Hermann Albers is president of the Federal German Wind Energy Association, and asserts that wind is the lowest-cost source of renewable energy on land. Even so, recent debate has put a question mark against the future level of public subsidies for this and other renewable energies in Germany. A vigorous debate is under way on the merits and demerits of subsidies paid under the current EEG Renewable Energy Law.

Irrespective of whether and at what level subsidies will continue, there are now numerous wind parks in operation – particularly in Northern Germany and Northern Europe – that must all be regularly maintained. Wind turbines extend up to 120 metres above ground level, and each drives a huge gearbox requiring special maintenance. The consequences of a tool forgotten and left behind in a gearbox are unthinkable. Hence the requirement for intelligent tool storage systems that instantly reveal by visual inspection whether anything has been left behind. A good example is the TCS Tool Control System (TCS) made by Stahlwille. The TCS tool holder has storage detents, each of which matches only one particular tool. The detent is of completely different colour to the surrounding material so the absence of a tool is instantly spotted, and the search can begin.

Special tools are also required for manufacture of the huge rotor blades, ground to the correct profile by angle grinders having a high-speed particle evacuation system. They are used on glass fibre and carbon fibre rotor blades, from which an angle grinder operating under high load and subject to rapid wear, abrades large quantities of material. It will be interesting to see what toolmakers can offer to deal with this highly specialised requirement. Angle grinders are made by several exhibitors including Bendel Werkzeuge, BSK-Metallfinish, Einhell, Eisenblätter and Kress Elektrowerkzeuge.

The Berlin Technical Museum currently has a special exhibition on wind energy running until 28 February 2013. The exhibition occupies more than 1,000 m², describing the origins and importance of wind, and the long history of wind power.

These 630 kg high-speed projectiles scorch down the ice track at speeds of up to 150 km/h. Since 1924 bobsleighs have been an Olympic sport in which aero-dynamicists and sportsmen have systematically shaved thousandths of seconds off their best times in an effort to beat the competition.

The descent gradient is between eight and 15 percent through a series of chicanes and steep bends, placing enormous stress on the four sprung and highly polished bobsleigh runners. Nothing but the very best will do, for which reason Germany’s BSD Bobsleigh Association sought help from Klingspor of Haiger in Germany, a specialist manufacturer of abrasive agents.

Now, German bobsleigh teams use Klingspor know-how and polishing agents both during training and competition.  As far as Klingspor is concerned the cooperation with the BSD is a win-win arrangement. Bobsport is a relatively new and highly interesting application for our abrasion tools, says the company. By working with BSD technicians and engineers in the FES Institute for Sports R&D Klingspor has obtained valuable new product development knowledge. The exact means by which bobsleigh runners are prepared remains a carefully protected secret. Perfectly polished runners cut the final thousandth of a second off the time, determining who wins or loses.

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For several years the general public has had an uncanny fascination with the Maya Crystal Skulls. They are at one and the same time cold, smooth and frightening, and became a source of myths and ghost stories; in particular since the last adventure of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Yet how could the Maya civilisation possibly have achieved such a finely polished surface finish?

The general conclusion now is that they probably did not. According to the most recent geographic and timescale information the crystal skulls were not a product of the Maya civilisation. Surface examination found traces of polishing agents that were first used in the 19th Century. Microscopic surface examination by scientists in 2008 revealed a matrix of polishing traces so regular, that they could not have been hand-generated. Rather, the microscopic traces were left by rotating metal tools.

Now let’s fast forward from the past to the present: present-day suppliers of grinding and polishing agents focus on materials combining speed with precision. This year’s International Hardware Fair Cologne will be the launch platform for a new generation of polishing discs. The substrate is Jute – a natural material; the discs combine aggressive action with good abrasive characteristics and long service life. This year, specialist surface treatment exhibitors at Cologne include Pferd-Rüggeberg, Tyrolit, Ucer, Rhodius-Schleifwerkzeuge, Rottluff and Klingspor.

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Exhibition “Legend of Crystall Skull” in the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museum, Mannheim

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