The engineers, Andreas Ruthmeier, Robert Nedelik, and Markus Seitzberger, have invented a new structure for aluminum metro car bodies, which reduces the weight of metro body shells by up to 20%, and in turn reduces energy consumption. Their work was recognized with the Outstanding Invention award as part of Siemens’ Inventors of the Year program.
According to Siemens, the innovation is made possible thanks to simulation. A plant-like, bionic structure emerges when simulating the car body. The simulation helps identify the areas suitable for “subtractive manufacturing” – removing material by milling the inside of the car bodies.
The new metro car bodies are already in use in Oslo, Puerto Rico, Taipei, Munich, and Vienna. Furthermore, they will also be used in London soon.
Every year Siemens honors outstanding researchers and developers as Inventors of the Year in five categories: Newcomers, Open Innovation, Outstanding Invention, Lifetime Achievement, and Design and User Experience. They continue a company’s history that began 175 years ago. Their innovations make traveling more sustainable, industries smarter and more efficient, and they help to improve healthcare. In 2022, the 16 awarded Inventors of the Year have their origins in Hongkong, Poland, India, Austria, Canada, Lebanon, Scotland, and Germany.
“To tackle the enormous challenges of our time – such as climate change and other crises – we constantly need new approaches for better and more effective solutions. Behind these great inventions, technologies and innovations always stand great people. And that’s exactly why we honor our Inventors of the Year,” said Judith Wiese, chief people and sustainability officer and member of the Managing Board of Siemens.
“To concretely foster innovation at our company, we’re also focusing on a new way of thinking: on the ability to take up ideas from outside and continuously learn as well as on the possibility to experiment and constantly try out new things. This growth mindset is enabling us to drive innovation and thus multiply the positive effects of our technologies for the benefit of people and the environment,” she added.
Find out more about the new lightweight and sustainable metro car bodies here.