Since 1995, the network members of the Scientific Society for Production Engineering (WGP) have met once a year. As part of a varied program of workshops and deeper insights into the research of the organizing institute, the sporting encounter was once again on the agenda this year. In addition to the IFW, other institutes of the Hannover Center for Production Technology (PZH) were also represented with a team: the Institute of Forming Technology (IFUM), the Institute of Transport and Automation Technology (ITA) and, for the first time, the organizing Institute of Assembly Technology (match). In the competition for the WGP trophies, a total of 20 teams from Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Aachen, Darmstadt and from many other members of the WGP from all over Germany met.
After a bumpy start in the group round against the guests of the IFU from Stuttgart with a 1:4 defeat, the IFW team fought its way back into the tournament and deservedly defeated the ISW from Stuttgart with 5:1. In a very intense match against the WZL from Aachen with great chances on both sides, they could not get beyond a draw (0:0) and the entry into the quarterfinals was on the line. In the derby duel against the IWF from Braunschweig, the IFW mobilized all its strength once again, achieved a clear 4:0 victory and thus secured 2nd place in the group round.
In the quarterfinals, the IFW and the iwb from Munich met. The IFW lost 0:1 in a match dominated by the guests. Through team spirit and technical chances, the IFW managed to win 3:0 against the host team of the match in the following match. In the last match IFW met the PZH neighboring institute of the ITA and turned the game around after an initial deficit to a 2:1 victory. The team thus successfully finished the tournament in 5th place and continued to defend the unofficial PZH championship.
In the technically demanding final, IFU from Stuttgart won against iwb from Munich only in a penalty shootout and finished the tournament in the best weather. At the evening event on the new mechanical engineering campus in Hanover, all teams came together once again to round off the tournament.
On the second day, all participants got to know the Hannover Centre for Production Technology (PZH) in Garbsen better. After the tour of the research projects on site, the institute's director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Annika Raatz announced the placings and awarded the challenge cups to the applause of all the teams.
Background: WGP
The WGP is an association of leading German professors of production technology with 70 members from 42 universities and unites about 2,000 scientists working in basic, applied and industrial research. In terms of subject matter, the orientation ranges from both metal-cutting and non-cutting manufacturing processes to the associated machines and systems, from robotics and assembly technology to questions of production management, work design and production logistics. "In cooperation with scientific institutes, social and political associations as well as industry, the WGP promotes innovation through research, development and knowledge transfer," says Prof. Dr. Drossel, describing the association's role. The WGP advises on research projects, helps shape the framework programs and thus drives communication and cooperation in the scientific and industrial environment. Further focal points are qualification through scientific training as well as the promotion of young engineering scientists
