Innovation Forum Niederrhein 2022
“Inform and inspire“
Ideas for the economy and the city of tomorrow
Krefeld, September 29, 2022
“From conceivable to possible“" was how Eckehard Preen, head of KREFELD BUSINESS, summed up the newly initiated Innovation Forum Niederrhein 2022 in front of a broad prominent audience from business and politics. KREFELD BUSINESS is the association of the business development agency (WFG), the real estate company (GGK) and the economic department of the city of Krefeld (WDI) with the common goal of advancing Krefeld as a business location. On this day, the focus was on the fundamental upheavals in the economic world, also in connection with the current developments and the necessary transformation of the economy.
Innovative strength as a motor for economic development
The event was opened by Oberbürgermeister Frank Meyer. He referred to many successes and the innovative power of Krefeld and Lower Rhine companies in the region, but also to the novel and dynamic challenges in the here and now.
Siempelkamp Giesserei was invited to report as a world market leader on innovative strength as a driver for successful company development, using practical examples. Dr. Georg Geier, Managing Director of SGK, explained to the audience already implemented digitalisation projects in the area of melting operations and another innovation project in connection with the newly installed largest robot-controlled 3D measuring cell in the world.
Here it was impressively illustrated by facts how we “implement our innovation projects with extreme speed through a symbiosis between start-ups and selected partners from the idea into the real corporate world, and always as added value for the customer and the foundry”, said Dirk Howe, Managing Director of SGK.
Conclusion: innovations are fundamental
The subsequent presentations and panel discussions often focused on the importance of innovations for regional economic activity, but also on the creation of necessary framework conditions for an innovation-friendly Lower Rhine business location.
The broad opinion of the participants: The current situation also offers opportunities for new business models and further developments for company founders and established companies, but also for universities, research and public sector administrations.
This novel initiative as an “innovation forum” for adjusting existing networks, but especially for establishing new networks between start-ups, companies and innovation partners from higher education and research, provided fresh ideas and new opportunities as a result. In addition, there was a lively exchange on supply chains, discussions on how the public sector is now called upon to adapt infrastructures that are essential for success and to develop smart solutions for climate, energy supply and mobility transition in the sense of sustainable urban development.
At the end of the event, it was clear to all participants that innovations are fundamental.
About Siempelkamp Giesserei
Siempelkamp is a globally active group of companies with the business units Mechanical and Plant Engineering, Casting Technology, and Nuclear Engineering. Nearly 3,000 employees worldwide ensure that the Siempelkamp Group is represented among the world leaders with its technologies.
Siempelkamp Giesserei GmbH in Krefeld specializes in the production of hand-molded large castings of up to 320t made of cast iron with nodular graphite and is one of the largest hand-molding foundries in the world. The comprehensive and customer-oriented service package includes the entire production process from design, calculations, pattern making, molding and casting to mechanical processing as well as packaging and transport.