On October 2, Burkhardt-Löffler held its first joint in-house exhibition with Weha. According to Weha Managing Director Stefan Deschler, 85 participants had registered for the event. At the in-house exhibition, which was scheduled at short notice, they were able to see new machine developments in the flesh – as well as other innovations. With large machines from Burkhardt-Löffler from all application segments of stone processing […]

On October 2, Burkhardt-Löffler held its first joint in-house exhibition with Weha. According to Weha Managing Director Stefan Deschler, 85 participants had registered for the event. At the in-house exhibition, which was scheduled at short notice, they were able to see new machine developments in the flesh – as well as other innovations.

With large machines from Burkhardt-Löffler from all application segments of stone processing – all equipped with Weha tools – the open day perfectly demonstrated the synergies of the new partnership. In addition, Weha presented several small machines and transport equipment as well as transport vehicles from its product range. And finally, Akemi was the third partner to contribute to the success of the event with a demonstration of its product range.

In the October issue of STEIN 10/20, we reported that Burkhardt-Löffler had already explicitly invited smaller groups to machine demonstrations and factory tours at the company’s sites in Bayreuth and Langenaltheim. With the major event at the beginning of October, the machine manufacturer, together with its new partner Weha, has now provided an important additional impetus for boosting the capital goods business.

The Powerjet 3D waterjet system with the new head developed in-house was of particular interest – mainly because the machine could be experienced in action throughout the day. Software developer Benedikt Maiser also presented the company’s own calibration unit, which can be used to determine the perfect tool center point (TCP). The measuring device compensates for the wobble error of the C-axis and determines the exact distance to the focusing tube.

“We then know exactly how many millimetres we need to compensate in each direction – i.e. for the X, Y and Z axes,” explains Maiser. He uses this to set up the Powerjet 3D in the factory before delivery; the calibration unit is only needed again later if the machine is moved or the customer has had a crash.

In any case, customers appreciate the fact that they can come by with their materials before buying a machine and be shown exactly how to cut them. Maiser and his colleagues can then use the customer information and the material to make recommendations regarding the various machine parameters: from focusing tube and nozzle size and type to sand quantity and type to pump pressure.

Purchasing Manager Michael Hannweber adds with regard to the waterjet machine that the cutting head development is particularly impressive due to the hollow shaft gearbox. This means that the electrical system and high pressure can be fed directly into the 3D head, and there is no longer any need for a pipe spiral or slip ring rotary feed for the electrical signals.

Other visitor magnets were the BAZ 2000 machining center, which, according to Burkhardt-Löffler, has revolutionized the concept of the machining center with automatic suction cup positioning and loading, and the KSL 80 automatic table edging machine, where Weha presented its magnet mounting system, which has been tried and tested for more than 30 years and now has three magnets and is distinguished from competitor products by the fact that the VA buttons of the very quick-clicking triple lock are attached to the base plate instead of the tool.

Burkhardt-Löffler also exhibited the LDZ 2000 K, the compact rotary head saw in monoblock design developed jointly with partner Weha, which we had already presented in STEIN 10/2020. This compact machine can also be set up in companies with limited space. At the in-house exhibition, the machine was shown with the 400/60 UNIV-2 natural stone diamond cutting blade.

Weha also recommended its two new 400 mm Pro-Q and Weramic-yellow blades, which are especially suitable for quartzite and all types of ceramic. Visitors were not yet able to see the planned new KDL-B automatic band edger in action, but according to Stefan Deschler, there have already been many inquiries for it. Thanks to its many years of representing Comandulli machines, Weha has good contacts in the industry, especially with stone processors interested in a belt-driven edging machine.

Many visitors were also interested in the Pantograph 1215 engraving machine presented by GTech company owner Boris Malacko, and the Fuso Canter equipped with a Ferrari loader crane and the compact Roboman Junior crawler vehicle – also with a Ferrari crane – in the outdoor area were surrounded by interested parties throughout the day.

Exhibitor Akemi provided the icing on the cake of an exciting event. Application engineer Otello Piroddi and his colleagues showed, among other things, the new Akepur 250 High Tack for the safe and temperature-resistant bonding of a variety of substructure materials under ceramic, natural and artificial stone.

