LAND – FACTS AND FIGURES 0.44 km2 are covered by the Vatican, making it the smallest country in the world 50 is the smallest population of an independent country (Pitcairn Islands) 17.1 million km2 is the area of Russia, the largest country in the world Records 1.4 billion is the population of China (highest population) 22,457 km is the longest country border (China) Distribution of land mass worldwide 1.45 billion ha Farmland 3.55 billion ha Pasture Land growth due to volcanic eruption La Palma (2021) 43 ha 0.2 billion ha City area 4.3 billion ha Surrounding area (deserts, wasteland, ice, etc.) 3.9 billion ha Forest area Composition of GDP (in percent) USA China Germany 1.1 7.3 0.78 18.4 80.1 39.4 30.7 53.3 68.6 Agriculture Industry Services Source: CIA World Factbook 2018 2 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

The Phoenix Contact The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine innovation magazine Countryside Countryside w W in d p o o n orail e r, m tric trucks, policy m akers c e l E A g r i c u l t u r e , s o l a r p a r k s , e l e ctric b u s e s Land is much more than just topography and borders: Economies, nationalities, emotions, and new ways of thinking – this issue of the innovation magazine reflects these concepts To ensure that a sip from the bottle does not lead to an energy hangover, Hopsteiner relies on innovation – and on Phoenix Contact By combining different power generators, the extraction of hops also becomes a pleasure in terms of energy 08 The countryside and people The cultivation of hops is the very first step in making beer – how green umbels are turned into a bittersweet delight | 08 SOLAR LANDSCAPE The south favors the sun In sunny Portugal, photovoltaics is experiencing an enormous boom – where drought otherwise leads to worry, the power of our central star is now being harnessed for green energy generation | 16 4 4 UPDATE 2/22 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

FROM THE INDUSTRY Traffic Making aircraft soar The Kerogreen research project has devised a new kerosene production process so that aircraft can soar through the skies with a lower carbon footprint. This uses innovative plasma technology that can produce jet fuel from CO2 in the air around the plane in three steps. First, the carbon dioxide is fed into a reactor where it is broken down into carbon monoxide and oxygen. This is done with a plasma generated by microwave radiation. The necessary energy comes from renewable sources. In the second step, the carbon Modular production of kerosene monoxide is isolated and used in a “water-gas shift reaction” to produce hydrogen. This, in turn, is converted in a third step into high molecular hydrocarbons, which are the basic component of kerosene. The system, housed in containers, is undergoing final testing at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Thanks to its modular design, the process can be applied both on a large industrial scale and in small units directly on site. kerogreen.eu Machine building Sandblasting with light Sandblasting is used in many areas of industry and skilled trades to obtain clean surfaces. Compressed air is used to “shoot” the blasting media onto the workpiece, where it carries away dirt or corrosion. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (IWS) in Dresden has developed an alternative. Laser beams are used to process surfaces in a manner that is fast and very easy on the environment. The technology, called “LIGHTblast,” also aims to be less expensive when used in series production, looking at the entire production chain. The laser beam is less than 50 thousandths of a millimeter in diameter, yet replaces a conventional particle stream that is several centimeters wide. “We work with a scalpel instead of a club,” explains Dr. Patrick Herwig, Head of the Laser Cutting Group. https://www.iws.fraunhofer.de/en.html Laser vs. corrosion Housing industry Smart water meters While grid meters have been around for a while in the electricity sector and aim to make consumption and efficiency more transparent, water supply systems still have relatively poor communication. Vodafone and E.ON now want to change that with water meters featuring intelligent wireless technology. The reason for these efforts? In Germany, there were 1.1 million incidents of water pipe damage in 2019 alone. Statistically speaking, a water pipe bursts every 30 seconds. The resulting costs amount to around three billion euros. To reduce these losses, it would help to detect line damage at an early stage. And that’s exactly what the new smart meters from technology partners Vodafone and E.ON aim to do. The water meters are equipped with radio communication and use the mobile network to report any registered irregularities. The new technology can be retrofitted to existing water meters. With their own app, even private consumers can keep an eye on their water consumption data. eon.com/smartmeter Smart water meter 6 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

AGRICULTURE The sun inside in beer When it comes to the frothy beverage made of hops, malt, yeast, and water, Germans take things very seriously. And what fits better with the German Beer Purity Law of 1516 than using regenerative energy to process the basic ingredients? 8

