it is a fascinating challenge to program varying geometries with technologies such as additive welding and high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) coating
Markus
Markus., Robot Technology & Water Component Engineer. ANDRITZ Hydro Ravensburg, Germany.
Get some insights about robot technology and water components at ANDRITZ. Where passion meets career.
What is your role at ANDRITZ?
My name is Markus and I am responsible for the implementation and development of robot technology to produce hydro power components located in Ravensburg, Germany.
What are you most passionate about in your job?
Waterpower plants are unique and therefore quite often we have to build create customized in-job shop productions with small batch sizes down to one-off single parts. For me it is a fascinating challenge to program varying geometries with technologies such as additive welding and high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) coating. During the setup of new components, I am free to advance the manufacturing process to make the manufacturing improved, faster and therefore more economic.
What opportunities have helped you advance your career within ANDRITZ?
As a recent master’s degree graduate in 2019, I had just started at the design department when the robot production department and manufacturing shifted from Kriens, Switzerland to Ravensburg, Germany took place. People remembered me from my days as a student in the company and asked me if I wanted to do the project coordination. This request was certainly a challenging forward step in my career, but also gave me a lot of responsibility and the chance to prove myself. It gave me the opportunity to collaborate with other hydro locations and work my way into the technology of additive manufacturing, HVOF coating and robot technologies.
The new Pelton turbine completes the existing reversible pump turbines and features extremely good part load behavior.
Machining of the Pelton runner
What does ANDRITZ offer you that perhaps other employers do not? In addition, what do you think makes ANDRITZ unique?
Early on in 2010 I began my studying co-operation with ANDRITZ where I already had the pleasure of familiarizing and collaborating with internal departments. In this early stage I was able to get a feeling for the products. Shortly thereafter I wanted to pursue my master’s degree which briefly took me outside of ANDRITZ, but during this time I remained in contact with human resources who encouraged me to explore further opportunities within ANDRITZ once I’d finalized my studies. This is exactly what had happened, I had the chance to extend my knowledge at other companies as a student trainee during my master thesis and was warmly welcomed back afterwards. It mad me so happy to maintain this informal contact with one another and I think this is one thing the makes ANDRITZ unique.
Hagneck, Canton Bern
Is there a particularly memorable experience or achievement in your career that you would like to mention?
We inherited the additive manufacturing technology from Kriens, Switzerland where almost 500 Pelton turbine runners had been manufactured this way. During the relocation phase we redesigned the facilities to be able to handle the largest Pelton runners in the world. One of our first orders was from a customer in Norway, their runner was one of the largest outer diameters (more than 5m) and the highest runner weight that we’d produced. We managed to produce for them two runners successfully by welding about 12 tonnes of material in addition to each runner.
Birdview of Chenaux GS
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