Where are investment casting parts applied? And how are they produced? The students of the study course Business Administration at the DHBW of Villingen-Schwenningen (Cooperative State University of Baden-Württemberg) faced these questions in October when visiting the BLANK-Group in Riedlingen.

“Investment casting parts can be found in many applications in which you wouldn’t necessarily expect them,” emphasized Ellen Schwörer from the division BLANK Academy in her welcome presentation. “Operation robots are a good example. Robotic parts and also parachute hooks are included in our range.”

After a short introduction of the BLANK-Group the students had the possibility to experience closely the production process with the trainers Vanessa Heilborn and Artur Widik. The visitors were visibly impressed especially by the foundry. “First a tool is made which is needed to form the wax part. The wax parts are glued together to a so-called wax tree which is then dipped into liquid ceramics and sanded with several coatings,” explains Vanessa Heilborn to the curious audience. “After a drying phase and the removal of the wax within the shell, the actual casting process follows in our foundry.” The students were impressed by the imposing open casting of the hot metal having a temperature of more than 1,600°C. “It was great that we had the opportunity to see this!” said professor Giesler, leader of the study course Business Administration.

Naike Nassal, Head of Human Resources Management at BLANK, was pleased about the lively interest of the students: “We like to give an insight into our world of casting to regional student groups and are happy about the exchange.”