AGRICULTURE Cultured hops climb up to seven meters high and are now harvested by machine H ops give the beer its aroma and are Additionally, the plant, which belongs to responsible for its typical bitter taste. the hemp family, preserves the beer and also helps about 11 percent. Then the umbels are pressed and cooled. About one to four grams of hops are needed for one liter of beer. to stabilize the foam. Near the green gold The only part of the climbing plant that is used for agricultural purposes is the female flower heads, known as the umbels. In the fields, the wire frames that can be up to seven meters high are harvested from the end of August. In the past, this was done exclusively by hand. But today, specially developed tearing and picking machines are used. The umbels are separated from their leaves and stems and then have to dry in the kiln. These special ovens extract moisture from the umbels up to a level of Hops have been grown in the Hallertau, or Holledau, since the early Middle Ages, with evidence dating back to the year 736. There are 2,400 square kilometers of cropland, distributed among about 1,000 hop farms. This has almost doubled in the last 100 years. The region “between wine and wheat” is the world’s largest contiguous cultivation area for the “green gold,” as the hops are also called. Up to 36,500 metric tons are harvested in the 10 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

One of the methods used to obtain the aromatic substances from the hops is called CO2 extraction. Carbon dioxide is used as the solvent, which is brought to a supercritical state using temperature and pressure. Electrically operated plunger pumps (piston pumps) provide a pressure of up to 1,000 bar for this purpose. The generated solvent then selectively dissolves the aromatic substances from the hop fibers. Suitable process parameters can even be used to separate alpha and beta acids and thus influence the spectrum of the bittering agents. This helps to influence the final taste of the beer. Naturally, these processes involve a lot of energy and have required significant amounts of fossil fuels in the past. But that has changed. A highly efficient combined heat and power system with a total of 500 kW of electrical and 380 kW of thermal power now generates both the heat and the electricity required for the aeration motors. There is also a 750-kWp photovoltaic system and two biogas combined heat and power plants (CHP plants). Regenerative energy comes into play Martin Stadler, electrical and controls operations manager at Hopsteiner, explains. “The two biogas CHP plants and the photovoltaic system Pump systems provide up to 1,000 bars of pressure significantly help to increase the energy efficiency.” However, to prevent fluctuations in the power grid with such a wide range of energy sources, a “power generation plant (PGP)” is needed. Burkhard Dittmann, renewable energy specialist at Phoenix Contact, goes into a little more detail: “The VDE-AR-N 4110/4120 standard, in force since 2018, stipulates the use of a certified generation system controller (power control unit, PCU) here. The purpose of the PCU is to allow the grid operator to control the characteristics of the distributed generation system in terms of grid serviceability. In order for the multiple distributed A PCU harmonizes the energy from the combined heat and power plants in the overall system 12 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

AGRICULTURE Power control unit (PCU) The control cabinet houses the certified PCU system with PLCnext Control and the modules of the Axioline I/O system, which provide the status information of the plant to the grid operator. “With the modular hardware and software system, we have a suitable solution for each of the different generation units.” Martin Stadler, Operations Manager of Electronics and Controls clarifies. “The power supplier and grid operator, Bayernwerke, split the generation units into two systems with their own setpoints for the feed-in, so we were able to implement the specifications easily.” The company now achieves a self-generation quota of 36 percent of its total annual energy requirements through the use of renewable energies. This not only helps to save energy and thus reduce production costs, but also improves the carbon footprint of the valuable raw material. (bd, lo)  hopsteiner.com 14 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

