HTL students develop vehicle cables of the future

VIENNA, May 29, 2024 - Once again, innovative projects at Austria's technical colleges have proven that the future can be reconsidered and reshaped during education. While two students are making the wiring in electric vehicles more ecological, two other theses show how processes can be sustainably improved and how industrial waste can be handled more efficiently. These innovative works were rightfully honored with the Borealis Innovation Award, which is highly regarded in the industry.

While Austria's high school graduates are currently awaiting their final oral exams, three HTL student groups from the Technological Trade Museum (Technologische Gewerbemuseum - TGM) can already look back on their successful education. Winners of this year's Borealis Innovation Awards not only demonstrated the innovative potential of young technology talents, but also that the future can already be reshaped sustainably even during their education.

Living sustainability in training

While the plastics industry is often confronted with reports on microplastics and the increasing accumulation of plastics in the oceans, the Plastics and Environmental Technology course at the TGM has been focusing on the use of renewable raw materials as well as the efficient use and recycling of plastics for over two decades.

This focus is also reflected in the topics of this year's diploma theses thatwere awarded prizes.

Natalie Ertl and Vanessa Wieselthaler won over the expert jury with their development of new high-performance cable sheathing for the automotive sector. Thanks to the work of the two students, electric cables in electric vehicles can be produced with environmentally friendly components. This will make the next generation of electric vehicles more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Second place went to Stefania Koenne and Artur König, who focused on the quality assurance of plastics based on flow properties in the melt state. The results of this work not only lead to more efficient and accelerated quality control, but also reduce the amount of rejects generated in the process.

Christoph Dillinger and Izaura Wong, who were awarded third place, impressed with their work on chemical waste treatment. Their results lead to an improved cleaning performance of increasingly complex industrial waste. The possible recovery of materials from this process is also improved.

The recipe for success of innovative projects

The high quality of the award-winning theses can be traced back to an essential feature of the HTL education. "The close connection between practical and theoretical training is the recipe for success of the Austrian HTL," emphasized department head Klemens Reitinger (TGM) at the award ceremony.

Markus Horcher, Director Sustainability & Public Affairs at Borealis, who presented the awards, was also visibly impressed by the innovative work. "It is remarkable that the next generation of young technicians have been able to achieve such great results while still at school, focusing on the combination of innovation and sustainability. We are therefore very pleased to continuously promote this innovative spirit on the part of Borealis."

Training and industry go hand in hand

The Department of Plastics and Environmental Technology has been working directly with industrial partners since it was founded in 1963. The diploma theses, which are carried out entirely with cooperating companies, thus provide students with far-reaching insights into local industry and current topics. An education at the cutting edge of technology in which both sides benefit from each other.

This close link between education and industry was also demonstrated by the approximately 150 guests from trade and industry who attended the award ceremony in the banquet hall of the Technological Trade Museum.