VAHLE Automation relies on new research alliance between Schwoich and Sweden

The VAHLE Group, based in Kamen, Germany, has become the world market leader in energy and data transmission systems in its more than 100-year company history. In 2013, VAHLE Automation was founded as an innovation and development center in Schwoich near Kufstein/Tyrol. In order to further strengthen international competitiveness, a close research cooperation with the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm is now being realized.

"We want to further expand our company's leading position and are focusing on innovative developments, the latest research and state-of-the-art technologies. That is why we are now establishing a network between Sweden and Schwoich with the leading experts in Stockholm," emphasizes VAHLE CEO Achim Dries. The research alliance was officially sealed by CEO Dries, Volker Napiwotzki (CTO VAHLE Kamen) Peter Kohlschmidt and Thomas Streicher (both Head of VAHLE Automation) during the visit of Prof. James Gross from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm.

Innovation center in Tyrol will be internationally networked
"The cooperation with Stockholm is designed for the long term, says Dries, and includes, among other things, the assignment of doctoral, master's and bachelor's topics to students in Sweden: "In addition, we will establish a technology advisory board within the VAHLE Group, of which Prof. Gross will be a permanent member." Dries is aware that automation and digitalization are becoming increasingly important. "Together with our research and development department at the headquarters in Kamen, VAHLE Automation in Tyrol forms a technology axis that is now even more intensively networked internationally."

Cooperation between business & science as a model for success

For KTH Stockholm, the appeal of the cooperation lies above all in the complexity of the collaboration: "We will move closer together in terms of both research and training, which will benefit both our students and the VAHLE Group. The symbiosis of business and science, practice and theory is a successful model that has great potential for the future," said Prof. Gross during his visit to Tyrol.

Research assignments bring students into the company

"As part of the research assignments, students will also gain an insight into practice based on our topics. This promises to provide valuable impetus for us in Tyrol," says VAHLE Automation Managing Director Kohlschmidt with conviction. But it's not just the Schwoich site that will benefit from the partnership, explains VAHLE CTO Napiwotzki, who is responsible for the technical area across the Group: "The aim is to ensure innovative capability and develop leading edge technology products in order to secure the company's market leadership in this way."

As a system supplier for energy and communication systems, the core business of the VAHLE Group today lies in rail-guided and freely navigating transport vehicles, which are supplied with contactless energy and data for control and positioning in port, crane, conveyor and warehouse technology. Other business areas include customer-specific operating terminals, camera-based sensor technology, railroad and elevator technology as well as powering amusement park rides.

Spectacular lighthouse projects from Dubai to Singapore

The VAHLE Group regularly causes a stir with international lighthouse projects. One of the most recent projects was the world's largest and highest observation wheel, the Ain Dubai, which went into operation for EXPO 2021. A few years earlier, the world's second-largest Ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer, was installed. In the past, the largest port in England, Felixstowe, was completely electrified and automated. The same applies to the world's first fully automated container terminal in the port of Laem Chabang in Thailand.