SUN COUNTRY Solar Solar transition transition 16

SUN COUNTRY P ortugal – for many people this means the Lisbon. Those interested in history still beaches of the Algarve and the capital know that Portugal once ruled a colonial world empire; soccer fans know Christiano Ronaldo. But does anybody know the Alentejo region? No wonder, because this southeastern corner on the border with Spain is not only mostly deserted, but hot and dry first and foremost. It was once the Portugal’s breadbasket, but climate change has already created other realities here now. Prolonged droughts have contributed to the region’s decline and have triggered an ongoing rural exodus of the population. Moreover, the city of Badajoz is one of the hottest places in Europe, with a record 47.4°C. enough to supply an average of 14,000 households with electricity per year. Solar parks as future investments Yet Moura is just one of a total of six plants commissioned by the German company Wirtgen Invest Holding in 2020 and 2021 alone. Wirtgen Invest is a purely family-owned company with roots in the road construction machinery manufacturer Wirtgen. The machine builder became a part of the John Deere Company in 2017, yet Wirtgen Invest stayed in family ownership. Today, it sees itself as an investor that thinks and acts in the long term – not only in the real estate sector, but also particularly in the energy sector. Here, the company Here, of all places, between ancient cork oaks in the Palatinate region invests very deliberately in and gnarled olive groves, a piece of the future has renewable energies. now come to life for Portugal. Instead of bowing to Portugal is counting heavily on solar power the destructive power of the sky, you can now tap into the power of our central star – on a large scale. And with a little help from the north. In Moura, a superlative solar park was connected to the grid in mid-June 2021. The solar park has a nominal power of 49.4 MWp and covers an area of 55 ha. This is in the future. The plan is to add more than nine gigawatts of capacity to existing solar power plants by 2030. The Moura plant alone includes more than 130,000 PV panels, covering an area of around 50 hectares. Along with the neighboring photovoltaic systems Amareleja and Ferreira do 18 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

SUN COUNTRY From the string combiner boxes, the current flows directly to the same number of inverters. These convert the direct current from the solar panels into alternating voltage, which is collected again by 20 transformer stations that transform the voltage from 0.4 to 30 kV. The last hurdles before the feed-in into the local power grid at the grid connection point are the transformers again, which turn this 30 kV into the required 60 kV. Multiple measuring devices and controllers are required to execute all these steps under controlled conditions and still ensure that current feeds into the power grid evenly. The crucial component is the regulator for power generation plants (power control units, PCUs), which picks up the voltage and reactive power present at the various measuring points. If deviations from the control value specified by the respective grid operator occur here, the PCU transmits the measured values The PCU is parameterized and brought into operation to the individual inverters, which can be limited if park can be easily connected via Plug and Play. The necessary. inverter manager integrated into the data logger receives the data from the inverter via Ethernet Sensitive solar sensor technology and transmits it to a small-scale controller from In addition to generating power, large solar parks like Moura produce large quantities of data that must be collected, processed, and analyzed in order to then assess how economically the photovoltaic system is running. Because of this, there is a data logger on each of the 20 transformer stations. The devices work using an automatic detection mode, which is why all of the systems installed in the PV the Axioline product family, which is also installed there. The data from the connected weather sensors also enters here. A total of six weather stations are mounted in the Moura solar park, with 14 module temperature sensors, eight pyranometers (sensors for measuring solar radiation), twelve reference cells, two wind direction sensors, two wind Sophisticated sensor technology is important for monitoring At 20 transformer stations, the voltage is converted to a transport-friendly 30 kV 20 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

SUN COUNTRY speed sensors, and two combination sensors for an expert at Phoenix Contact for connecting and temperature, humidity, and air pressure. These commissioning solar systems anywhere in the environmental sensors are directly coupled world. He was on-site at all six solar farms in the to the control system. Using weather sensors overall project and helped ensure that the solar allows the system operator to draw conclusions regarding the power of the solar system – referred to as the performance ratio (PR). If the calculated performance ratio is too low, the operator can power units were commissioned and connected to the grid safely and reliably. The software required for the PCU, and thus the park management system, was created by specialists at Phoenix Contact in adjust the regulation accordingly. cooperation with solution partner Zebotec. All data from the inverters, weather sensors, transformers, and the switching device is transmitted via a redundant ring structure over fiber-optic cables to a central park control located in the control room. The PCU is a combination of an industrial controller, in this case a PLCnext The 59-year-old trained power system electronics engineer explains why he has been to Portugal several times: “The software is programmed and tested here in Bad Pyrmont in accordance with the requirements of the client, in this case Conecon from Cologne. The software is Control, and customized software from Phoenix then installed on site and tested again in the real Contact that records and compares the data and environment. Why? If a parameter does vary, it is forwards it to an asset performance management portal. The specific analyses, warnings, and reports resulting from the data then rationalize the work processes. No trees or shrubs Erwin Breukelmann is a technician through and through. For more than ten years, he has also been much easier to intervene on site during this stage of the project than to go through the development environment in Bad Pyrmont. If problems arise during ongoing operation, we can of course intervene remotely from here.” Moura posed its own unique challenges for the well-traveled expert: “When it’s more than 40 degrees in the shade there, you can consider The level of solar radiation is measured with pyranometers to draw conclusions about the efficiency The solar park in Moura has a nominal power of 49.4 MWp 22 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Balancing on a single track 24 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

