HTL PUPILS DEVELOP TEST SYSTEM

At the end of the 2018 summer holidays, Paul Enzinger spent four weeks on a work experience placement in mechatronics at PALFINGER EPSILON. It was during this time that the idea to develop a new mobile and modular test system came to both him and Robert Wallner (mechatronics and software development at PALFINGER EPSILON). Paul Enzinger and his classmate Simon Wagenbichler began their final examination project on this topic at the beginning of the school year.  

A modern crane consists of a number of components that have to interact with each other. In the case of software components, this interaction needs to undergo particularly thorough testing. Various test systems are used depending on the development phase. An initial function test on the corresponding hardware is usually performed by a developer. Hardware setups that are intended to reflect real-life conditions are used for this developer test.

At PALFINGER EPSILON, a test system that was developed as an ‘emergency solution’ has been used for the developer test until now. The students’ task was to build a mobile and modular test system with crane sensors. Both the hardware and the software had to be created by the pupils. The future HTL mechatronics graduates in Saalfelden thought ‘Let's do this’. During the past school year, the two of them have spent more than 200 hours hard at work on this project. Above all, the programming and design took more time than the students had previously expected. But, apart from a few small setbacks, the moments of brilliance and the satisfaction of a job well done prevailed. ‘The most fun part was independent programming. The insight into professional life at PALFINGER EPSILON was also very cool’, says Paul Enzinger enthusiastically.     

At the final presentation at HTL Saalfelden, Paul Enzinger and Simon Wagenbichler presented their work and impressed Robert Wallner with their concept. ‘The outcome of the final examination project is extremely impressive, and the students’ work met absolutely all its objectives. Their dedication and motivation are remarkable. They approached the topic full of enthusiasm, quickly found creative solutions and mastered problems with flying colours,’ says Wallner. 

The prototype built by the students is already being used at the PALFINGER headquarters in Bergheim. A reproduction of the students’ test system is also planned for the future.

It is not just the students who benefit from collaborations such as these; PALFINGER EPSILON does, too.  It is great to see how young people look for creative solutions and are not afraid of challenges. A work experience placement can open many doors and is often the beginning of a great career.  Paul Enzinger is now dedicating himself to his studies, but he plans to return to PALFINGER EPSILON.