OREANDA-NEWS. Whether developing efficient tools for production, applying alternative production concepts like 3D metal printing or new methods for checking the quality of components in the press shop – the spectrum covered by toolmaking has many aspects. That has been demonstrated once again by student work in the areas of press-shop tools and car-body assembly equipment, which was given recognition with the award of the Audi Tool Trophy by the Audi Toolmaking division on Tuesday. For the eighth time now, the company has organized this student competition that is unique in the whole of Europe. The six best entries in the categories of “Master’s Dissertations” and “Bachelor’s Dissertations / Term Papers” were awarded prize money of up to 2,500 euros.

“With the Audi Tool Trophy, we are promoting young talented people with innovative ideas who enrich our toolmaking with new approaches. In close collaboration with research and teaching, we are equipping this diverse division for the production of the future,” stated Prof. Dr Hubert Waltl, Board of Management Member for Production and Logistics at AUDI AG, with regard to the intention of the award.

“Excellent work must receive great recognition,” said Peter Mosch, Chairman of the Group Works Council at AUDI AG. “In this way, we encourage innovative ideas and safeguard our ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ over the long term.”

When awarding the prizes, J?rg Spindler, Head of Audi Toolmaking, emphasized, “The Audi Tool Trophy is meanwhile an established competition. We use it to support especially talented engineering students and to offer them a stepping stone for their entry into a career.”

With the Audi Tool Trophy, Audi gives recognition to the three best student papers in two categories: First place among the master’s students was taken by Emmanuel Conter of Munich University with his paper on the subject of “Creating a tinsel extraction device.” Conter developed a suction extractor for so?called aluminum tinsel. These are metal particles that arise in the body shops during the processing of aluminum and which have a negative impact on the production process. With the help of air?current simulations and new manufacturing technologies, Conter created optimally adjusted suction nozzles and integrated them into the tools. Audi Toolmaking has already implemented this overall concept in the series?production process.

Magdalena Ernst took the first prize in the category “Bachelor Dissertations / Term Papers.” As student of the Ingolstadt University of Technology, she developed a method for validating and calibrating a new calculation process for predicting sink marks in a forming simulation. These sink marks are surface flaws that can be defined in terms of their depth and curvature. The special merit of her research work is in the consideration of these sink marks. Magdalena Ernst has implemented her new definition in a graphic user interface. This means that the simulation can now be directly compared with the measurement of the sink marks.

The award of the Audi Tool Trophy will once again be supplemented with a three?day technology forum. Audi Toolmaking employees can find out about current and future projects in lectures and special exhibitions.

The Audi Toolmaking division will organize the Audi Tool Trophy competition for participants from Germany, Austria and Switzerland this year as well. The company will soon announce the exact dates for applications.