NEW MOBILITY A lmost reverently, we stroke over the welded frame, admire components, appraise the track system including the improvised platform edge: “Tusnelda” and “Hermann” have actually come to life and are waiting for their marriage with the futuristic shell – but first things first... The trip takes us to the industrial park in Dörentrup, Germany. “BegaPark” sounds a bit similar to what you would imagine a large innovation center to be like in the provinces. But all around, visitors are more likely find gardening and agriculture. Plenty of space, tranquil country life, not so much activity. But in fact, behind the dark industrial facade, an interdisciplinary team from various universities and scientific institutions in the region is working meticulously, designing and researching an innovative monorail. And by now, they can demonstrate not just individual components but also results that get things rolling. No wonder Michael Heinemann was immediately on board when we told him about our planned visit: “We always keep our eyes and ears open for innovative mobility concepts.” Curious, we poke our heads through the door and are immediately greeted by Thorsten Försterling. The 56-year- old engineering graduate is the creative force, heart, and of perseverance, as the idea for the MonoCab was already awarded the German Mobility Prize back in 2018. Since then, he has been recruiting sponsors, gathering researchers from the universities in East Westphalia-Lippe (OWL), and negotiating tracks and permits with public institutions. 30-meter test track with a platform edge “I actually studied interior design, but now I am often referred to as an innovation manager. That sums it up quite well,” he grins and leads us to the track. He’s right, there really are 30 meters of actual track laid in this 680-square-meter hall. Even a wooden construction with the same dimensions as an actual platform edge was thought of in order to determine the right height for the passengers later on. On the track, “Hermann” is waiting to roll, while “Tusnelda” is fully wired and standing on the sidetrack, so to speak, in order to present her railroad skills to the visitors from Blomberg. The two demonstration models are the metallic result of a bold idea. Their nicknames allude to their origins from the Lippe region. Försterling begins by explaining the idea that led to the MonoCab: “First, there is a problem with local public transportation, especially in rural areas. Almost always, the soul of the MonoCab project. At the same time, he is also the timing is anything but optimal, so there is hardly any way voice to the public. He is a man with vision and a good deal around using a car. But there are also an enormous number of abandoned rail lines in Germany where operation was no longer profitable. It is precisely these two points that provide our framework. We’re developing a railroad that can handle Ideal conditions for the scientists with a passion for technology 26 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Fabian Kottmeier (left) is responsible for the technical project coordination The team consists of scientists and students from various universities and research institutions in the region minutes and both gyro stabilizers will be up and running.” The technology originates from ocean yachts that use the gyroscopes to calm the motion of the waves – and the inside of their passengers’ stomachs. Mass to balance The twin gyro system weighs 650 kilograms. Each gyroscope contains a flywheel that rotates in a vacuum. At around 4,800 revolutions per minute, the gyroscopes stabilize any influences such as gusts of wind or the slipstream of passing MonoCab cabs. After all, the speed at which the MonoCab will travel should be around 60 kilometers per hour. A 650-kilogram lead weight, moving on guide rods at lightning speed via electric motors, also provides compensation, for example when the balance changes as a passenger climbs aboard. The two massive prototypes, which will later weigh a total of around 3,500 kilograms, are still in the test phase, so an additional support wheel provides a grip on the rail during the test runs. A short time later, the monorail straightens up as if guided by magic and then balances firmly in place on its wheels. They, too, have a lot to offer, 28 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine 3,500 kilograms are the target for the MonoCabs, making them significantly lighter than conventional rail vehicles albeit without any electronics at all: “We need a guide on the track on both sides of the wheel,” says Försterling, explaining the special feature of the custom-made products developed by the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, “while conventional railroad wheels just need the guide on the inside for each wheel.” Meanwhile, Heinemann tries to get “Tusnelda” off balance with his strength and muscular momentum. “Not a chance,” marvels the mobility expert. “The system is really convincing. And it’s so close to our location. This underscores the potential of our region.” “Tusnelda” and “Hermann” are still bare beasts. But, in the back of the hall, there is already a plywood model for the shell. Scientists and students of the Department of Architecture and Interior

