Around a year after the 100th anniversary of the Research Institute for Precious Metals and Metal Chemistry (fem) and twelve months after the reinforced concrete floor slab was constructed, the new innovation laboratory was opened on October 17: Around 200 guests from politics, administration, business and research came to Schwäbisch Gmünd to celebrate a milestone in the history of fem with Institute Director Prof. Dr. Holger Kaßner.
With the opening of the innovation lab, the fem is realizing a goal that was formulated six years ago in the "Strategy 2027". At that time, a strategy paper for the thematic further development of the institute was drawn up under the leadership of the then director of the institute, Dr. Andreas Zielonka, which also considered a spatial expansion.
The striking new building with its highly symbolic and dynamically curved façade in gold and silver extends the fem by around 4,500 square meters and, in addition to laboratories and offices, also includes a large conference hall bearing the name of the former director of the institute. In future, members of the public will be able to find out about the R&D activities of the Gmünd research institute in the open, spacious foyer: "Thanks to the transparent architecture on the first floor, we can now open up to all interested parties in a way that was not possible before. Anyone who would like to experience how the technologies of tomorrow are created at the fem is cordially invited," says Institute Director Kaßner.
Group photo in front of the new Zielonka Hall. In the middle from left: Prof. Holger Kaßner, Dr. Andreas Zielonka, Mayor of Schwäbisch Gmünd Richard Arnold and Prof. Uwe Landau
fem - technological driving force
In his welcoming address, Ministerial Director Michael Kleiner emphasized the importance of fem as a technological driving force for the future of Baden-Württemberg. The purpose and obligation of the fem is to support the economy, which will be further expanded and intensified with the newly created opportunities. The new building is the largest single project that has been financed in Baden-Württemberg with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the Union's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Lord Mayor Richard Arnold, the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd was particularly fortunate to have been able to play its part in the success of the project. With the construction of the electrolyser in the Gügling industrial park and the hydrogen research at the fem, the city is on the right path into a new energy era. District Administrator Dr. Joachim Bläse argued that, despite all the unanswered questions and uncertainties, a positive picture of the future should be drawn up, to which research and the fem would make an important contribution. He was impressed by the fem's determination and the masterpiece that the new building represents.
Ceremonial handover of the keys to Prof. Dr. Holger Kaßner on October 17, 2023
Dr. Zielonka is still in demand: the strategist behind the extension recently received the Jacobi Prize, the most prestigious DGO award, at the Surface Days
Crowd of visitors at the opening in the foyer of the innovation lab
Creating the future with materials research and surface technology
In his speech, Kaßner underlined Dr. Joachim Bläse's call for a motivating vision of the future and warned against depriving research of its livelihood in difficult times: "Saving on research means saving on the future of the country!". Research, development and the resulting transfer of knowledge and technology to small and medium-sized enterprises, industry, education and society are indispensable for modern civilizations. In the new laboratories, the fem now has every opportunity to make its contribution to realizing this vision in the fields of materials research and surface technology. The fact that the new building could be erected in record time and on schedule is due to the close and concentrated cooperation of all fifty project partners and the extremely unconventional execution. The record time was achieved thanks to highly agile project management and ingenious construction site logistics with large overlaps between all trades. For example, the interior work was already being carried out at full speed before the building shell was closed.
Full house: industry participants from all over the country attended the opening
Mastering the transformation pressure on industry
Following the handover of the keys by architects Armin and Marcel Stütz, Institute Director Kaßner and the fem department heads presented the new laboratories during a tour of the innovation lab. The focus is on additive manufacturing, battery and hydrogen research and support from high-performance computers for digitalization and AI. Equipment and supply technology are installed in a highly flexible manner and offer researchers excellent working conditions. "In view of the high transformation pressure on our industry and society, it is crucial to invest in the development of new research and working environments. Only then will we successfully master the challenges of the future. We have achieved this impressively here with the help of everyone involved," says Kaßner.
Photos: fem
