For a technology group like Schunk, successful innovations are an essential prerequisite for the company's success. "Success by Innovation" was therefore the annual motto a few years ago, and a lot has happened since then: Not only the construction and equipping of two new innovation centers in Heuchelheim and Reiskirchen, but also the establishment of the Innovation Fund for long-term innovations were important measures. They have helped to support the Business Units in their innovation activities and have led to a significant increase in the proportion of Schunk's sales accounted for by innovation over the years.
"We can and must increase our innovation activities even further," says Dr. Ulrich von Hülsen, COO and responsible for Schunk's materials business. "This is also about focusing even more strongly on innovation in strategically important high-tech growth markets." One of these growth markets is the semiconductor industry. "Here, we can make an even greater contribution to the technological development of the industry with our technology in many Business Units," says Dr. von Hülsen.
Semiconductor industry offers great potential for Schunk
Analyzing this market for further potential for Schunk is the task of Dr. Nils Trautmann, who has been working at Schunk as Innovation Program Manager Semiconductor since October 2023. "As a first step, our approach is to investigate the actual needs for technological progress in the semiconductor industry," he explains. "In the second step, we look at whether and how Schunk can become the best solution provider for these needs."
Schunk is already established in many areas of the semiconductor industry. The value chain for semiconductors is extremely complex and it takes many steps before the basic materials are turned into a finished chip, for example. Schunk is already active in many of these process steps with its Business Units Microelectronics, Environmental Simulations, Technical Ceramics and Mobility and offers solutions (indicated by blue columns in the graphic).
Combining existing expertise
"However, there are also a whole series of process steps in which we are not yet active, but which we could develop well for Schunk," says Dr. Trautmann (these are the green columns in the graphic). "We are now analyzing what expertise is already available for the value chain in Schunk's BUs and whether and how we can combine this expertise."
One example of this is that several BUs have extensive expertise in machining hard and brittle materials such as silicon carbide. Some BUs even manufacture their own processing machines. "We can intensify the exchange on this and the use of our own machines," Dr. Trautmann is certain.
"Of course, the Business Units are primarily concentrating on their core business. However, I am very pleased about the willingness to look beyond this and explore possible potential for Schunk. I see great opportunities for us here," says Dr. Trautmann.
Anyone who has ideas on this topic or would like to participate in leveraging further innovation potential for Schunk can contact Dr. Trautmann directly ([email protected]).