Venue and Opening

Jürgen Hoffmeister (SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co KG) welcomed the participants to the 75th Technical Committee meeting at the large gear factory in Bruchsal. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved without comment, allowing the agenda to proceed as planned.

Following the formal opening, Armin Kiefer delivered a eulogy for Prof. Lothar Wagner. Prof. Wagner chaired the Technical Committee on Mechanical Surface Treatments from 1997 to 2004 and had a significant influence on the working group during this time, both professionally and structurally. He passed away on 15 June 2025.

After the memorial, Jürgen Hoffmeister introduced SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co KG and gave an overview of the company and the importance of mechanical surface treatments in the context of drive technology and large gear manufacturing.

Technical Presentations and Discussions

The lecture program was carried out in accordance with the revised agenda. The presentations covered current issues in the field of mechanical surface treatments and provided an opportunity for intensive exchange between industry and research.

The topics presented included practical applications and developments in the field of shot peening and other mechanical processes for specifically influencing edge and surface properties. The presentations led to lively discussions in which participants shared their experiences from operational applications, discussed standardization issues, and identified potential future research needs.

Outlook for the 2026 Spring Meeting

The next spring meeting of the Technical Committee “Mechanical Surface Treatments” will take place on 15 April 2026, in Celle. The host will be ECOROLL AG Werkzeugtechnik.

Factory Tour at SEW-EURODRIVE

At the end of the meeting, participants had the opportunity to visit the large gear factory of SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co KG. During the tour, they gained insights into the manufacturing processes of large drive systems and the practical implementation of mechanical surface treatments on an industrial scale. The direct look at production complemented the technical discussions that had taken place earlier and underscored the close connection between materials research, standardization work, and industrial application.