Another highlight from the construction chemicals manufacturer: the new color paste system, which is particularly suitable for smaller companies and very complex finishing work and, together with the Platinum adhesive, enables an almost inexhaustible variety of colors. The Spectrum Pastes case for up to 60 coloring pastes in 45 gram tubes can be purchased empty and loaded individually. Dry dedusting systems from Weha as well as the BSS 600 wire saw and the CSA 598 industrial band saw system from Burkhardt-Löffler rounded off the extensive in-house exhibition presentation.

The Rhine-Ruhr region is facing an exciting new challenge: the vision for an “Olympic Stadium Rhine-Ruhr” could become the starting point for a forward-looking urban quarter.

Planned as a temporary sports venue for the 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the stadium will not only serve as an arena for global sporting events, but also as a basis for the creation of sustainable and resource-conserving urban development. With a clear focus on the circular economy, modular construction and climate-friendly design, this project is setting new standards for the urban planning and architecture of the future.

The “Rhine-Ruhr Olympic Stadium” will not just be a sports facility in the conventional sense. Rather, it will serve as a central building block for the development of a new, liveable urban quarter. The vision is based on the concept of using the stadium as a temporary facility during the Olympic Games and then converting it into a modular, sustainable structure that can continue to be used after the Games. This modular approach allows the stadium to be easily repurposed for later use as housing, office space, sports facilities and kindergartens.

The stadium is at the center of a new quarter that is being built on a former industrial wasteland in the Rhine-Ruhr region. Due to its central location and excellent connections, this brownfield site offers the ideal conditions for the development of a district that will not only offer modern architecture, but also a high degree of sustainability in its structure and use.

The “Rhine-Ruhr Olympic Stadium” has been geared towards sustainability from the outset. It is not only about the environmentally friendly design of the stadium itself, but also about the long-term use and conversion of the entire infrastructure. The concept is based on a modular construction method in which materials and resources are used as efficiently as possible in order to minimize the project’s ecological footprint.

The planned use of the former industrial site is a prime example of sustainable urban development. By consistently applying the principles of the circular economy, the area will be designed as a resource-conserving and climate-friendly living space for the future. After the Olympic Games, the stadium will become a symbol of progressive urban planning that meets the requirements of climate protection and resource conservation.

In addition, the entire district is being planned as a “city of short distances”. This means that living, working and living spaces are connected in such a way that residents have to travel as few distances as possible by car. This encourages the use of public transport and cycle paths, thus helping to reduce CO2 emissions.

A key component of the project is the close collaboration between architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture. The renowned landscape architecture firm geskes.hack from Berlin, together with the architecture and urban planning firm planquadrat Elfers Geskes Krämer GmbH, has developed a concept that sees the “Rhine-Ruhr Olympic Stadium” not only as a sports venue, but also as the center of a green, open space.

A large park is to be created in the center of the new urban quarter, which will serve as a meeting place for residents and visitors. The park will not only be a place for recreation, but also an important part of the district’s environmentally friendly infrastructure. Green spaces, water features and sustainable horticultural concepts will be combined here to improve the microclimate while creating a place for social interaction and the common good.

The use of rainwater management systems and the promotion of biodiversity are also taken into account. The park will thus not only contribute to recreation, but also to the ecological stabilization of the urban space and sustainably increase the quality of life of the residents.

The “Rhine-Ruhr Olympic Stadium” project represents a significant step in the development of sustainable cities. It combines innovative concepts of urban planning and architecture with a sustainable approach that meets the challenges of climate change. The modular construction of the stadium and the integration of the circular economy into the overall development of the district will create a model that shows how sports infrastructure can be designed in a sustainable and resource-saving way.

The new quarter will not only be a modern living space for the population, but also an example of future urban development. It will meet the demand for housing, workplaces and open spaces and at the same time play a pioneering role in terms of sustainability and resource conservation.

The “Rhine-Ruhr Olympic Stadium” is more than just a sports facility. It is the centerpiece of an innovative and sustainable urban project that not only meets the requirements of modern urban development, but also makes an important contribution to climate protection and resource conservation. With a clear focus on sustainability, modularity and the circular economy, this urban quarter will be a model for the cities of the future and create a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Find out more about the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and its impact on urban planning and architecture here.