Dr. Robert Habeck, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, paid a visit to Flender, a renowned drive specialist, at its production site in Penig, Germany. Accompanied by advisors from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, as well as journalists from various media outlets, the visit aimed to explore the cutting-edge advancements in digitization and artificial intelligence (AI) in mechanical engineering.
During the tour, Flender’s CEO, Andreas Evertz, and site manager, Jens Klein, guided the delegation through the plant, highlighting the company’s focus on Industry 4.0 and its integration into the production of industrial gear units. Evertz and Klein demonstrated the efficiency improvements achieved through the implementation of Flender’s new gearbox solutions, such as the Flender One gearbox platform and the AIQ gearbox intelligence.
Minister Habeck expressed his admiration for Flender’s commitment to embracing new technologies. He acknowledged that while industries like mechanical engineering and drive technology were traditionally seen as mature fields, Flender’s adoption of AI and digitization has resulted in a remarkable leap in efficiency, significantly benefiting their operations.
Flender’s Flender One platform is a shining example of innovation in the industry. It boasts a high degree of individualization and features a paperless production process at the Penig site. Jens Klein emphasized the importance of digitization to achieve batch sizes of 1, making the production process more agile and adaptable to diverse customer needs. Trainee Lisa-Marie Söll shared her experiences of transitioning from traditional drawings to working with 3D models, showcasing how technology has revolutionized training and manufacturing processes.
During the visit, the delegation also met two former refugees from Ukraine who are now part of Flender’s manufacturing team. Artur Buniian, one of the refugees, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and praised Flender for their inclusive hiring practices. Minister Habeck commended the company’s efforts towards integration and wished the employees success in their new home.
The topic of wind expansion was also on the agenda. Flender CEO Andreas Evertz mentioned the industry’s shift from pessimism to optimism, with a projected boom expected in 2025. Flender’s Winergy brand plays a crucial role in the wind industry, providing drive technology for wind turbines. With an impressive track record of delivering 350 gigawatts of drive capacity to date, Flender is recognized as a pioneer in wind energy. Evertz emphasized the need for scalability and volume to meet the increasing demand efficiently and economically.
Throughout the visit, Minister Habeck engaged in discussions about the challenges faced by the industry, including rising energy and material costs, as well as the importance of streamlining bureaucracy in sustainability reporting.
Flender, a major employer in Penig, boasts a workforce of around 550 employees. The company primarily manufactures standard gear units for industrial applications and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023.
The visit to Flender’s Penig site was part of Vice Chancellor Habeck’s summer tour, aimed at engaging with entrepreneurs, employees, and citizens across the nation. The visit builds on the earlier interaction between Minister Habeck and Andreas Evertz at the Hannover Messe in April, where Habeck visited the Flender booth and expressed interest in their technological advancements.
Overall, the visit highlighted Flender’s commitment to innovation and efficiency in mechanical engineering, underscoring their role as a driving force in Germany’s transition towards a sustainable and technologically advanced future.
