UPDATE - The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

UPDATE - The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine | Phoenix Contact

FACTS AND FIGURES Employment in figures People employed worldwide 3,400,000,000 Annual working hours worldwide 1,354 h in Germany (rank 66, 26 h/week) 2,456 h in Cambodia (rank 1, 47 h/week) 2.5 million 1.4 million 1.3 million The biggest employers (private and state-owned companies) 0.7 million 0.6 million 0.4 million Companies worldwide German companies Walmart Amazon Indian Railways Volkswagen Robert Bosch Schwarz- Gruppe/ Deutsche Post Gender and roles Gender distribution – employees worldwide Men 68 % Women 44 % Women in management positions 29 % of management positions are held by women EU countries: top 3 percentages of women in management positions 49% Latvia 43% Poland and Sweden 41% Estonia Unusual professions These countries have the world’s ... Sheet-music page turner Shout coach for expert shouting Sun cream butler with sun creaming service Dangerous professions Window cleaner on high-rise buildings Ice truck driver Bodyguard 2 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine ... most women workers 52.8% in Zimbabwe ... fewest women workers 13.4% in Qatar Sector-specific gender distribution in Germany Women Men Social and domestic professions Building construction and civil engineering 84 % 98 % Professions in the healthcare sector (Interior) construction 72 % Cleaning professions 72 % 96 % Building and supply engineering 96 %

Stephan Frigge, Executive Vice President Business Area DC EDITORIAL It’s all in the mix Dear readers, At Phoenix Contact, we have been operating in an international environment for decades. At the same time, our own vertical integration is so profound that even our German locations are home to a wide variety of specialists. Despite this enormous diversity, our company is characterized by a way of dealing with each other and a shared spirit that is truly unique. This issue of our innovation magazine focuses on some of these specialists. Naturally, the activities of our DC ambassadors, to whom the cover story is dedicated, are particularly exciting. However, building a very special sales channel in additive manufacturing also requires passion, a pioneering spirit, and expertise. This is precisely what drives the participants in our “tank talk” on a greenfield site (starting on page 38). And things take an adventurous turn when we look over the shoulders of our colleagues from the wind team during safety training. I have traveled to many countries around the world during the course of my work at Phoenix Contact over the last 20 years. It never ceases to amaze me how we not only manage to attract great experts but also achieve an enormously high hit rate when it comes to personal qualities. This spirit, this enthusiasm for technology and development is what drives us. And this is often transferred over to our customers. The word profession also involves one’s vocation. With this in mind, I hope you enjoy reading this issue. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 3

The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine Careers DC engineer | Inventor | Teacher of buildings | Abseiler | HR manager | Platformer There is no kind of artificial intelligence that pursues its profession with passion. Rather it is the people who stand behind and for successful companies. They swapped their technical room and desk for two seats in the e-racer 38 4 Inverters? If Martin Wetter and Christian Helmig have their way, we can do without them sometimes 08 ENERGY The DC twins In truth, the power struggle for the better system has long since been decided. But there are good reasons to give direct current a new chance | 08 ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING The platformer He is just as familiar with 3D printing machines and materials as he is with digital marketplaces. A look into the world of the Internet of Print | 16

SIGNPOST The best ideas are dreamt up in a hammock. Or at least for Dennis Geisler 32 Streamlining? This will not be necessary if Ines Ludwig has her way 22 How to teach an old factory building some manners in energy 26 Who says that the experts from the wind team only work at their desks? 44 HUMAN RESOURCES PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT WIND POWER The HR manager The inventor The abseilers Skills shortages, integration, equality, working from home – there is definitely not a shortage of issues in the modern world of HR | 22 How do you latch a wafer-thin copper wire firmly within a terminal block? And will it also make testing visually and acoustically foolproof? | 32 BUILDING AUTOMATION The teacher of buildings E-MOBILITY The dream team For Thomas Nebl, Smart Building is not just a phrase. His activities do not Participating in a rally and come to an end once construction work is finished. In truth, this is when they really begin | 26 starting up an extremely successful subsidiary – both at the same time. An interview with all the birthday boys | 38 The wind team experts have to climb hard to reach the turbines | 44 Editorial | 03 From the industry | 06 Behind the scenes | 52 Legal notice | 55 Preview | 55 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 5

FROM THE INDUSTRY You can admire the vertical sails in action between Rostock, Germany, and Gedser, Denmark Afloat with Flettner’s rotor sails Maritime drive technology He was a teacher, engineer, and inventor. One of his developments is enjoying a renaissance. In the 1920s, Anton Flettner developed a very special way of using the wind as a propulsive force. His Flettner rotors are vertical rotating cylinders that are designed to help reduce diesel consumption by up to 20 percent when installed on the upper deck of ships. Just an exotic idea from an eccentric? Two of the Scandlines ferries that commute between Rostock and Gedser are now fitted with the eye-catching, 30-meter-high metal elements on deck. The Swedish ferry company has been successfully using the rotor sails since 2020, reducing carbon emissions by around five percent. Enercon has been supplying its offshore wind turbines using the E-Ship 1, a cargo ship equipped with four Flettner rotors, since 2010. Two other ships flying the German flag sail the world’s oceans using Flettner rotors. Against the backdrop of the energy revolution, the federal government launched the Flettner Fleet project at the beginning of 2023. The aim is to gain experience with the drive and promote it so that more ships are equipped with vertical rotors. In addition, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is calling for the global merchant fleet to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050. flettnerfleet.com Things are getting tight Population growth The dirty top ten thousand Use of resources According to a recent study by the development organization Oxfam, the richest one percent of the world’s population caused more climate-damaging emissions in 2019 than the world’s entire road traffic. The emissions of the richest people in the world were analyzed. The picture that emerges is clear: The presumed ruling class of the global community, around 63 million people, releases more greenhouse gases through the unchecked use of private jets, luxury travel, yachts, and luxury villas than the entire “bottom” two thirds of the world’s poorer population, made up of a total of five billion people. At the same time, the wealth gap between rich and poor people is widening. The five richest people in the world alone earn an average of 14 million dollars – per hour. policy-practice.oxfam.org There were 8,073,859,407 people living on this planet at the end of 2023. This was determined by the German Foundation for World Population. The world population thus increased by around 66 million people. However, growth is gradually slowing down. With one continental exception – Africa. The number of people living there is expected to rise to more than 2.5 billion by 2080. That is, assuming that the climatic conditions allow this, because the large deserts are continuing to expand with climate change. This is reducing the possibilities of food production and causing distribution struggles and migration movements. dsw.org 6 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Expensive crypto coins Digital energy guzzlers A UN study is drawing attention to a completely undesirable form of the Internet of Things. From the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2021, Bitcoins consumed as much water as would be needed to fill 660,000 Olympic swimming pools. Due to the enormous demand for server power, the energy requirements of this digital currency are enormous. A team of researchers at the United Nations University calculated that Bitcoins alone are responsible for more electricity consumption than Pakistan: They literally account for 173 terawatt-hours. If Bitcoins were a state, they would be the 27th most consuming nation in the world. A total of 45 percent of the energy comes from coal-fired power generation and 21 percent is produced by gas- fired power plants. unu.edu FROM THE INDUSTRY Words have power Sensors If sensors are to record data, they need a battery for the power supply. Researchers at the ETH Zürich technical university in Switzerland have now developed a purely mechanical sensor. It receives its energy from sound waves, whose vibrations are captured and transferred into electrical micro-pulses. Certain words or sounds generate more energy than others. This means that the sensor can be “calibrated” precisely to the environment. The prototype, for example, can extract more energy from the word “four” than from “three”. “Four” switches a device on, while “three” does nothing. The sensor is made of silicone, which is arranged in microplates. These plates are connected by bars that act like springs. Possible applications range from earthquake monitoring and leak detection to medical devices. ethz.ch Sensor without energy problems Heat makes walls shake Deep geothermal energy We on Earth are actually sitting on an almost inexhaustible source of energy. After all, our mother planet is made of relatively thin crust and a liquid-hot filling, reinforced by a metallic core. What could be more obvious than drilling holes as deep as possible and using the earth’s energy as geothermal energy? not without consequences, though, because human activity changes the underground structures. Germany has also repeatedly experienced earthquakes associated with geothermal energy. The ground-breaking “Siegfried” project in the Lower Rhine Bay area in Germany aims to get to the bottom of this invisible danger – in the truest sense of the word. The aim is to enable more municipalities to use deep geothermal energy as part of the energy revolution. Scientists from the project partners Fraunhofer IEG, Ruhr University Bochum, RWE Power AG, and RWTH However, since it is not possible to use this energy directly, liquid solutions are used that are forced through deep boreholes under high pressure into deep rock layers where they absorb the heat and are forced back up as a hot solution. This artificial energy exchange is Aachen University are working together to link a wide range of data to ultimately make future geothermal projects safer and more sustainable. geothermie.de The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 7

