Balluff is a lender of expedition d

A fun way to understand digitalization

A double-decker "experience truck" is touring Baden-Württemberg schools for the education initiative "expedition d – Digitale Technologien | Anwendungen | Berufe" - and carrying Balluff products with it.

What exactly does digitalization mean? And how will it change our future world (of work)? Baden-Württemberg students have been getting answers to these and many other questions since expedition d began on April 29. This education initiative has been touring since then with a double-decker experience truck, demonstrating to the next generation at secondary schools how digitalization will change the professional life, how youth can participate and which digital competences are necessary. "expedition“ refers to "setting out into new professions“ – and the "d“ for "digitalization“. Balluff is not only there as a lender, but is also making available their SmartCamera and ultrasonic sensor products for trying out.

Using the SmartCamera

From parking a car with the aid of various sensors to programming a robot to building a bicycle in virtual reality - in the "Room of Technologies" in the first level youth will get to know digital key technologies from the fields of sensors, artificial intelligence, robotics or virtual and augmented reality and use them in game-like ways. At twelve stations they able to solve various problems. One of these stations, Computer Vision, is devoted to perceiving and understanding the environment using cameras. Here is where the Balluff SmartCamera comes into use: the students read out various components with the SmartCamera and measure them in order to collect information on decoding a code.

Becoming familiar with STEM professions

The objective behind this new educational initiative: youth should understand the complexity of digital applications and recognize the opportunity to participate in these developments as a profession. Young STEM academicians accompany the students and highlight professional perspectives in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and math. In the "Room of Ideas" in the upper level the young people then record which technologies they required for their work assignment and which STEM professions that involves.

Stop in Neuhausen

On May 27 the truck will stop at Balluff in Neuhausen. All the surrounding schools are invited to explore the truck on the Balluff premises. Managing Director Katrin Stegmaier-Hermle: "In this way we introduce the youth not only to digital technologies, but also to Balluff and our products. At the same time, we are promoting the next generation of professionals in the region." How? The truck reaches up to 11,000 students each year. Cooperating in implementing the "expedition d" initiative are the Baden-Württemberg Foundation, Südwestmetall and Regional Directory Baden-Württemberg of the Federal Department of Labor. Katrin Stegmaier-Hermle: "We are proud to be part of this progressive initiative and look forward to showing students the joy of digitization and engineering."

About the company Balluff

Founded in 1921 in Neuhausen a.d.F., Balluff employs 4000 people worldwide and represents innovative technology, quality and cross-industry experience in industrial automation. As a leading sensor and automation specialist, the family-owned company in its fourth generation offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality sensor, identification, network and software solutions.

In 2018, Balluff Group reported revenues of around 488 million Euro. In addition to the main headquarters in Neuhausen a. d. F., Balluff has sales, production and development locations around the world and can boast 38 wholly owned subsidiaries and other representatives in 68 countries. This guarantees customers rapid worldwide availability of products and high consulting and service quality on site.