Innovation Award for outstanding theses The Schaeffler FAG Foundation presented the Innovation Award 2015 for three outstanding doctoral theses on April 19, 2016. The foundation also awarded a special prize for an outstanding master’s thesis. Dr. Stefan Spindler, member of the Executive Board of Schaeffler AG, and Klaus Widmaier, Chairman of the Foundation Board, presented the awards to the winners during a special ceremony in Schweinfurt: Dr.-Ing. Michael Duscha received the first prize of 10,000 euros for his doctoral thesis “Description of residual stress conditions during complete traverse and speed-stroke grinding”. Two second prizes of 5,000 euros went to Dr.-Ing. Hendrik Surborg for the doctoral thesis "Influence of base oils and additives on the formation of WEC (White Etching Cracks) in rolling bearings” and to Dr.-Ing. Max Sommer for the doctoral thesis “Influence of grease on the tribological system radial shaft seal: operational behavior and functional model”. Philipp Rödel received the special prize of 3,000 euros for his master’s thesis “Analysis of spindle bearings with regard to robustness taking current and future requirements and developments into account using the program STRAWbearing”. In his welcoming speech, Klaus Widmaier explained the objectives of the foundation, which has worked to promote knowledge, research, and learning in the fields of science and technology at institutes of higher education and universities since it was formed in 1983. “The foundation is a driver for knowledge, knowledge transfer and the development of potential. It reflects our corporate and social responsibility”, says Widmaier. During more than 30 years of activity, the Schaeffler FAG Foundation has distributed more than one million euros in funds (including the current awards). In addition, Widmaier announced that the foundation will present the honorary award on May 31, 2016 in Karlsruhe. This award is given in recognition of excellent achievement and expertise in knowledge, research and learning in the fields of science and technology. The prize of 25,000 euros is being presented for the second time since 2012 to reward overall achievement in terms of innovation and technology and will be awarded to the Institute of Product Engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Under the title “Dimensions of Innovation”, Dr. Stefan Spindler, a Member of the Foundation Board, explained the importance of innovations for Schaeffler and the company’s approach in his speech. He emphasized the strategic approach as part of systematic innovation management and also highlighted the importance of practical implementation for successful innovations. As an example, he named the “Machine Tool 4.0”, with which Schaeffler is now testing the opportunities for digitalization and networking in future production. “This also includes innovation through partnership because in the industry of the future, innovations will be increasingly developed through collaboration between partners who represent different links in the value added chain”, says Dr. Spindler. Schaeffler’s partnerships range from original equipment manufacturers and specialist suppliers and IT companies and universities through to close cooperation with customers. Addressing the prize winners, Dr. Stefan Spindler said “You give us confidence, a lot of confidence. Innovations only work due to the inventiveness and drive of individuals. You are a good example of this.” The prize winners First prize Prize money: 10,000 euros The first prize went to Dr. Michael Duscha (RWTH Aachen, Machine Tool Laboratory (WZL), Chair of Manufacturing Technology, Prof. Dr. mult. F. Klocke), who has made an important contribution to the design of grinding processes both for the rolling bearing industry and for linear technology products with his doctoral thesis “Description of residual stress conditions during complete traverse and speed-stroke grinding”. Grinding is at the end of the manufacturing process in a large number of applications. Thermal overstressing can occur in the surface zone of the workpiece during grinding due to the thermo-mechanical load spectrum that occurs in the contact zone. This has a direct influence on the residual stresses and therefore on the operating life of dynamically loaded workpieces. Through the use of innovative testing methods, Dr. Duscha has successfully developed a holistic simulation model, in which the fundamental relationships during the formation of residual stresses are mapped. This prize-winning scientific work provides findings, which can be directly implemented in the industrial application of grinding processes. Second prizes Prize money: 5,000 euros A second prize went to Dr. Hendrik Surborg (Magdeburg University, Institute for Machine Design, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ludger Deters) for his doctoral thesis “Influence of base oils and additives on the formation of WEC in rolling bearings”. WEC (white etching cracks) is bearing damage, which forms due to premature failure mechanisms in rolling bearings. In his work, Dr. Surborg found new relationships between the compositions of lubricating oils and fatigue damage in rolling bearings. The results provide valuable information for the rolling bearing industry, lubricant and preservative manufacturers and users of rolling bearings. On the basis of his work, the Research Association for Drive Technology initiated the research project “Interaction between preservative and operating oil”. The foundation awarded an additional second prize to Dr. Max Sommer (University of Stuttgart, Institute for Machine components, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Werner Haas) for his doctoral thesis “Influence of grease on the tribological system radial shaft seal: operational behavior and functional model”. Many rolling bearings are sealed directly with a rotary shaft seal and operated with grease lubrication. Dr. Sommer has developed the first reliable functional model for rotary shaft seals, which retain grease. He has proven that the so-called thickener and not the base oil is decisive for the lubrication characteristics of a grease. This new finding is of great importance for science and practical application, particularly for seal technology. Special prize Prize money: 3,000 euros Philip Rödel (Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Chair of Engineering Design, Prof. Dr. Sandro Wartzack) received the special prize for the master’s thesis “Analysis of spindle bearings with regard to robustness taking current and future requirements and developments into account using the program STRAWbearing”. In the production of precision spindle bearings, every reduction in the tolerance creates significant additional costs in manufacturing and a longer throughput per bearing. Therefore, a detailed tolerance analysis is required to plan the optimum production cycle for optimization in the high-precision range. For his work, Philip Rödel used the software tool STRAWbearing, which was developed by Schaeffler in conjunction with the Chair of Engineering Design at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Rödel’s results demonstrate opportunities for modifying the tolerancing while maintaining or even improving the production characteristics without having to improve the production accuracy. His work provides design engineers with an effective tool for tolerancing spindle bearings and is therefore of special significance for bearing technology.