Report on award ceremony 2018

On 14 November 2018, the rural district’s best innovators were decorated and honoured for their innovative products, processes and services at the award ceremony for the Reiner-Lemoine Innovation Award Anhalt-Bitterfeld 2018, which took place in Köthen (Anhalt).

In addition to securing the region’s economic progress, the innovations generated by the award-winning companies also secured the progress of society as a whole.

The achievements of all the winners scored big-time with the independent selection committee in the following categories:

• Technical progress/Originality
• Economic success
• Entrepreneurial performance
• Potential for job creation
• Benefits for the region

 

Winners of the Reiner-Lemoine-Innovation-Award Anhalt-Bitterfeld 2018

Prizes given out by the district administrator and Kreissparkasse Anhalt Bitterfeld: 5000 EUR:
SmartLighting Technologies UG for the ‘Smart Lighting’ innovation

Special Reiner Lemoine Foundation award: 2000 EUR
SmartLighting Technologies UG for the ‘Smart Lighting’ innovation

Reiner Lemoine Foundation award: 2000 EUR
Black Magic GmbH for the innovation associated with ‘curved graphenes as an active material in ultra-capacitors’

Special Chemiepark Bitterfeld-Wolfen GmbH award:  2000 EUR
CRONIMET Envirotec GmbH for the innovation associated with the ‘processing of metal-containing waste sludges through vacuum distillation’

Special Mercateo Services GmbH award: 1000 EUR
Speedliner Mobilty AG for the innovation associated with the ‘electrically-driven freight bicycle (pedelec) with replaceable transport box/pallet fork’

Special IHK Halle-Dessau award: 1000 EUR
Amynova polymers GmbH for the innovation associated with the ‘bio-degradable adhesive agent for agriculture’

Certificate of approval
Batchpur GmbH & Co.KG for the innovation associated with the ‘technology for the elimination of non-degradable micropollutants in domestic waste water’

Certificate of approval
Linbec UG for the innovation associated with the ‘component system pertaining to LINBEC animal house hygiene’

Certificate of approval
Grimm Aerosol Technik Pouch GmbH for the innovation associated with the ‘portable aerosol spectrometer for the simultaneous measurement of all dust mass fractions’

Certificate of approval
IPT Pergande GmbH, of Gesellschaft für Innovative Particle Technology mbH for the innovation associated with ‘the digital twin in production - assistance system for maintenance’

Certificate of approval
Polifilm Extrusion GmbH, for the innovation associated with the ‘very thin stretch film for securing loading units with high holding forces - PFE-13’

The independent selection committee selected these innovations from among the twenty-four competition submissions (nine from Bitterfeld-Wolfen, one from Sandersdorf-Brehna, two from Raguhn-Jeßnitz, five from Köthen, two from Muldestausee, three from Zerbst and two from Südliches Anhalt).

EWG Anhalt-Bitterfeld mbH congratulates all the prize winners and thanks all the parties that participated in the competition. We hope you attain a special degree of economic success on the basis of the innovations that were unveiled. We would also like to thank all the parties that energetically supported the competition through their dedicated work involving the selection committee, the provision of prize money or sponsorships, or other activities that were carried out in the spirit of partnership!

Description of the submitted innovations

‘Very thin stretch film for securing loading units with high holding forces - PFE-13’
Polifilm Extrusion GmbH
The innovation was impressive on account of material efficiency, energy efficiency and improved product characteristics. Previously-customary stretch films - which are, for example, wound around pallets - go hand in hand with the risk that the load that is to be packaged might not be wrapped tightly enough, which in turn would mean that the packaged good would not be protected to a sufficient degree. The newly-developed ‘PFE-13’ film is considerably thinner, which in turn results in material savings of 50%. It nevertheless possesses a high degree of firmness. It needs to be stretched to a much smaller extent and it literally clings to the pallet on its own, which in turn results in higher holding forces and improved securing of loading units. This makes it possible to conserve 30% of the film.
Thanks to the innovative manufacturing process, the number of production steps is one less than the number associated with conventional films. The stretch film can also be manufactured in larger web widths. The film is sold throughout the world. It scores with enormous material savings and the resultant significant reductions in transport costs and storage areas.

‘The digital twin in production - assistance system for maintenance’
IPT Pergande GmbH, Gesellschaft für Innovative Particle Technology mbH
IPT Pergande’s contribution to the competition consisted of the submission of an all-new assistance system for production facilities, which helps systems’ operating personnel detect faults in a timely manner and reduce downtimes - This also applies to downtimes that come about due to maintenance and servicing. This is the first result generated by a project that is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and which aims to facilitate the development of a so-called CPPSprocessAssist. Hidden behind it is an intelligent assistance system for process-technical production which was developed for cyber-physical production systems. CPPSprocessAssist is eventually supposed to result in a modular assistance system that is both expandable and independent of specific infrastructure.
In concrete terms, the company was able to collaborate with the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF in Magdeburg to develop an assistance system that is to be used in a fluidised bed system and which combines various advantages. The virtual three-dimensional image of a production facility upon which the assistance system is based serves to facilitate the time-optimised servicing and maintenance of the facility. The operator can access specific required pieces of information regarding individual components at any time by using a tablet PC to scan the respective component’s QR code. If necessary, all the available planning documents and operating data can be accessed directly. What’s more, an interactive operational recommendation is generated immediately when an error message emerges. This provides security and saves both time and money.

