major challenge - because with over 290,000 visitors and crowded halls it was not always easy to stay calm and keep everything under control.
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“What’s that and what do you need it for?”
The exhibit attendants’ job was no easier. Permanently surrounded by crowds and bombarded with questions, they had to explain, for example, the environmentally friendly EnviNOx process which converts nitrous oxides such as laughing gas and NOx into the harmless components of air - nitrogen, oxygen and water. Their expert, child-friendly presentations covered subjects ranging from tunneling equipment to submarine maneuvering and periscope simulators. And it wasn’t all just theory. This was a hands-on exhibition where visitors young and old were encouraged to get involved and try things out for themselves. Their enthusiasm was infectious. “It’s just great working here at the Ideas Park,” said Dr. Carsten Meyer from HDW’s research and development department. “Children and adults all love our simulators. We never get a minute’s rest.” Kristina Schaude, member of the sales staff at Rothe Erde, was amazed by the inquisitiveness of the young visitors. “What were the most frequently asked questions? That’s easy: “What’s that? Is it really as big as that? What does that do?” Over and over again she demonstrated how slewing bearings work with the aid of an impressive 4-meter bearing and the model of a complete tunnel driving machine. “I’ve not yet come across one visitor who was bored. Quite the opposite - the children’s beaming faces make me even more enthusiastic.”
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All exhibits besieged by crowds
ThyssenKrupp Technologies had numerous exhibits on display in the seven life-worlds of the Ideas Park. As well as the EnviNOx process, slewing bearings and submarine simulators already mentioned, the “bouncy castle” featuring springs and dampers from ThyssenKrupp Bilstein Suspensions (see cover) proved a hit with the kids as did the steering simulator from ThyssenKrupp Presta Steering - an old favorite from the Ideas Park in Hanover. Exhibits showing further applications for Rothe Erde slewing bearings in wind energy and astronomy and ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik’s products for mining oil sands were also popular. Polysius presented the world’s most compact and flexible processing module for cement specimens - the POLAB® APM. Fears that it might be just a little too technical for visitors to the Ideas Park were shown to be unfounded on the very first day. The young “researchers” wanted to know everything about the machine right down to the last detail.
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Ideas Park built a strong team
The verdict after nine days at the Ideas Park: A terrific event at which everyone was carried along by the enthusiasm of the youngsters and bonded into a strong team. Just like Mergim Tuba and Marco Düring, two apprentices from ThyssenKrupp Nirosta in Düsseldorf, who helped out on the EnviNOx “atom bowling alley”: “We were actually on our break, but we were needed here. But that’s no problem.”
Well that’s okay then!
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