Wetter and Helmig at a typical direct current application – a charging station, here at the All Electric Society Park in Blomberg, Germany In reality, we are constantly surrounded by direct voltage in everyday life. “Every electrical device that has a display uses direct current – from washing machines and smartphones to car electronics. Fundamentally, every W hen anyone is talking about DC on the Phoenix Contact campus, the first thing that comes to mind is the connection technology for printed circuit boards, the Device Connectors. This is the name of an entire Business Area at the Blomberg-based small electric drive uses direct current and every battery electrical engineering company. But DC can also mean stores direct current. There are very few appliances, something completely different, and that is precisely the subject when you talk to the two PhDs, Martin Wetter and Christian Helmig. DC is known worldwide as the such as old toasters and clothes irons, that directly use alternating current”, explains Martin Wetter. Christian Helmig adds, “With the advent of renewable energy abbreviation for direct current. It is not just their distinctive hairstyle or preference for blue suits that unites the two figureheads of DC technology. Their shared background is a much more significant subject. Both are graduates of the Dortmund Chair of High Voltage Technology, where they also completed their doctorates and worked together. Wetter, from Münsterland in Germany, moved to Blomberg in East Westphalia in 1997, followed by Helmig from Westphalia, who joined Phoenix Contact five years later. generators, especially solar one, direct voltage has become a big issue again. Whether in solar panels or wind turbines, the captured energy is first converted into direct current. And in electric vehicles, batteries with direct current drive the wheels”. The three winners Three major arguments play into the hands of Thomas Alva Edison’s upcoming successors: efficiency, storability, and resources. It is immediately obvious that with every Even though they both work in different units of transformation of energy, part of it is lost as heat. When the company, their passion for the transmission and electricity is generated by wind or the sun, it is initially application of direct current is currently bringing them together. This is because both are firmly committed to the Phoenix Contact mission statement, the All Electric Society. They are also convinced that direct current available as DC voltage. The conversion to alternating current “eats up” around 20 percent of the original energy. And wherever you set things in motion using direct current, you can easily recapture the excess kinetic energy can make a valuable contribution to the success of the through recuperation. “This is particularly easy with direct sustainable energy revolution. current. This is not only important for e-mobility but also 10 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

DIRECT CURRENT “Alternating current is unbeatable when it comes to distributing electricity from a few power stations in a star configuration to large grids”. Dr. Martin Wetter in many industrial areas, such as high-bay warehousing systems and industrial robots. Energy is recovered when the movement is reduced”, adds the Innovation Manager, Wetter. “Efficiency is therefore one of the central issues when it comes to the increasing the use of direct current”. The second major argument is direct storability. Energy from batteries is direct current. Direct current systems can therefore store and retrieve energy directly in batteries without conversion. This is important where systems must not fail, such as in data centers and production facilities, mobility, and process control systems. The third major advantage is the savings in materials, because the required cables have significantly smaller cross-sections. This is particularly important for industrial production plants. Dr. Wetter describes a specific application: “A high- bay warehouse that works with direct current recently went into operation. Thanks to recuperation, the conveyor trays that travel downward provide the energy that enables → The three DC trump cards Efficiency Energy savings of around 20 percent can be achieved by using direct current Storability Direct current is the energy form of battery technologies. This makes electricity directly storable Resources In addition to efficiency, direct current saves materials due to lower copper thicknesses Solar and wind power are captured as direct current. Conversion is required for feeding into the power grid – losses included 11

DIRECT CURRENT the other trays to travel upwards again. As a result, the required connected load, that is, the amount of energy, is around two thirds less than with a conventional AC voltage connection. This saved a lot of money on the connection”. The advantage of alternating sector, however, is an extremely high safety standard. In comparison, around 3,000 people die in road traffic accidents every year in Germany alone. But there are just 30 deaths from electric shocks, despite the enormous prevalence”. Why is it that working with direct current is still the Alternating current, on the other hand, has great domain of specialists? Christian Helmig explains. “The advantages in terms of long-distance power transmission. real difference between DC and AC in everyday life is the Dr. Wetter explains, “If I want to transmit a certain amount lack of the current zero point. If a device in operation is of power, I need current multiplied by voltage. If I want to disconnected from the mains in an AC voltage grid, an transmit a lot of power, I have to increase the current or electric arc is generated. But you hardly notice it, as it only voltage or both. However, the transmission losses along lasts a fraction of a second. You have to be much more such lines depend solely on the current. In fact, they vigilant with direct current. Disconnecting a live device increase quadratically, which means that twice the current from the mains triggers a dangerous electric arc, which equals four times the losses. This is why we transmit high poses a massive risk to both the user and the material. This powers over long distances using alternating current is why one of our product development goals is to achieve with high voltages. It minimizes the transmission losses. a similar level of safety for direct current technology as The conversion is simple and extremely reliable with end users are accustomed to with alternating current”. the appropriate transformers”. Alternating current has therefore become standard in the classic technology of Intelligent connectors distribution grids with a few large power stations and a star-configuration distribution grid. Direct current is therefore more interesting for local “island solutions”. Yet working with alternating current has another very important advantage. Martin Wetter says, “Theoretically, there is nothing that would not work with direct current. What we have achieved in the alternating current Christian Helmig pulls out a connector and places it on the table. “Now, thanks to new power electronics, we can harness the advantages of direct voltage again. And we have also developed our first products that are specifically aimed at the direct use of direct current. These are already being tested in pilot systems in a number of companies. But there is still a lack of standardization that would → “Our goal is to achieve a similarly high level of safety as in alternating current”. Dr. Christian Helmig Dr. Christian Helmig completed his doctorate at the Dortmund Chair of High Voltage Technology. Today, he is Innovation Manager for the Business Area DC, i.e., device connection technology 12 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