‘Portable aerosol spectrometer for the simultaneous measurement of all dust mass fractions’
Grimm Aerosol Technik Pouch GmbH

The contamination of breathable air in work areas and the detection of harmful substances in the vicinity of systems pose special challenges when it comes to the construction of suitable devices for measuring dusts and ultra-fine particles. The newly-developed portable aerosol spectrometer is based on a laser-optic measuring cell that - universally usable! – facilitates the simultaneous, complete and real-time capture of the relevant particle sizes of nine dust mass fractions. A newly-developed analysis algorithm can be used to determine the overall particle concentration, the particle size distribution and the individual dust mass fractions. Finally, the technical execution also considered long-term usability in stationary or mobile operations (e.g. in drones) and placed a special emphasis on automated calibration operations that facilitate a high level of accuracy.
This particular innovation represents THE solution for the merging of workplace measurements and the measuring operations associated with indoor and outdoor manufacturing processes which has been envisaged in national and international regulations.

‘LINBEC animal house hygiene component system’
Linbec UG
When it comes to animal houses, the implementation of hygiene measures becomes absolutely essential on account of various potential bacterial pathogens and other parasites. Such a scenario would be particularly ideal if the cleaning agents that are used consist of natural and biological raw materials, and if they are free of preserving, flavouring and colouring agents.
The component system of the Linbec animal house hygiene arrangement is based on three phases. After the basic cleaning of the animal house has been completed, the second phase involves the use of specially-adapted lactic acid bacteria starter cultures, which in turn shifts the pH-value into a climate that is not favourable for germs and which facilitates the emergence of a positive counter-germ pressure. The third phase involves the spraying of herbal extracts. In addition to curbing the growth of yeasts, funguses and bacteria, this also exerts positive effects on the animals’ airways.
This innovation offers a special amount of added value, because the maintenance of a natural and probiotic animal house environment lowers the risk of the animals falling ill due to germs. This leads to a reduction in drug administrations; this applies in particular to antibiotics. The emergence of other drug resistances is thus prevented. And finally, the foods that come from animals that have been kept in such animal houses are of a higher quality and more valuable for humans.

‘Technology for the elimination of non-degradable micropollutants in domestic waste water’
Batchpur GmbH & Co.KG
In Germany, there are approximately one and a half million septic tanks that clean the waste water that primarily emerges in private households. Batchpur is a company that can draw on a wealth of experience in developing and producing septic tanks associated with the usual three-stage system. It has now successfully managed to eliminate non-biodegradable pollutants. In particular, the new process can also be used in septic tanks to dispose of drug residues, household chemicals and multidrug-resistant germs. A fourth treatment stage for septic tanks, viz. the so-called C4C - Care for clean water - module was developed and made ready for marketing within a period of approximately two years. The Brehna site thus witnessed the emergence of an element that can be installed in addition to existing septic tanks, and whose use makes it possible to either reuse the cleaned waste water as process water or safely pass it into surface water. This innovation constitutes the only cleaning module for non-degradable micropollutants that has already cleared an examination that was conducted in accordance with the European standard for the elimination of trace elements in domestic waste water. The company aims to use this technology in arid countries in which the highest priority is attached to the cleaning of waste water for the purpose of recirculation into the water cycle.

‘Bio-degradable adhesive agent for agriculture’
Amynova polymers GmbH
Amynova polymers’ honoured innovation is a biopolymer that is based on natural starches and flours, and which adheres particularly well to the surfaces of plants. Depending on the requirement, active agents like herbicides, fungicides and insecticides can be added to this bio-degradable adhesive agent. Just like a deposit facility, the active agents are released slowly, and only if water falls onto the layer of starch. Components of the adhesive agent break away; the layer of starch emerges, spreads over the wetted parts of the plant, passes a portion of the active agents to the plant and then adheres tightly to the plant once again.
This innovation creates a particularly large amount of added value for arable farms by making it possible for them to obtain a yield-securing plant protection agent that can be administered in considerably smaller doses, and which goes hand in hand with simultaneous reductions in the number of work steps and the amount of liquid spray cocktails used. The farms can thus also obtain a measure of application security, because the effectiveness of the active agents used can be enhanced significantly by the long-lasting and high adhesion and very good film formation of the bio-degradable additive.

