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Robin Wenger (Mitte) erhält den 38. Karl-Kessler-Preis für seine herausragende Bachelor-Arbeit. Seine Betreuer Prof. Dr. Eckehard Kalhöfer und Prof. Dr. Harald Riegel freuen sich mit ihm. Foto: © Alfing Sondermaschinen GmbH | Dominik Wolf.

"Today we want to honor the outstanding achievement of a graduate of Aalen University," welcomed Dr. Thomas Koch, Managing Director of Alfing Kessler Sondermaschinen GmbH, to the presentation of the 38th Karl Kessler Award. The prize was awarded for the outstanding bachelor thesis of Robin Wenger, who completed his bachelor's degree in "Mechanical Engineering/Economics and Management" as the best student of the year at Aalen University. The award-winning thesis deals with the reduction of residual stress in 3D-printed components by means of laser treatment.

In perfect weather, representatives of the Alfing companies, the award winner with friends and family, as well as the laudators and supervisors from Aalen University gathered directly at the Alfing plant in Wasseralfingen to jointly honor Robin Wenger's bachelor thesis. The Managing Director of Alfing Kessler Sondermaschinen GmbH, Dr. Thomas Koch, already emphasized in his welcoming speech that the work was outstanding. And today it also shows what distinguished the company founder Karl Kessler back then: Curiosity, the passion for his own field of expertise, the willingness to constantly expand his own skills and the will to succeed. In presenting the €2,500 prize, Wenger, who is currently pursuing his master's degree in "Advanced Materials and Manufacturing" at the university, thanked the award sponsors and his supervisors Prof. Dr. Harald Riegel and Prof. Dr. Eckehard Kalhöfer. "I am very honored to receive the award and was immensely pleased," said Wenger, who wrote his thesis at the LaserApplicationCenter (LAZ).

Structured and dedicated

"Robin Wenger stands out for his structured way of working, his commitment and his initiative," praised laudator Prof. Dr. Harald Riegel, Rector of Aalen University and one of the two supervisors of the thesis. According to Riegel, the 25-year-old award winner was also able to familiarize himself with laser technology in an extremely short time for his bachelor's thesis. Wenger's drive for research and innovation, as stated in the thesis report, was also a key reason why he received the award, he said. Riegel also thanked the award sponsors, saying, "This award will give Robin additional motivation as he moves forward."

Laser treatment saves time and money

The final thesis, which has now won the award, dealt with the reduction of residual stress in 3D-printed components through laser treatment. Robin Wenger confidently showed in a presentation at the end what his work deals with: By machining the components with a laser, they retained their shape even after the support structures needed for 3D printing were detached. In addition, this process reduces production time and costs.