DIRECT CURRENT View of the 30-kV resistors in the high- voltage laboratory ensure that the devices work together”, Dr. Helmig points to the connector. “This is the first connector that we have developed solely for DC. A circuit that recognizes the contact is integrated. If I pull the connector under load in “Direct current becomes an exciting alternative wherever new buildings are being constructed, such as our current production hall, Building 60, where there are photovoltaics on the roof and charging stations in a DC power grid, an electric arc is also created here, but it front of the building, where storage elements are used, is only minimal because the current triggers the circuit, machines are driven, and there is a great deal of freedom which then disconnects immediately”. The product looks similar to a classic connector for alternating current but is slightly longer due to the in terms of planning”, says Christian Helmig, outlining his own pilot project. “In Building 60, we are working on a DC subnetwork with the aim of extending it further integrated circuit. Wetter explains, “This demonstrates into our own machine building and production systems why we cannot switch everything over to DC straight at some point. We initially worked with the Fraunhofer away. A simple male-female connector pair is much more complex in design and more expensive to achieve the same result. In simple terms, the world of alternating Institute during the planning phase. Then we brought in our colleagues from our own Facility Management team. However, this also shows that dealing with DC grids is current is incredibly well established. We are therefore still far from being part of everyday life. No traditional also founding members of the Open Direct Current Alliance (ODCA), in which more than 40 companies have already joined forces to develop standards for devices in electrician would dare to do this yet”. But Dr. Helmig is confident. “As the number of showcases increases, it will become easier and easier to the same way that those for alternating current have been use this technology. Incidentally, this growth in interest for a long time. The system concept is more important was also the case with our own colleagues here at Phoenix than individual competition between innovations”. Contact, but now customer interest is also increasing. A new power struggle? However, Wetter does not see any competition with We have a lot of visits because many of our industrial customers want to find out more about the experiences we are having with Building 60”. alternating current systems. “AC technology is really The “DC twins” are convinced of the success of their good and very mature. I see the new developments in the direct current sector as an exciting and growing, but niche subject. Wherever direct current can realize its opportunities and strengths is where it will come to the fore. But everything that works with alternating current is mission. “We believe that this technology makes sense. The advantages are clear. It fits perfectly with our vision of an All Electric Society, so the products to be developed are also an investment in the future of us all”. (lo) so mature and established that a fundamental change in phoenixcontact.com our energy structure is unthinkable”. 14 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Fighting tooth and nail The dispute between the inventors Thomas Alva Edison (1847 – 1931) and George Westinghouse (1846 – 1914) is now regarded as the first format war in economic history. During this fierce battle, no trick was too dirty, especially for the legendary Edison. In the early days of electricity, small, regional power grids were set up initially. Lighting by means of carbon arc or carbon filament lamps was the central task of the new form of energy, and the first small direct current motors were added. Edison developed the AC George Westinghouse established the alternating current system carbon filament lamp, which required direct voltage. The ideal voltage for operation was 110 volts. Edison began building the first power stations in the early 1880s. incandescent lamp that circumvented Edison’s patents. This decided the war. Edison later admitted that his insistence on DC grids was the biggest mistake of his career. The transformer was invented in 1881, making it possible to use large amounts of energy cost-effectively and over long distances. Nikola Tesla invented and introduced the two-phase alternating current in 1887. This meant that there were two competing technical systems and a race to see which technology would establish itself on the market. It quickly became clear that alternating voltage had decisive technical advantages. But Edison tried to push through his favored direct voltage by any means necessary. He predicted that users of alternating voltage would die quickly, tried to use patent tricks to promote his direct voltage networks, and went so far as to electrocute animals in public experiments. Naturally, fed from alternating voltage networks. Nevertheless, the AC power grid prevailed. Westinghouse was commissioned to supply the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago in 1892. At the same time, he introduced an DC He is considered one of the most brilliant minds of his time: Thomas Alva Edison By the middle of the 20th century, all of the DC grids in Europe had disappeared. In New York, on the other hand, 4,600 customers were still being supplied with DC voltage in 1998. However, direct voltage is now experiencing an unexpected renaissance. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 15

Stefan de Groot heads sales at 3D-printing specialist Protiq I am rarely down”, laughs the 36-year-old industrial engineer. “However, there are also situations where the phone rings on a Friday afternoon and a large order destroys my weekend”. But, as de Groot assures us business”. Since then, the likeable 3D printer has been an ex-colleague, albeit on the same company premises. “Naturally, the beginning was not as bumpy as it is with many other start-ups”, says de Groot, describing the early during the interview at the Phoenix Contact subsidiary, days. “We had a client who kept us very busy., However, it this is the exception rather than the rule, despite the was planned from the very beginning that “Protiq”, as it raging and constantly growing order situation. Stefan de Groot is, as he describes it himself, a typical employee at the 3D printing specialist, Protiq. A qualified engineer who is passionate about additive manufacturing. is known, would not just continue to develop in the area of technology. “Just under a year later, in November 2017, we launched our marketplace, our digital distribution medium. And the orders from external customers now He knows his way around machine building and has exceed the orders we receive from our parent company”. helped to develop 3D printers and their technology. In Since then, Protiq has developed rapidly in two respects. the meantime, however, he has also helped to set up the company’s own digital marketplace and is deeply involved Technological pioneer in sales issues, for which he is now responsible. For years, Protiq has been making headlines when it comes to new materials that can then be processed using 3D Barely started, already moving on printing. You can feel Stefan de Groot’s enthusiasm when De Groot started in the Rapid Solutions department in Phoenix Contact’s own tool shop in 2016. “But after just three months, it was time to leave. That is when Protiq GmbH was spun off and put on its own footing as a he talks about his career. “At the beginning, I was at home working on and in the machine. When I started in 2016, my field was really in production, specifically in metals. That included the complete program: system preparation, 18 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING component post-processing, powder handling, powder charging”. Initially, Phoenix Contact’s own tool shop was the driving force behind the further development of additive manufacturing. The focus was on subjects such as conformal cooling, which can reduce process times in It was a success, because Protiq was the first company to be able to print copper. The Blomberg-based company then followed suit with zinc and high-strength tool steel, underlining its claim to be one of the flagship companies in additive manufacturing. production, for example, in the plastic injection molding The Internet of Print process. and in the production of forming dies that can As the technology developed, Stefan de Groot’s area be used to print test samples. “But it did not stop there, because a typical feature of Phoenix Contact’s DNA is to look for new processes and new solutions. What can we develop that did not exist before?” At the time, many standard materials were already available, such as the MS1 1.2709 tool steel in the metal laser melting sector, which had already established itself in additive manufacturing. The same applies to the plastics sector, where certain polyamides, such as nylon, are processed using laser sintering. “At some point, we wanted to be able to process conventional series materials, which we have been using for years in our parent company, in additive manufacturing as well. These materials have better, more durable properties. And of course, as an electrical engineering company, we also wanted to make our most important metal, copper, printable”. There’s no such thing as cannot be done “In 2010, when we started, copper was not considered processable in 3D printing. So we developed a process that allowed us to process copper with our machines. We were able to present this in 2013. Market competitors, who now also offer copper prints, started doing this in 2018/19”. Some pride is mixed into de Groot’s description. “This is what makes us fundamentally different from our competitors. We set up specially developed systems for both metal and plastic and started out on a greenfield site. And we asked ourselves what a development and qualification system needs to have to be able to process materials that cannot actually be processed”. To enable them to print materials that previously seemed unsuitable for this purpose, Protiq’s experts began to take a close look at their properties and, above all, the available aggregate states. To be able to actually print wafer-thin layers and fuse them with the laser, the layer to be applied must also be wafer-thin. In particular in the powder bed process, which is Protiq’s specialty, the material must have a specific moisture content and be homogeneous. The pourability that is to be achieved in this way is a real challenge, especially in the plastics sector. “We carried out truly fundamental research together with major material manufacturers”, says Stefan de Groot, describing the efforts. of responsibility also changed. “I became Technology Manager, so I was responsible for process and material development and was heavily involved in project support for customers”. At the end of 2017, the digital channel was extended to become a true sales channel, the Protiq Marketplace. A big step for all customers who wanted to → “The actual development work is first of all in the material, and only then in the fine-tuning of the system”. De Groot is a specialist and knows his way around 3D printing The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 19

