TectoYou: around 600 students visited Beckhoff at Hanover Fair

Beckhoff Automation, whose headquarters are in Verl, Germany, ran two trade fair booths at this year’s Hanover Fair from 20 to 24 April 2009. The main booth in the ‘Industrial Automation’ area displayed the complete product range and focused on new products. Beckhoff presented its comprehensive and innovative solutions for wind turbines at the new ‘Wind’ leading trade fair. The appearance at the world’s largest industrial trade fair was rounded off by TectoYou.

TectoYou is a nationwide initiative by the Hanover Fair in cooperation with associations and companies, and aims to inspire young people to take up technical professions and to give them a better understanding of future technologies. The patron is the Federal Minister of Education and Research, Dr. Annette Schavan. Within the framework of the TectoYou initiative, Beckhoff Automation sponsored a trip to Hanover for 600 students from eastern Westphalia together with their teachers. Up to eight trained guides accompanied the 25 classes from nine schools throughout the day around the trade fair and at the Beckhoff booths in order to experience automation technology live.

The highlight of the day was the visit to Beckhoff's main booth. Here, the students gained an insight into the world of automation technology. They were introduced in demonstrative fashion to automation components such as Industrial PCs, information and communication technologies, drive technology and automation software as well as their interaction in the control of machines. The students were particularly surprised by the small dimensions and low weight of Industrial PCs and their high performance. Under the supervision of an expert, the students tried out various machine functions such as the emergency stopping of motors, the measurement of air pressures and falling speeds as well as the switching of consumers – all implemented using automation technology.

Besides technical information, the students also received career information at first hand. “It is important to us to raise young people’s interest in technology and to demonstrate career prospects to them,” says Dr. Ursula Frank, Project Manager for Research and Development Cooperations at Beckhoff. “The Hanover Fair, as the world’s largest industrial trade fair, offers a suitable environment for this: innovative technical solutions, motivated engineers who enjoy their work and international flair.”

TectoYou: www.tectoyou.de (German)