HANNOVER, GERMANY – Three companies have been nominated for the prestigious HERMES AWARD, a highly-respected international prize in the industry. The independent jury, consisting of experts from various fields, will select the winner, which will be announced at the opening ceremony of HANNOVER MESSE on April 21, 2024. The event will be attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the award will be presented by Bettina Stark-Watzinger, German Federal Minister of Education and Research.
For over 20 years, the HERMES AWARD has been presented by Deutsche Messe AG, recognizing exceptional technological innovation and market maturity in a product or solution. The jury, chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer Society, carefully reviewed numerous submissions before selecting three companies as the finalists: Bosch Rexroth, Schunk, and Siemens.
The nominated project from Bosch Rexroth, based in Lohr am Main, focuses on the industrial dismantling and recycling of batteries used in electric vehicles. Their automation solution greatly accelerates the entire process, from transporting and diagnosing to discharging and recycling batteries. This breakthrough technology enables the retrieval of up to 95 percent of chemical elements for reuse, promoting a more sustainable production process.
Schunk, located in Lauffen/Neckar, has been nominated for their innovative 2D Grasping Kit project. This application kit utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) software and a specialized gripper to handle and sort various components. The AI-based modeling of component variants and the reduction of training times for recognition allow for efficient and reliable automation of repetitive sorting or logistics tasks.
Siemens, based in Munich, has been recognized for their SiGREEN CO2 management tool. This tool provides real-time monitoring and transparency of emissions along the entire supply chain, allowing companies to take proactive steps to reduce their carbon footprint. By exchanging sensitive data in a protected space, Siemens contributes to sustainability and helps companies verify the carbon footprint of their supply chains and products.
The jury chairperson, Prof. Holger Hanselka, expressed excitement about the high level of creativity and innovative strength demonstrated by the nominated companies. He emphasized that these products showcase the significance of manufacturing technologies in shaping a future-oriented society. The finalists will have the opportunity to engage in a direct exchange of ideas with other innovators at the upcoming Hannover Messe.
HANNOVER MESSE, the world’s leading trade fair for industry, will feature a range of exhibiting companies from various sectors, focusing on future production methods and energy supply. The event, taking place from April 22-26, 2024, in Hannover, Germany, will explore key topics such as Industrie 4.0/Manufacturing-X, Energy for Industry, Digitization/Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Carbon-neutral Production, and Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. The program will also include conferences and forums to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration. Norway is announced as the partner country for this edition of HANNOVER MESSE.