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING access additive manufacturing products. From the very out audits with the providers ourselves. This enables us to beginning, the marketplace was intended as a gathering ensure the quality of the portfolio”. place for a wide range of 3D printing experts and not just If a company needs additive manufacturing products for the distribution of in-house services. “Since then, and visits the marketplace, it will often receive several we have combined two processes. We are still a supplier offers. How do you come to an arrangement between of 3D printed products. We are talking about our analog suppliers to avoid ruinous price wars? “Of course, the area. Yet at the same time, we are also the operator of the price is also important”, says de Groot, describing the marketplace and are constantly extending this platform daily business. “However, our end customer structure is and developing our digital business”. Even Phoenix such that it is more about factors such as delivery times Contact’s in-house machine and tool shop uses the and quantities or quality. This is where the providers marketplace whenever necessary to print spare parts and differ. Of course, we sometimes lose an order ourselves. prototypes. Each participating company has its own pricing, its own processes. In this respect, person is the author of their Quality wins There are now 40 suppliers on the marketplace, and the trend is growing. The range is wide and diverse. In addition to our own specialties, you will also find ceramics and glass from other companies. “We are talking about partners here. To attract new partners, we have developed an onboarding process that we go through together with own destiny”. Transparency counts There is now more than one digital platform on which 3D printers offer their skills. But Stefan de Groot remains confident. “We work with the greatest possible transparency for our partners and end customers. This is interested companies. We adhere to strict standards. Our basic requirement is ISO 9001 certification. We also carry particularly important in an industrial environment. Other platforms are often quite opaque. And we are constantly developing the marketplace further, for example with special configurators for inductors, gears, orthopedic shoe lasts, and housing covers. All the end customer has to do is enter the details of the required component, and the configurator then turns these into a 3D-printable dataset. This means they can order even if they do not have a great deal of design knowledge. The live pricing system runs all the time. When the customer enters changes to their component, they immediately have a cost overview of the change. In addition, an economy of scale is embedded so that the number of units is also included in the price”. Another special feature of the marketplace is Protiq Purchase, which caters to the needs of established key accounts. De Groot explains. “If this department sees, for example, that there are partners who work with materials that we as Protiq do not offer, such as ceramics or glass, then we take over the complex supplier creation process for these customers in a new function of the marketplace, which could otherwise cost thousands of euros per supplier for these large corporations. In the material selection process, the customer has the option of selecting supplier x, y, or z to manufacture the component. But the invoice comes from Protiq so that new suppliers do not have to be created in their accounts department. We then receive the components, check them here and send them on”. De Groot is accordingly confident when it comes to the positioning of the marketplace. “Of course, price is an important manipulated variable. But for our customers Configurators make it easier to use the marketplace 20 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

This is where those who rely on quality in 3D printing meet 40 partners are part of the marketplace, and the trend is growing. This makes the range comprehensive and of high quality who use first level support, it is our knowhow and our expertise in consulting that counts. This is also a USP of our marketplace. Our experts know the machines, the processes, and the materials. These are all part of additive manufacturing. Only colleagues who are deeply involved in the subject matter work here”. The toolmaking spin-off from the parent company in Blomberg has become a subsidiary with an exciting strategy of analog production and digital business models. And anyone who has the pleasure of talking to Stefan de Groot about the prospects for 3D printing in industrial production will have an inkling that this development is far from over. (lo) protiq.com The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 21

A nyone who knocks timidly on for an initial interview with the door of the HR department Ines Ludwig will be surprised. Instead of conservative stiffness, the energy of the Bielefeld-born woman is captivating, the atmosphere is relaxed, the tone laid- back. And instead of suits, the whole department is sometimes out and about in white sneakers. The current HR manager has been working at Phoenix Contact for 15 years. “After graduating from high school, I completed vocational training as an industrial clerk in a small company. I still benefit from this today, as I was able to get a taste of all areas there. She stayed there for a total of nine years, taking over the payroll accounting even though she was only in her second year of training. This laid the ground for her professional career and she trained as a human resources specialist. While working, the Bielefeld native went on to study business administration, specializing in commercial law. A short time later, she got a job as a department head at Phoenix Contact. She completed her outstanding diploma thesis “on the side”, so to speak. Values instead of numbers Among other things, Ines Ludwig is now responsible for organizing the work situation at Phoenix Contact. These include company agreements with the works councils on subjects such as mobile working. But applications still find their way to her desk. A job with charisma: Ludwig and her 15-strong team deal with issues that at the end of the day affect around 5,500 employees. She herself greatly appreciates the family orientation of the company. “After my previous company was taken over by a large holding company, it was important for me to return to a family- run business. I wanted to work with real people again and not with personnel numbers. Employee appreciation is an important subject at Phoenix Contact”. Of course, a lot has changed here too in HUMAN RESOURCES 5,780 employees at the Blomberg location 22,500 employees worldwide 30 percent of all employees are female recent years. “We have become larger and therefore more standard process- driven”. Nevertheless, proximity to people in the office and in production is important to Ines Ludwig. “I could not work from home five days a week. I would definitely be missing something”. Perfect applicants “They don’t exist anymore!”, Ludwig laughs. “In the end, it depends on the job and the skills required, but in many areas these days we are looking for mold breakers rather than applicants with streamlined CVs”. Despite extensive application procedures, Ines Ludwig’s gut feeling also plays an important role. “You can still acquire specialist knowledge where necessary, but unfortunately not values. Some applicants are shy and introverted during the first interview. But then they work really well in a team. Then there are people who talk everyone into the ground but are not prepared to work together in their departments”. It is no easy task to find this out accurately during discussions. The hinterland advantage Generational change is also a major subject at Phoenix Contact. The baby boomer generation is gradually retiring, and many young people are joining the teams. How does the family business from Blomberg remain attractive to career starters? “With good training opportunities, such as our dual study programs. With an excellent training center in neighboring Schieder. And with numerous opportunities to make an international contribution through their services”. She does not feel that the rural town of Blomberg is a disadvantage. “Our head-office is great. We are surrounded by nature, can in Blomberg location see far and wide, and there is affordable housing. There are also plenty of cultural attractions in the surrounding area. In addition, working models have → The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 23

become much more diverse thanks to mobile working and working from home. Today, many employees work for us who do not even live in the surrounding area. Incidentally, Phoenix Contact has other locations that are also in metropolitan areas, such as Berlin”. Ines Ludwig reports that there has also been a significant change in the affiliation to the company. “In IT professions in particular, it is no longer in vogue to work at the same company until retirement. Today, we deliberately take the risk that an employee will only stay with us for a few years. We also have to make compromises that are unusual for us”. Shortage of skilled workers and women from migration countries are “Employees definitely a target group for us in view of the shortage of skilled workers”. The issue of workers from refugee countries is a matter close to Ludwig’s heart. “We have hired our first permanent employees from Ukraine and Mexico. It is not so easy, because their teams suddenly have to speak English. That is a challenge for some people”, reports the 45-year-old. And bureaucratic hurdles such as work permits and training recognition do not make the recruitment process any easier, sighs the HR manager. The HR manager with heart and soul: Ines Ludwig “The perfect applicant no longer exists. ... You can still acquire specialist knowledge, but unfortunately not values”. 24 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