ROAD FREIGHT Megawatt trucks They can do garbage. They can do wheel hubs. They can do high-power charging. They can do trucks. And every scale of electromobility anyway. Designwerk in Winterthur is one of the most exciting powerhouses for new mobility in Switzerland and far beyond. Visit the world of megawatts and heavy transport. 30

ROAD FREIGHT From concept to construct Vivien Olivier Dettwiler is a mechanical engineer and has been with Designwerk for nine years. When he started, the start-up employed a full 13 people. In 2009, he became part owner and was appointed to the management board of the company, which has grown to more than 150 employees today. “We started out solely as a service provider in the field of electromobility,” he says, describing the humble beginnings. “Concepts, consulting, studies – that’s how we started. I joined as a development engineer for the first trucks, as they soon started to set up their own production.” However, the focus was initially on passenger The third branch is the reason for the visit, because trucks are actually manufactured here in Winterthur. The Swiss have “grown into” this business model, so to speak. “We started by electrifying, or converting, conventionally powered vehicles. These mainly were and still are municipal vehicles such as garbage trucks. There are also special vehicles, like in the construction machinery sector,” says Dettwiler. In 2015, the Winterthur-based company unveiled its first truck of its “own,” a garbage truck. They have remained true to the color orange – around 60 waste disposal vehicles are now in use in Switzerland alone. Initially, the vehicle technology. One commissioned project, designers limited themselves to short-distance for example, was to design an electrically mobile successor to the classic 1950s BMW Isetta on behalf of a Swiss scooter manufacturer. Next, various products of our own were developed, such vehicles, such as concrete mixers and garbage trucks with cranes or swap-body systems. These are heavy trucks, but thanks to short distances, conventional fast-charging technology can get as mobile DC fast chargers for passenger vehicles. them moving. Electric drives are used in an ever- This was followed by the company’s own battery wider range of applications, especially in special production. The chargers are used primarily by electric vehicle manufacturers throughout Europe. vehicle manufacturing. Examples include zero- emission tunnel construction machines, earth drilling vehicles retrofitted with electric buffer Vivien Olivier Dettwiler (middle) explains the manufacturing in Winterthur to Stefan Staiber, Phoenix Contact Switzerland (left), and editor Lutz Odewald 32 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

The drive trains are “married” to the chassis in the company’s own production facility Up to 800 volts are used in the electric trucks With these trucks, the Swiss entered new territory. “We started to take a close look at truck charging technology, because it is quite different from the technology for charging passenger vehicles.” The goal was naturally clear from the start: “In Switzerland, a small country, trucks usually don’t drive long distances. Up to then, we only had trucks with a range of 200 to 300 kilometers. Then, a year ago, we started a project sponsored by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) to develop megawatt charging systems. We have set new benchmarks here as well.” As at the beginning of the company’s history, the Swiss achieved a world record: In August 2021, a Designwerk truck covered a distance of 1,099 kilometers without charging along the way. A 19-ton truck with over 680 hp and a capacity of 680 kilowatt hours was used – the largest truck battery in Europe at that time. with this, which will make us competitive on the European market.” In terms of charging technology, Designwerk has developed a broad portfolio, from a small AC charging inlet with 22 kW to a twin parallel system with two AC vehicle charging sockets. There are also fast charging solutions at 150 kW with a system voltage of 400 volts. If two battery blocks are optionally connected in series, Designwerk reaches 800 volt during charging. “We then charge permanently with a power of 350 kW, and even 384 kW at peak. We are the only ones who have managed to do this. There is currently no officially installed charging station in Switzerland that can deliver more than that in about two hours. By the way, the vehicle charging inlet from Phoenix Contact knows no limits – it works at up to 600 amps. When it comes to charging stations and setting Charging (almost) without limit up the necessary infrastructure for logistics With some pride in his voice, Dettwiler reports on the latest developments. “In the fall of 2021, we delivered the first two tractor unit with 900-kWh batteries, with a range of 400 to 500 kilometers at a maximum possible load of 40 metric tons. This is combined with a charging system that recharges the batteries within about 100 minutes. In Switzerland, we can cover almost any distance operations, we can help if the customer wants this. Alternative partnerships are often already in place, as there are quite a number of providers in Switzerland. However, many have not grasped the difference between trucks and passenger vehicles. Most of the time, the vehicle can be connected, but the charging times are not acceptable. Even pretty marketing figures are of no use here. That’s why 34 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION Running long Running long Tomorrow’s public transportation will be electric. But if you look behind the scenes at the Dutch bus specialist EBusco, you can see a little further into the future. B efore we look to the future, let’s take a look back. Surprisingly far – to England in 1888. Here, the Ward Electrical Car Company in London tested its electric omnibus, the first of its kind. However, the unique twelve-passenger vehicle never achieved anything more than test status. And as early as 1898, an electrified former horse- drawn bus rumbled along Berlin’s “Ku’damm” thoroughfare. But this bus wasn’t ready for series manufacturer EBusco passed the test stage long ago. The company, located in Deurne not far from the Dutch-German border, was founded in 2010 by Peter Bijvelds. Back in 2012, the Dutch company presented its first bus model, the Ebusco 1.0, at the IAA Commercial Vehicles trade fair in Hanover. In the meantime, hundreds of electric buses manufactured by EBusco are driving around the world. production either. More than 100 years later, things look very different. The electric buses from the Dutch Site visit in Deurne: 12 meters, 14 meters, 18 meters – here’s where the innovative buses are planned, designed, and also equipped with the à 36