‘Electrically-driven freight bicycle (pedelec) with replaceable transport box/pallet fork’
Speedliner Mobilty AG

‘Smart Move’ is the name of the transport tool that has been honoured for its novelty, and which could be of interest to logistics companies, local authorities, supermarkets, handicrafts enterprises, service companies and - in factory traffic - large firms as well. The delivery operation can thus become electrically mobile and process-optimised during the last mile.
The basic component is the so-called ‘MovR’. This is a three-wheel, electrically-driven freight bicycle (pedelec) that was developed and built in Zerbst, and which features a separate loading bay that was specifically constructed the purpose in question. Various goods with a volume of up to two cubic metres and 180 kg can be accommodated using a removable ‘box’ container or a pallet fork. The ‘HuB’ hydraulic swap body is used to carry out the loading and unloading operations in a manner that conserves energy and goes easy on the back. Up to nine boxes can be pre-positioned in an electrically autonomous manner. Since the solution is compact, is also well-suited for cramped city centres. The surface area of two car parking spots is sufficient to play the role of a trans-shipment centre. The entire handling operation requires just a single person, who uses the freight bicycle to collect and deliver a removable container or euro-pallet. A smartphone app has also been developed. In addition to networking the players participating in the delivery process, it also (for example) facilitates tracking by the client and route optimisation for the rider. This combination of the MovR, the box, the HuB and the app emphasises the innovation’s effectiveness as a universal transport tool that can (for example) be used in an urban radius.

‘Processing of metal-containing waste sludges through vacuum distillation’
CRONIMET Envirotec GmbH

The manufacturing and processing of metal products leads to the emergence of sludges. In addition to metals, these sludges also contain varying percentages of oils, water and abrasives. This waste cannot be treated efficiently in conventional recycling facilities. Conventional processes cannot be used recirculate it into production processes. The sludges must either be dumped as dangerous waste materials or burnt.
The situation is different when it comes to the process that has been developed and implemented by CROMNIMET Envirotec (CE), and which is based on vacuum distillation. The liquid and solid components of the sludges are securely separated from each other without subjecting them to a chemical reaction. The recovered oil and the metal portions can be used as primary raw materials. This recovered oil is used as grinding oil in metal processing operations. The recovered metal parts can be used as alloy contents in foundries or steel mills. Since the CRONIMET Envirotec process has been optimised steadily after it was introduced, it has become possible to reduce the individual cycle runtimes and the energy input several times. Above all, this decorated innovation managed to score with the avoidance of dangerous waste materials and the linkage between the raw material cycle and the metal industry.

‘Curved graphenes as an active material in ultra-capacitors’
Black Magic GmbH
The innovation unveiled by high-tech company Black Magic GmbH - which is a subsidiary of the Skeleton Technologies Group - pertains to the improvement of known high-performance energy storage devices - so-called ultra-capacitors - through the use of an all-new active material. These ‘curved graphenes’ can now generate important improvements in the storage characteristics of ultra-capacitors. The important innovation pertains to the particularly precise pore distribution and the resultant (up to eight hundred times larger) specific surface area of the curved graphenes in comparison with conventional activated carbon. Ultra-capacitors can normally be charged and discharged at a speed of up to one million cycles.  If curved graphenes are used, they increase the energy storage capacity by 60%! Furthermore, the system size and costs can be reduced significantly as well. The resultant tremendous further development of the technology of the ultra-capacitors opens up new markets, such as the automobile industry. This innovation from Bitterfeld-Wolfen exhibits a special degree of future viability in this domain as well.

„Smart Lighting“
SmartLighting Technologies UG

This intelligent control system for street lamps (patent pending) is attracting attention far beyond the Anhalt-Bitterfeld rural district due to its enormous potential and superior radiant power. The Smart Lighting system - which is linked to lanterns with LED lamps - makes it necessary for the items in question to be equipped with a mini-computer and a sensor. The networking of the mini-computers makes it possible for information to be shifted from lamp to lamp (e.g. observations of road traffic). Therefore, only those roads that are actually being traversed are lit up.
This means that Smart Lighting functions PREDICTIVELY! 95 per cent of the lanterns could therefore be dimmed to the capacity level of 3 per cent at night. This results in enormous energy savings of up to 90 per cent vis-a-vis conventional LED street lighting systems. It also results in a simultaneous reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 90 to 95 per cent. Light emissions are reduced considerably as well, which in turn is good for all the organisms that are present in the surroundings at night.
What’s more, the Smart Lighting system can also facilitate traffic measurements, information services and environmental measurements such as those pertaining to air quality and sound. For example, such data can be used for traffic monitoring and traffic statistics, which in turn provides information that facilitates traffic management and traffic planning. So-called ‘low-resolution cameras’ can be used to differentiate between the movements of persons and those caused (for example) by animals. The lanterns are thus only switched on for humans, while they do not react to animals at all.
This product combines the approach of energy savings and the efficient use of deployed energy with the use of the most modern ICT (information and communications technology) to facilitate the collection of information or predictive analyses, and to trigger suitable reactions.