HUMAN RESOURCES Phoenix Contact is a company that is active in more than 50 countries. What about the values that create identity in Germany? “Political conflicts must not be brought into the company. For us, human rights apply equally, everywhere. This also applies to sometimes sensitive subjects such as equal rights. We cannot change the social conditions in the countries in which our subsidiaries operate. But our values apply within our companies”. And what about equality at home? “We will be implementing a diversity policy this year. And we have many new female colleagues with a lot of self-confidence who are also ready to take on management positions”. The fact that Phoenix Contact is a company in the technology sector, in which there are still too few women, is still particularly difficult. “Our women’s network, ingenious, is an important step in this direction. This is where our female engineers network and exchange ideas”. HR and conservative? Far from it! And what does Ines Ludwig like best about her job as an HR manager? She laughs. “That I can really get involved”. She becomes serious. “I am in a position where my decisions influence a lot of people. I find this responsibility an exciting challenge: keeping an eye on and positively balancing the interests of everyone from part- time employees on the production line through to the CEO at the same time. Provincialism and a shortage of skilled workers, new professional worlds and working from home, family businesses, internationality, and women quotas – rigidity is old hat. Today, we have to be just as flexible as the profiles of our applicants and think outside the box”. (pmg) phoenixcontact.com The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 25 25

Thomas Nebl is the head of Gatec AG. He has taught the old building its manners in energy 2,000 square meters of photovoltaics 30 charging stations with load management T he new headquarters of probably Switzerland’s best-known Mercedes dealer in the historic Demag factory building in Dietlikon near Zurich is an architectural dream made of steel, sheet metal, and Neither insulation nor ventilation were provided by the original builders. Long underwear in winter and shorts in summer were once required for the necessary air conditioning. Not quite the right wardrobe for a modern glass. The exciting, open construction of the old industrial car dealership in which the gleaming model range from plant stands in delightful contrast to the mobile beauties Stuttgart is presented. that are presented here. In the middle of it all is a café-bar as a trademark, where the legendary “Käfeli” is served by the in-house barista. But when it comes to energy and efficiency, such old industrial buildings are quite the horror. Heat and cold usually find their way inside without much difficulty. This is where Thomas Nebl comes in. The likeable 35-year-old technician and qualified automation manager is the man who wants to teach the old hall some manners in energy. The owner of Gatec AG specializes in building control technology. Together with his partner Gaspare Accardi and a team of eight, he is responsible for the → The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 27

BUILDING AUTOMATION innovative building automation that has turned the old energy guzzler and its extensions into a 6,200 m2 carbon-neutral, usable space. “We have been active in Switzerland for 12 years, planning various properties in the commercial and industrial sectors. We have focused on building automation, measurement and control technology, and control engineering, both in new and existing buildings”. Thomas Nebl explains the task. “We have a lot of very different trades here that we need to automate, so we have to make them talk to each other. The task is to make the building intelligent”. He points around. “One particular challenge is, of course, the air conditioning of this hall. Cooling in the summer, heating in the winter, and as energy-efficient as possible. So the ventilation systems must be able to communicate with the heating system”. However, one could argue about the definition of an old or new building at Kenny’s, because naturally, the old Energy matters hall was completely gutted, the entire outer shell adapted Yet Thomas Nebl’s team is not only doing pioneering work to the current state of the art and supplemented with new extensions. A solar system measuring over 2,000 m2 with a peak output of 500 kW powers the business and enables electric vehicles to be charged. Together with in technical terms. “A lot has happened in Switzerland in recent years in terms of energy policy and building planning. Initially, the subject of efficiency was only a marginal issue, especially for investors and planners. But geothermal probes, it covers the company’s energy and energy has now become a key cost driver behind upkeep. heating requirements. In the summer months, the system We are very well positioned with our building automation produces a surplus of energy, which is currently still being approach”. fed into the public grid. In the future, however, it will be fed into electric vehicles via 30 charging stations and stored there. This turns a car dealership into a power station with In contrast, convenience and user-friendliness still play hardly any role for industrial and commercial customers. However, Nebl adds with a small smile, “Naturally, it a buffer storage function for the power grids. is much easier to operate a building cost-effectively if Comfortable temperatures despite a tin roof The workshop facilities fit in with the overall concept: the second floor of the Auto Center is designed for extensive work on alternative drive systems, including high-voltage batteries. And where does “standing mobility” make more sense than here, where the powerful batteries of the e-mobility vehicles waiting for buyers can absorb surplus electricity and release it again during peak loads, making them bidirectional? you can monitor and control maintenance work and operations centrally. That was also a big issue here at Kenny’s in this old industrial hall”. Room automation, on the other hand, hardly played a role in the Auto Center, because the specified space utilization was defined from the outset in the planning of the Auto Center. → Staging and offices find their place in the converted hall Dietlikon is the latest of the large Swiss car dealer’s three locations 28 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Thomas Nebl and his team joined the project a good two years ago. Gatec was already involved in the planning phase, even before the implementation planning had been drawn up. “This allowed us to take the building automation into account right from the start”. Little time for such a comprehensive measure. “That was the big challenge. Of course the hall was already standing, but not much more. In building technology, however, things always have to move pretty quickly. That was very exciting and intensive”. Nebl and his team were able to rely on a unique selling point of Phoenix Contact. “We were able to fall back on automatic tagging when setting up the data management level. Once the individual controller is set up and you want to transfer the information to the control level, this management level virtually configures itself. Not much engineering is required any more. This only works with Phoenix Contact. With macros and automatic tagging, as well as cooperation with the experts at Phoenix Contact, we were able to save a good four weeks of time with virtual commissioning. That was crucial given the tight schedule. We had the foundations from Phoenix Contact and were able to build on these through our work”. Energy management Thomas Nebl explains where his company worked in detail during our tour of the impressive car dealership. “We have done almost everything when it comes to heating applications, starting with the large circulating air heaters and coolers”. Large black boxes can be seen on the ceiling. “These are fans that work wherever large volumes are required. In the offices, we work with heating and cooling ceilings that operate according to the same principle, but are more effective over the area. We use volume flow regulators for ventilation, which can be individually supplied with more or less air. We housed the heating applications, the preregulation, and the ventilation monoblock with the large fans in the roof area”. The concept in the delivery area is a very special highlight. The handover of the high-quality vehicles that find their buyers here is a real celebration. “There is a real show with a curtain, music, and lights”. This special feature was also combined in the Emalytics system from Phoenix Contact. Even a building like this never stops learning – the planners and operators still have a lot planned. Thomas Nebl explains. “A surface heat pump was recently put into operation. At the same time, an energy management concept is being drawn up that incorporates the building’s data. This allows us to use the surplus energy for the chillers, the heat pump, and the energy storage system. Thanks to Phoenix Contact’s open system, we can integrate 30 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine When it comes to the best possible use of energy, mobility and real estate jockey for position