Patrick Heuts is Head of Business Development & Innovation The Dutch specialists rely on CHARX connect CCS charging cables from Phoenix Contact “Never charge faster than you actually need to.” Patrick Heuts, EBusco charging inlets from Phoenix Contact right from the start. This is where the bus manufacturer is once again relocating a large part of its assembly for European customers, which for years had also taken place in China. For the all-new Model 3.0, the Dutch rely on innovative lightweight construction and high- tech materials, and it manufactures exclusively in Deurne. Patrick Heuts is the head of EBusco’s team of developers who focus on the topics of electric drives, battery technology, and charging technology. He takes us through the impressive development and production of the Dutch specialists, who in recent years have evolved from a manufacturer of a niche technology product into a trendsetter. “E-mobility clearly also belongs to the future in passenger transport,” Heuts asserts with conviction. Range? No problem The Dutch bus manufacturer promises a range of around 350 kilometers for the 12-meter version of the current EBusco 2.2 model when the 350-kWh battery pack is used. “This covers about 80 percent of all daily local public transportation routes,” states Heuts, expressing his support for the concept. Alternatively, a 400-kWh battery pack is available that can cover up to 450 kilometers. In addition to the batteries, housed under the floor panel, the 12-meter bus can accommodate 90 people. “We are purely an electric bus builder. We can therefore design the chassis from the outset to be space-efficient and lightweight. This 38 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine not only saves weight and space, but also provides more room for passengers. It also means a massive improvement in profitability.” It is therefore no surprise that the batteries are installed under the floor and not on the vehicle’s roof, as still is often the case – reminiscent of how diesel-powered buses used to be converted. Bus depots become battery oases EBusco supplies the energy by using CCS charging inlets and charging connectors from Phoenix Contact. They feed special battery sets that feature lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology and are high-quality, robust and, above all, durable. The Dutch specialists rely on long-life LFP battery packs, which they guarantee for ten years. Made of lithium, iron, and phosphate, these LFP packs do not contain cobalt and nickel. Heuts explains. “We fine-tune the configuration of the battery packs, which we manufacture ourselves, so that we have a capacity of 400 kWh on board. The more energy capacity a battery has, the less weight and volume is required. Our buses are around 900 kilos lighter than competitor models. And the more cycles the battery packs can go through, the longer the battery will last. Here, the energy density and number of cycles the battery goes through determine the range.”

