Collaborative undertaking between Ipsen and the Faculty of Technology and Bionics honored with University Prize 2025.
Kreis Kleve's Economic Development Agency has recognized a notable collaboration between Ipsen International GmbH and the Faculty of Technology and Bionics of Hochschule Rhein-Waal with the "Hochschulpreis 2025" award. The winning project, titled "Optimization of the use of regenerative energies in industrial furnaces with hybrid heating for heat treatment of steel," is momentum for sustainable energy innovation.
The project aims to improve energy efficiency in steel heat treatment processes by integrating hybrid heating systems that leverage both traditional heating methods and regenerative energy sources. Ipsen's industrial furnaces will be outfitted with these systems, giving them the ability to harness hydrogen, natural gas, and propane, as well as electrical heating elements. The innovative technology promises to optimize energy use, ensuring sustained performance and minimal environmental impact despite regenerative energy's fluctuating availability.
Dr. Martin Hellwig, who splits his time equally between Ipsen's development department and HSRW's Faculty of Technology and Bionics, spearheads the project. Hellwig highlights the advantage of his hybrid role: "I can gain practical insights into the systems and maintain a close relationship with my university colleagues to facilitate efficient knowledge transfer."
The award ceremony underscored the jury's admiration for Ipsen's technical expertise in developing sustainable solutions for the future. Landrat Gerwers, acknowledging the project's potential impact, praised Ipsen International GmbH's CEO, Paul van Doesburg, for his commitment to innovation. As part of the award, van Doesburg received an original artwork by Wilhelm Schlote.
The project isn't complete yet. According to Dr. Martin Hellwig, the team will validate the digital twin and integrate it into Ipsen's planning software, with an emphasis on creating an optimal regenerative energy use strategy. Furthermore, the project has given rise to other innovations, such as AI-powered image analysis for component recognition and the optimization of processes and energy flow in the furnace.
Prof. Dr. Dirk Nissing represented HSRW at the award ceremony and accepted the 7,500 euro prize money on behalf of the faculty. As the heat treatment industry gears towards sustainable and cost-effective processes, the collaboration between Ipsen International GmbH and Hochschule Rhein-Waal exemplifies ongoing innovation in the field.
- The collaboration between Ipsen International GmbH and the Faculty of Technology and Bionics of Hochschule Rhein-Waal, recognized by Kreis Kleve's Economic Development Agency, is not only focused on improving energy efficiency in industrial steel heat treatment processes, but also extends to environmental-science, as the project aims to minimize environmental impact by integrating hybrid heating systems that leverage regenerative energy sources.
- In the realm of finance, Dr. Martin Hellwig, a key figure in the winning project, stands to gain valuable insights through his dual role at Ipsen's development department and HSRW's Faculty of Technology and Bionics, enabling him to facilitate efficient knowledge transfer and contribute to the optimization of the project's energy use, which promises to deliver sustained performance and reduced environmental impact.
- The synergy between Ipsen International GmbH, a leading player in the industry, and Hochschule Rhein-Waal, demonstrated through the "Optimization of the use of regenerative energies in industrial furnaces with hybrid heating for heat treatment of steel" project, is a testament to the intersection of science, technology, and finance, as the project's innovative technology leverages regenerative energy sources, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane, and electric heating elements, to create cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions for the future.