BUILDING AUTOMATION such technologies as soon as they become available”. For Nebl, it is particularly exciting that the technologies in the control system are not closed-loop. “We used to have various subsystems that worked with different protocols. Here, this is combined in a single system, turning the building into a learning organism”. Feeding data with a system The task at Kenny’s is long-term. “We will continue to provide support in the area of energy and operational consulting in the future. If individual parameters change, this has an effect on the entire system. We then have to make adjustments”. The automation professionals at Gatec usually do this via remote access. “Because we work completely digitally, such an adjustment only takes a few minutes”. However, the teacher and the building were also kept in after hours: the several thousand information points, which were constantly sending their data to the controller, pushed the controller to its performance limits. This Thomas Nebl and his team rely on Emalytics “First, a Käfeli coffee experience. Then your car”. resulted in runtime problems. Control commands were no longer getting through. “However, we found a good Kenny’s Auto-Center is just as well known for this slogan and the “Kenny’s Käfeli” as it is for the sale and service of Mercedes-Benz and its luxury brand, AMG. Marc Eichenberger is the second generation to run the company. The solution with Phoenix Contact support. We have virtually company opened one of the most modern slowed down the controllers and thus reduced the data flow”. Kenny’s will therefore not only charge bidirectionally in future, but will also continue to learn. The transfer of knowledge goes in both directions, including from the application to the manufacturer. And the building and sustainable car dealerships in Dietlikon, Switzerland, on December 12, 2022. Kenny’s Auto-Center AG employs around 200 people and is one of the leading Mercedes Benz and Smart dealers in Switzerland. provides a constant stream of data anyway, with which kennys.ch the installed systems can be better and better coordinated over the years. (lo) gatec.ch The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 31

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT The inventor Patents are a good indicator of a company’s innovative strength. Since the days of Josef Eisert, Phoenix Contact has been a constant source of inventions that have revolutionized the world of electrics and electronics. So Dennis Geisler is following in big footsteps! Y ou could mistake this very tall man to be a Hall 31 on his way to the preseries production basketball player as he casually strolls through of “his” PCB connection terminal blocks. But for all his nonchalance, Dennis Geisler is an intelligent young fox. He alone developed and registered 11 patents in 2022. Alone? “Well, of course, working on innovations is always teamwork”, he says modestly. But the flash of inspiration really does come from the young engineer with roots in East Westphalia, Germany. against a trigger. Equipped with a pre-tensioned spring, it snaps shut and presses the cable securely against the copper counterpart so that current can flow. It can be operated and released again without any tools. “However, this mousetrap principle does not work one- to-one with printed circuit boards”, says Dennis Geisler, describing the technological challenge. “The cables used here are far too thin and therefore sensitive. With XPC 1,5 we are talking about a cross-section of 1.5 mm2. The sensitive cables would bend if they were to press against The aim of his innovative thinking is Push-X technology any resistance. A secure connection cannot be established and its adaptation to the printed circuit board. Push-X is in this way”. a system where power cables are inserted tool-free into An unsolvable problem despite promising approaches terminal blocks and securely locked in place. In contrast in other applications? The development order to make to the already familiar Push-in connection technology, it does not matter whether these cables have a rigid copper core, whether the twisted wires are reinforced with ferrules, or whether the cables consist only of flexible copper litz wires – when the cable is inserted, it presses Push-X technology applicable for printed circuit boards as well was issued at the beginning of 2022. “It was clear from the outset that this project was a high priority. That is why the development team was hand-picked. The core team is made up of five disciplines. In addition to marketing, → 32

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Ideas are turned into initial models At Dennis Geisler’s workstation where the requirement came from, there is development A touch of copper itself, then industrial engineering for parts and tools, the When you listen to Dennis Geisler, you can feel his laboratory for testing, and to round off the team, a project enthusiasm for the little tricks and big technological manager”. leaps that he and his team have implemented. During Standard product development takes three to four the development phase, he registered 18 patents for the years on average. But this time it was to be a sprint – from innovative connection technology, seven of which relate development to market launch in just one year. This was directly to the solution presented. This puts the innovative exactly the right task for Dennis Geisler. “For such an free spirit at the top of the internal ranking list of patent innovative product, you need people who can identify applications. with it and who are prepared to take risks. People who are pragmatic, but also admit mistakes, learn from them, and who do not try to think about and eliminate all eventualities And the development work is not over yet. “We can currently connect a flexible 0.5 mm2 cable. Here, the conductor is pushed into the feed, but with extremely low in advance before they occur in order to avoid making forces. If the mousetrap snaps shut, a rotary movement mistakes. As a young developer, I was trusted, which was follows, which acoustically indicates that it is locked. And of course important”. A lightning-fast start for Geisler, who originally wanted nothing to do with the world of terminal blocks. “I actually wanted to study chemistry first, but then ended up in machine building. And that is where product development appealed to me. In the end, I found my ideal field with the printed circuit boards. We deal with various materials and their properties here. Mechanics has much more to offer than just working with steel and iron. We really we continue to optimize. Our aim is to be able to connect even 0.25 mm2 thin, flexible cables. This is really just a sliver of copper. The clamping spring that we use requires a compressive force of around 20 Newtons to release it. However, these small flexible cables can only push perhaps 1 or 2 Newtons before they kink. This means we have to get rid of a factor of 10 in force somehow. Using all the tricks of leverage and force, we have managed to optimize the mousetrap principle so that it works amazingly well”. tease the very best out of things. This goes into detail However, pure mental work is not enough in product under the microscope. A tenth of a millimeter can make development, as Dennis Geisler emphasizes. “I mostly the difference between whether the connectors and the design in 3D programs on giant monitors. But then I connection technology work or not”. quickly lose touch with the actual size and therefore → 34 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT the practicality. This is why very close teamwork with Nevertheless, Geisler also takes a systematic approach my colleagues from preseries production is extremely to a new development. “First of all, of course, you look over important to me. Popping over for a visit, consulting with the backyard fence, observe competitors’ approaches, the practitioners there – this brings every far-fetched idea and think about improvements. Working on other patents crashing down if it cannot be implemented in everyday is also valuable, because if you are not allowed to do life on the machine and in production. Fortunately, the something, you try to design around it without infringing preseries production facilities are here at our location”. your competitors’ patent protection. This gives rise to new ideas. This is how technologies are continuously From a hammock to a 3D program improved. How does a developer come up with their ideas? What kind of environment is necessary for new ideas to be Innovations as a chess game born, which are then implemented in technology? Dennis But that only works up to a certain point. Then you have Geisler smiles. “In my private life, I am also more of an to be able to detach yourself from everything you know artistic, creative type. When it comes to rules, I do not like to be held too tightly to them. If something is too regulated, then I like to break the mold and try other approaches. and deal with the task in a very fundamental way. Our task only involved a few parts, maybe four or five. The possible combinations of how we arrange things are therefore And I get the best ideas when my head is free, whether in very low. This terminal block alone gave rise to seven my hammock in the garden or after an intensive volleyball patents. The other patents relate to solutions that we do training session. Turning off the PC for a while and getting not actually use here, but which have emerged along the some space – that leaves room for new ideas”. way. With this approach, we naturally secure and protect the thought model as well. This patent work is a delicate, double-edged issue. Of course, this approach of using blocking patents also Practice proves whether ideas can also survive in production 36 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Initial ideas arise in the mind and virtually on the computer 281 patents registered by Josef Eisert throughout the course of his life – and more than 80 by his son Klaus Geisler frequently visits the preseries production facility. This exchange is essential for development slows down further development by our competitors. As in ten years’ time if I continue to work stubbornly on this a company, we want a unique position in order to achieve subject, or whether my creativity will not be captured by commercial success. But if you deal with these hurdles established ideas”, Geisler says thoughtfully. However, he intensively enough as a developer, you will suddenly find other solutions. And that in turn creates a variety of technology that is valuable for everyone. is certain of the following assessment. “No great idea has ever been born in meetings. Freedom and the acceptance of mistakes, on the other hand, are decisive factors for Naturally, it is annoying if you do not have the patents creativity. If mistakes are not tolerated, you do not dare to you need to drive your own product development forward. take risks, not even in product development”. But since everyone is acting in the same way, it is also fair So is a change of scenery essential for successful because there is equal opportunity”. developers? And will that inevitably lead to job hopping Brakes on though Tinkering with details while keeping a clear head for new ideas – what restricts a developer like Geisler? “I need some space from my PC. If you always see the same things, you eventually can’t see the woods for the trees. A lot of Push-X was actually developed during COVID 19, that is to say in the home office. The first time I plugged in the conductor and the closing reflex worked was at home, in my jogging bottoms in front of my PC”. But can this approach be repeated at will? “I am not and thus away from Phoenix Contact? Geisler shakes his head. “First of all, there are still a few things that need to be finalized. Of course, the detailed work is part of it. And that is right so – your head has to clear again at some point. For this, I need a new stimulus, new input. But Phoenix Contact has so many areas and fields of activity – I don’t know yet whether I will go into another development area or take on new responsibilities. We have the possibilities here, and the need for fresh ideas will not diminish”. (sp/lo) sure whether I will still be able to think outside the box phoenixcontact.com The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 37