INTERVIEW Think global – act local Phoenix Contact and its subsidiaries – since the 1980s, what was once a regional industrial company has become a global player with a philosophy all its own that ensures sustainable success even in turbulent times. è Mr. Stührenberg, in 1992 you started out as an assistant to the Executive Board. Was Phoenix Contact already an internationally oriented company when you joined back then? to call back. The first call was from a sales representative in Baden-Württemberg, the second from a colleague he knew in Berlin, and the third from Italy – in English. You can guess in which order he returned the calls. Of course, this was not easy At that time, we were still strongly focused on the German for the colleague abroad. business. We only started expanding into foreign markets in the 1980s. Back then, we were still distinguishing between German business and the export sector, meaning the rest of the world. At that time, the export sector was under the responsibility of CEO Gerd Eisert, and its organization was virtually a mirror image of how the German headquarters were organized. è How intensive was the communication and exchange with the emerging subsidiaries? (grinning) Well, let’s just say it was very different from today. Our self-image in those days was that we would develop great products here in Germany and make the world happy with them. Even the idea of taking an international business trip was still far from being something to take for granted. è It was certainly not easy for the subsidiaries to be heard here in Blomberg. I can still recall a story from a member of the internal sales staff very clearly. When he came to his desk after his lunch break, there were three notes stuck on his screen asking him è When did a change in thinking begin here? Our major customers were increasingly orienting their projects on an international scale. Customers such as Volkswagen and Siemens were already operating all over the world. That’s why we introduced international key account management in the mid-1990s. It was the first time we said that no matter where customers are, they will be coordinated by a central organization. That was my top task of responsibility, which also involved traveling with Gerd Eisert from time to time. è Did any difficult situations occur during this process of internationalization? (laughing) More than one. That always sounds so wonderfully smooth in retrospect. I went through my own trial by fire in 1997. Our business in China was in trouble after just four years. We had decided on local management in our established and trusted style, reinforced by an external manager. But he didn’t fit in with us and left at some point. So an idea came up that I was supposed to support. It was not with a quick visit, but a longer stay to really understand the country and its people and à 40

INTERVIEW to convey the perspective of the head office. Back then, China was a very different country than it is today, and they were not prepared for Westerners. I was on site for three months. We actually did succeed in stabilizing a lot of things together with our Chinese colleagues. Now we employ 2,500 people there in one of our most productive and successful subsidiaries. è Think global, act local – this principle is taken for granted today. True. That was already Gerd Eisert’s motto back then. Also, it was and still is one of the most convincing arguments when it comes to setting up subsidiaries. First, we look for a General Manager who is very knowledgeable about the industry and country. Naturally, this person must also fit in with us and our corporate philosophy. Many political leaders had the privilege of personal access to Gerd Eisert, and thus to one of the owners. But together with Klaus Eisert, we managed to get it right. è Did this also lead to a new organization of foreign activities? Correct. From then on, we spoke of International Sales and German Sales. This concept still exists today. We agree that commercial processes and leadership – meaning our organizational principles – must be consistent. As I already mentioned, local action is taken on the basis of one’s own responsibility. è Does this autonomy also reach the customer? Absolutely. Here’s one example: It will probably be decades Once we have found this person, we make them capable of before a control cabinet builder in southern Spain does not acting with a local team on location. It always takes a while for these beginnings to grow into the confidence that great things can actually be achieved with what at first glance appears to be just a boring terminal block. That was also the case in China back then. è Then Gerd Eisert scaled back on his work. One day, around the turn of the millennium, when I was Head of German Sales, Klaus Eisert came to me and asked if I could take over some of his brother’s tasks, which he could no longer handle due to poor health. It was not an easy situation to succeed a man like Gerd Eisert in a family-owned business such as ours. mind calling an English-speaking Phoenix Contact call center in India to discuss their invoice. It is of no use to us if the labor there costs only a fraction of what Spanish employees cost us. The customer is annoyed and questions their relationship with us. Can we risk jeopardizing a long-term relationship for a small financial gain? No, of course not. Local autonomy is a very important key to sustainable success in all countries. è Are there regions where we will position ourselves more strongly in the future? There will definitely be something developing in North Africa involving renewable energy, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and Laying the cornerstone in China – from a bumpy start to one of today’s most successful foreign subsidiaries 42 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

