Güntner’s Internal Innovation Program Is Bearing Fruit
Back in May 2022, 20 participants embarked on Güntner’s newly launched internal innovation program, Thinkit. Designed specifically for the company, its aim was to stimulate ideas within the workforce and to streamline the entire ideation process. As a pilot program, its scope was limited to Güntner in Europe but nevertheless it attracted a widely diverse group in terms of age and gender, drawn from many different areas of the company – administrative, technical, logistics and more. The program had a sustainability theme, so ideas needed to focus on positive environmental or social impact as well as the financial bottom line.
After the first stage of developing ideas, five were chosen by members of Güntner’s top management to go forward for further research or the manufacture of a prototype, drawing on the wide range of expertise within the organization – not just in manufacturing but also in other areas such as digital technology and logistics. Since then, those initial concepts have been modified and developed, and while all five show great promise, two innovations are already demonstrating their potential. One involves the use of ultrasound in the defrosting process, and the other utilizes cutting-edge technologies to transform powder-coating.
Philipp Lamm, Lead Engineer at Güntner’s Fürstenfeldbruck HQ in Germany, went through a whole raft of ideas before he settled on ultrasonic technology as a means of reducing power consumption in the defrosting process. “I was close to giving up and then one of my colleagues suggested we could defrost with microwaves,” he says. “I thought that might be a little too complex, and then the next morning I suddenly thought, ‘Maybe not microwaves but ultrasonic waves.’” Philipp’s idea has the potential to reshape the heat pump industry, and it is currently being further explored in a research project funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Improving on a current industrial process was the aim of Catalin Cretu, an Industrial Engineer at Güntner’s factory in Sibiu, Romania, although his initial idea was far removed from his final concept. This has demonstrated huge potential in both financial and environmental terms. It has been estimated that the development of a new powder for the coating process, twinned with various energy saving measures for the whole powder coating line, can save more than €100,000 a year at the Sibiu factory, and means a carbon emission saving equivalent to planting more than 46,000 trees. “In the Industrial Engineering team in Sibiu, we’re always implementing new technologies, but we don’t have time to think beyond that,” says Catalin. “This program gave me the opportunity to get outside my comfort zone and try something new.”
Both Philipp and Catalin agree that their journeys have been as much about personal development as they have been about creating innovation. “It’s taught me never to give up,” says Philipp, who spent six months doing a Master’s thesis in the final part of the program. “And also to ask for help when it’s needed. There was a time when I just wasn’t getting any results in my research, but I talked to my Professor and my colleagues from different departments at Güntner and they helped me to stay motivated and find the answers.”
Catalin acknowledges that his success in the program has increased his self-confidence, especially after his idea was praised by senior management. And the process has also helped him to expand his personal network within Güntner and to forge new relationships and friendships. “This is really important,” says Herbert Schupfer, Head of Future Solutions at Güntner. “Innovation is about growing great teams and you don’t achieve that just by putting them together and letting them work. There also has to be a human, emotional connection. I’m proud to call Catalin my friend.”
Such has been the success of the pilot Thinkit program that a new program has now begun, this time with a global scope. It will include more internal experts as well as partnerships with institutions and universities in the different regions to bring external insight. And its aims will be aligned with Güntner’s six sustainability pledges, which are accelerating the company’s efforts to significantly reduce its impact on the environment.
“There is much more to come,” says Schupfer. “We have very motivated and passionate people within our organization, and Thinkit is helping us to solve the problems of tomorrow.”