E-MOBILITY A round with all the birthday boys – alongside Frank Schröder and Frank Knafla, who set off on their first Wave Trophy in 2013, Michael Heinemann, head of Phoenix Contact E-Mobility, and Roland Bent, former Chief Technical Officer, met up for a cozy get- together. The setting was chosen to be symbolic. An old gas pump with a history: this metal beauty has already served as a backdrop alongside Angela Merkel and Barack Obama at the Hannover Messe. And the empty field reflected the e-mobility situation in 2013. → UPDATE: Welcome to the tank talks. Today we are reviving an old tradition. Car enthusiasts used to meet at the service station on Saturdays to service their cars and indulge in conversations about vehicles and technology. 40 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine Tank talks. We have invited an illustrious group of mobility makers to today’s tank talk at our old pump. The first of these are Frank Schröder and Frank Knafla. One is responsible for Facility Management at the Bad Pyrmont location. The other heads Market Management in Building Automation. The two took part in the Wave Trophy, a kind of rally exclusively for battery-powered roadsters, in 2013. Frank Schröder: Roadster is the right word, because some of the vehicles were really adventurous. Incidentally, the idea to take part came spontaneously. We both attended a congress on automation technology. I hardly knew Frank, but we were sitting at the same table. And one of the speakers at the congress was Louis Palmer, the organizer of the Wave Trophy and a true e-mobility legend. We listened, took a quick look at each other and then spontaneously decided that we wanted to be there. Frank Knafla: But it was not as easy as it is today. First of all, we needed a car. There were very few vehicles back then. We were lucky that Mr. Bent also thought it was a great idea and became our internal sponsor, actively supporting us with the implementation. Frank Schröder: We already had a converted Smart. And thought that would be enough. Until we read through the conditions of the Wave Trophy. One of these was the requirement for a minimum range of 170 kilometers. But our Smart only managed 150 kilometers. A low blow. But Frank had the idea that saved the day. Frank Knafla: I knew the head of business development in the district of Lippe. I called him and told him what we were planning. And he said he could provide us with a French alternative. Naturally, we seized the opportunity. With the right decals, the Renault quickly became a Phoenix Contact mobile. Incidentally, the car was actually still being driven around in the Lippe district with the decals still on it until last year. Frank Schröder: Then we started the preparations. Public charging stations, perhaps even fast charging stations, were still a foreign concept. So we stocked up on adapters to tap into anything that looked like a power line. And planned the route as far as possible so that we could somehow organize energy. A team of supporters quickly formed here at Phoenix Contact, who completely identified with the topic, working late into the evening, tinkering and optimizing. Three months later, we actually got started. In Blomberg, we were bid farewell with a big smile and a wink from Mr. Bent with the motivating words that he would now also like to see victory at the Wave … Frank Knafla: The starting field back then was a bunch of crazy people, hobbyists, and freaks. A lot of students, a lot of true believers. It was not commercialized at all. And

Michael Heinemann has been one of the two General Managers of Phoenix Contact E-Mobility since 2019 Tank Frank Schröder and Frank Knafla – the Frank and Frank team talks we were right in the middle of it, as representatives of an industrial company. With a company logo, company outfit, with the idea of an accompanying blog – we were soon → UPDATE: What was the situation at Phoenix Contact back then? The subject of e-mobility was a completely different one than it is today. unique. Soon we were just called Frank and Frank. Roland Bent: That is right, it was still in its infancy. It was a campaign that radiated into the company. In the morning, many colleagues were the first to read our blog entries, which we published on the company intranet. That was the talk of the day. → UPDATE: Mr. Bent, as a long-standing CTO, you have been appointed by office to keep your finger on the pulse of technological development. Did you have any idea at the time what you were facilitating and setting in motion? Roland Bent: Well, we were in the middle of launching our e-mobility subsidiary. But taking part in the Wave Trophy was initially meant to be rather idealistic. However, we were quickly convinced that it was one hundred percent the right thing to do as Phoenix Contact. And for fun, I said at the time – of course we want to win. Of course, I did not expect that this would actually happen, and more than once to boot. We started developing the so-called combo connector together with the automotive industry back in 2011. In 2012, we organized the aforementioned Industrial Communication Congress. Even back then, we took the view that electrical engineering, automation technology, and digitalization were the key levers for solving future challenges such as mobility and, of course, climate protection. I myself have been a member of the National Platform for E-mobility since 2010. This was a group of experts, around 300, who wanted to support the German federal government. Mrs. Merkel said in a speech at the time that she wanted to see one million electric vehicles on German roads by 2020. Many people laughed about this idea back then. However, we saw this as a future prospect. We invested, realized our first projects with customers, and also gained international experience. And, consequently, we founded E-Mobility in 2013. → The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 41