BEHIND THE SCENES Global meeting Phoenix Contact executives meet in Dubai Once a year, Phoenix Contact’s General Managers and executives from more than 50 countries meet to exchange ideas, develop ideas and collaborations through personal contact, and rally behind the company’s strategic direction. The story of a global company is that someone always has to travel. Last year’s Global Manager Meeting, for example, took place in a historic location – the old German parliament building in Bonn. This year, to balance the scales, the German headquarters was also on the move, as “GEB Insights” took Museum of the Future in Dubai The main focus was on workshops on the current strategy projects place in Dubai. This was not a random destination, as the small desert country is in the midst of a transformation in the spirit of the All Electric Society. Dubai relies heavily on renewable energy to achieve a transformation that will make the country less dependent on its fossil fuels. For the global management teams, the tight schedule included not only intensive strategy workshops but also a visit to the world’s largest solar park. Empowering the All Electric Society is not just a slogan. It’s an entrepreneurial reality everywhere at Phoenix Contact. Award Award for teamwork Since 2005, an interdisciplinary team of experts from Phoenix Contact has been working with the customer Siemens to provide its main automation line with innovative connection technology and housing components. For the major customer, the complete electromechanics for the production program were developed together with Siemens. At Phoenix Contact, more than 100 colleagues are involved, ranging from specialists from the Device Connector Solutions Business Unit to employees from sales, production, logistics, tool manufacturing, and machine building. This exemplary collaboration has now been recognized with the Siemens Supplier Award in the Collaborations category. Markus Lohr, Dr.-Ing. Thomas Beier, and Andreas von der Kall (left to right) 44 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine Audit Mastering high hurdles The international standards of the automotive industry are a high hurdle for any supplier. Now, the Polish e-mobility plant in Rzeszów has also successfully passed the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) audit. With this certification, Rzeszów is now the third plant, along with Schieder and Nanjing, to meet the international standard of the automotive industry and to be allowed to deliver products to the assembly line and into the car as a supplier and partner. As Managing Director Dominik Mazur says, “After several months of hard work, the auditors confirmed the high standard of our young organization.” Together with their colleagues in Germany, the team had prepared intensively for the audit. The plant in Rzeszów has been producing charging cables and charging sockets since January 2021. The parent company in Schieder in the region of Eastern Westphalia also passed the annual IATF audit.

BEHIND THE SCENES Sweden New GM in elk country As of July 1, Susanne Dahl is the General Manager of the subsidiary Phoenix Contact AB in Sweden. Before joining Phoenix Contact in 2019, she spent 20 years working in IT for various companies. She joined Phoenix Contact as Business Area Manager for BA IMA. “It was a wonderful time with a great team,” is how she fondly recalls her early days. As General Manager, she now succeeds Stefan Nordenfors, who has left the company. Susanne Dahl has big plans for the subsidiary in Huddinge near Stockholm, Sweden, and its nearly 70 employees. “Our task is to use our products and solutions to enable the necessary transition from fossil fuels to climate-neutral fuels – everywhere in the world. We can support our customers along the way.” phoenixcontact.com/sv-se Training and education Lüdenscheid sets the tone Lüdenscheid’s mayor Sebastian Wagemeyer called the new training center, opened in September, a “beacon with an enormous symbolic effect and light.” Spread over two floors with more than 1,000 square meters, the roughly 50 trainees currently being trained at Phoenix Feinbau have much more space. The trainees had the opportunity to help design the new rooms. Not only did they unpack spray cans and paint to create wall-sized graffiti in the training workshop, they also lent a helping hand when it came to renovating and moving into the new rooms. The total cost of converting the former print shop was 1.5 million euros. It’s an investment in the future, because Phoenix Feinbau wants to further increase its number of trainees. blog.phoenixcontact.com/hr-de The new building on Wefelshohler Straße Up close and personal: CEO Frank Stührenberg in unusual suit at a lofty height Wind power The day on the tower As Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Contact, you have to endure a lot. Frank Stührenberg is actually afraid of heights, as he confessed at a very unique appointment at the end of September. But by the time he made this confession, he was already wearing safety gear and a helmet to climb Blomberg’s newest (and tallest) wind turbine. Phoenix Contact’s wind team made it possible for internal partners and colleagues to experience first-hand what they have been working towards so diligently over the last few years – automating the most modern wind turbines from Germany’s largest manufacturer Enercon. The journey to the top takes eight minutes in the tiny elevator. After 15 meters of vertical steel stairs and at a total of 165 meters height, employees from various divisions of Phoenix Contact gathered one after the other in small groups and marveled at the otherwise inaccessible interior of a wind turbine. Those who dared also admired the breathtaking view from the tower hatch. Under the supervision of the experts, the most daring climbed all the way into the hub and to the base of the blades to see where components from Phoenix Contact play their part in generating the “green electricity.” Even Stührenberg seemed to enjoy the tour to lofty heights and experiencing the All Electric Society up close. The CEO even made sure to take in the view from the tower hatch over the wide countryside around Blomberg with a view towards Phoenix Contact. 46 UPDATE 2/22 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy Milan or Madrid – all that matters is that it’s in Italy! Andreas Möller, German national soccer player phoenixcontact.com 0 0 / 0 3 - 0 1 - 2 2 0 2 / 4 5 1 9 9 3 1 R N M 3 L . 1 0 0 . 2 2 - 2 0 C C