During the inauguration ceremony of the company’s new, globally unique test center in Regensburg, Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Günther Beckstein called the Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH (MR) corporation an “enterprise on the fast track.” It is, thus, not surprising that MR has become the global market leader in its branch. In addition to numerous guests of honor – among them Ms. Brigitta Brunner, the President of the District Government, and Lord Mayor Hans Schaidinger –, MR’s General Managers Dr. Nicolas Maier-Scheubeck and Michael Rohde also welcomed many customers and suppliers from Germany and abroad. After the official ceremony, the company opened its doors to the public for a “Science Day.” Almost 10,000 interested people from the region visited the new high tech building and partook in the various programs which provided both information and entertainment.
“After more than 50 years, our old test center has more than done its part. The new building is the largest individual investment in our company’s 140 year history. One may also call it the ‘building for the future’,” concluded Dr. Maier-Scheubeck. Even though the export ratio is almost 90 percent, with Asia as the most important market, MR continues to invest in its domestic headquarters in Regensburg. “Because we trust the efficiency and effectiveness of our staff, and because it’s still possible to successfully consolidate productivity and competence right here in Germany.” This creates a considerable number of jobs in Regensburg. However, Reinhausen is not only the headquarters of MR; the name also stands for the entire corporate Group, noted Michael Rohde. In addition to regulating power transformers in energy transmission networks, the Group is also active in four other divisions and includes a total of 20 corporations at 23 locations in 13 countries.
“Torture Chamber” and Incubator for New Ideas
Managing Director Rohde added: Half of the world’s electrical energy flows through MR technology. The new test center became necessary because MR wants to stay ahead of the development. “The innovative heart of our Group beats here.” The inner life of the 25 million euro high tech building is unique in the world. Only here will it be possible in the future to test any and all functions of an on-load tap changer even under extreme conditions. No other manufacturer has comparable test facilities. For example, high voltage tests with up to 1.8 million volts are conducted here. Due to the highly sensitive measuring devices, the hall is extremely well shielded. Otherwise, already the ignition spark of a passenger car starting on the street could decisively distort the test results. The temperature chambers permit the simulation of operating conditions ranging from -70 degrees Celsius to +130 degrees Celsius. In endurance tests, the tap changers have to withstand mechanical loads of several million switching operations. Only if the developed products have survived these tortures without any problems will they comply with MR’s strict and stringent requirements.
More than 60 highly qualified employees will commence with their work in the new test center. And right next to it, a new, big pit has already been excavated – it is here where the new innovation center will be built. This is the place where, similar to the innovation processes in the automobile industry, all phases ranging from the generation of new ideas all the way to the market launch of new products will be carried out as quickly as possible in an optimal environment. So that tomorrow, the global energy markets can also be supplied with innovative technology made by Reinhausen.