E-MOBILITY Roland Bent was a member of the Phoenix Contact Group Executive Board until 2021 and a driver behind e-mobility Frank Knafla: But it was still sporty, because of course it was all about speed – for example with the charging processes. Or who was first to the finish line or who had solved the small tasks that accompanied the day. Frank Schröder: I remember that we had to drive a racing course in Germany. Everyone else had thrown everything out of their cars, luggage gone, co-drivers gone, in order to whizz around the track as quickly as possible. Frank and Frank both stayed in the car – and still won! This rally went on for ten days. The route went from Vienna to Zurich over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, with plenty of mountain stages. The Renault had a range of just under 170 kilometers with a very sensitive accelerator pedal. Frank Knafla: We could only charge with normal sockets. Energy for 33 kilometers of driving in one hour, and that over a total of 1,000 kilometers. We practically charged ourselves up to win. I have always put it like this: Downtimes without charging times are bad times. When the battery was empty, it took about eight to 10 hours before it made sense to continue the journey. We charged wherever we could and used every break to recharge. Roland Bent: It was fascinating to see what kind of vehicles were on the road there. They were pioneers. There were the first production cars, like ours, but also many converted combustion cars equipped with electric motors. And every arrival at one of the destinations was a huge event for the local population. People could see that something was happening here, something was changing and it is still fun. The drivers who arrived were not completely exhausted or stressed, they were having a lot “We saw the potential in e-mobility early on”. Roland Bent So there was soon more to the involvement in the Wave of fun. So, a very positive message. than just the purely sporting idea. We wanted to show that we could offer solutions in the field of e-mobility. Nobody in the industry knew us. We were seen purely as a supplier of industrial equipment. Frank Schröder: The idea of organizer Louis Palmer was to show that e-mobility is possible in everyday life. We were ambassadors for this new mobility. The finish points of the stages were usually market squares where the spectators gathered. → UPDATE: Michael Heinemann, what do you think as head of Phoenix Contact E-mobility when you hear stories like this? You are also celebrating the 10th anniversary of your e-mobility subsidiary this year. Michael Heinemann: From today’s perspective? Eight hours to recharge the vehicle for 160, 170 kilometers? (Smiling) Today, you no longer have to hold a Wave Trophy to prove that e-mobility is suitable for everyday use. 42 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

Today we easily have a range of 400 to 600 kilometers. And it takes just under 10 minutes to charge the car for 170 kilometers. They are worlds apart. Roland Bent: That really is a point that we should savor for a moment. That was just ten years ago. We complain, often rightly so, that many changes are too slow. But back then, electric vehicles were really exotic and were ridiculed. And by mid-2021, we actually had one million vehicles on the road. → UPDATE: Speaking of development, what has the Wave Trophy done for you? Frank Schröder: A significant amount. First of all, it was a great team training program. And as a technician, I was suddenly in the spotlight during this rally. I had to speak, → 10 years of Frank and Frank The Trophy has been held annually since 2011 wavetrophy.com 2015 2014 2013 43

Roland Bent and Michael Heinemann are two staunch advocates of e-mobility – and only drive electric cars themselves represent, give interviews. It changed me completely and opened up a whole new perspective. Frank Knafla: A technical change will only be successful if it is followed by a change in the mind. Only then does technology work. I have internalized that. → UPDATE: But that was not your only start in a Wave Trophy competition? Frank Knafla: As the winners of Wave 2013, we were also able to participate free of charge in 2014 with starting number one. And naturally, we took this challenge on. Our E-Golf was a pre-production model, but it was already capable of fast charging. Well, we won again. And were able to start again in 2015. But then we did not perform so well. So the decision to take 2016 off was not that difficult. Frank Schröder: We drove the Wave three times. For me, they were some of the best experiences I have ever had. And if you have four children, that is saying something, considering the perspective. Gradually, however, more far-reaching ideas than mere e-mobility began to take shape. I was able to present my ideas on how buildings and e-mobility can be connected. Frank Schröder has been a convinced influencer since his first participation in the Wave Trophy 3.75 megawatts – the maximum charging power that the Megawatt Charging System for utility vehicles should be able to provide Frank Knafla: And then we handed over the baton to our trainees. Every year, two trainees could apply to take part in the Wave Trophy. Michael Heinemann: You already had fast charging technology on board with the second Wave. While you, as participants in the Wave Trophy, have proven to the world that e-mobility is suitable for everyday use, we at Phoenix Contact E-Mobility have ensured that e-mobility is actually suitable for everyday use. → UPDATE: Mr. Heinemann, what are the key issues affecting Phoenix Contact E-Mobility today? Michael Heinemann: The scene today is very different to that of 10 years ago. Today, the focus is on scaling development, production, and sales. We are active both in It was a kind of anticipation of the idea of sector coupling the vehicle and in the infrastructure sector. Both sides are as we advocate it today. showing corresponding growth rates. In addition, my life as a committed participant in social networks began with my participation in the Wave. We were allowed to tweet in 2013, live on the landing page. That was really exciting. → UPDATE: Mr. Bent, according to statistics, Germans drive 30 kilometers a day. The first vehicles back then could have done that. Isn’t the fixation on range and 44 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

E-MOBILITY 10 years of Phoenix Contact E-Mobility therefore fast charging stations also an obstacle to e-mobility? → UPDATE: What role does e-mobility play as a subsidiary within the company? Roland Bent: If you look at mobility purely rationally, that is true. Once I have fully charged my ID4, I do not Michael Heinemann: E-mobility is a core component of what we call the All Electric Society. Energy generation usually have to recharge it for the whole week. But then I from renewable sources plays a major role here, as still have to go to Frankfurt for work or would like to go to does the interlinking with energy consumers, such as the Baltic Sea for some free time. Range was a real obstacle the building. We call this sector coupling: a system that at the time when it was not really available. I therefore intelligently connects all areas of power generation and believe that it was very important to take away people’s consumption. range anxiety for the most part. But I believe that mobility behavior will change over time. In many cases, people will realize that a smaller car will suffice and rent a larger e-vehicle for the rare long- distance trips. What is still lacking today, however, are affordable small electric cars. I am firmly convinced that what will follow is the automation of driving, which will only become really Frank Knafla: We must not see e-mobility as an island that functions self-sufficiently. Power grid technology also plays an important role here. How can I make power grids so intelligent that my neighbor’s TV does not go off when I charge my electric car? And how can I use the car as a mobile energy storage system in the future that can also feed its power back into the grid, as a kind of rolling battery in the power grid? exciting with e-mobility. → UPDATE: What about the infrastructure issue? Is the profession of gas station operator doomed to extinction in the age of home chargers and public charging stations? Michael Heinemann: Downtime without charging time is actually pointless. There are now many options. This can be at home at the home charger. Charging at the workplace is also an important option. Charging at the supermarket while shopping is very interesting. And, of course, you also need the infrastructure at the fast charging stations for long journeys. → UPDATE: What are the issues for e-mobility in the next 10 years? Michael Heinemann: Electrifying utility vehicles – from trucks and tractors to construction machinery. Construction sites are already being put out to tender on a carbon-neutral basis. The only way to do this is through electrification. The batteries in these vehicles are up to six times larger than those in passenger cars. This calls for completely new charging standards, such as the Megawatt Charging System with up to 3.75 megawatts of charging power. And Frank already hinted at it: The subject of “vehicle- Roland Bent: However, not everyone has a home charger. to-grid” is moving into focus. Electric vehicles will not The majority of our population lives in urban structures. So in addition to charging facilities on the highways, we also need fast-charging facilities at the service station around the corner. There are now also large oil companies that are investing massively in charging infrastructure. Especially as we will be on the road with existing vehicles for some only store their stored energy, but also make it available again, for example to buffer grid fluctuations. In this way, the still limited energy generated from renewable sources is used efficiently and in a way that conserves resources. (lo) time to come. I think there will still be gas stations. update.phoenixcontact.com/en/ The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 45

THE WIND POWER TEAM I f you want to get to the top, you have to start at the bottom. Right at the bottom. Lukas Christ is lying on the asphalt, his head bandaged. A shiny thermal blanket should protect him from the cold and help retain How do you make it safe? What should you do in the event of an accident on a wind turbine generator? What accidents are possible? The his body heat. There’s a dented car in the background and a first-aid kit in front of him. We are in Bissendorf near Osnabrück, at the RescOff center. And when he’s not playing an accident victim, Lukas Christ uses his technical German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) institution distinguishes between three danger zones: the mechanical hazard from sharp edges, expertise to look after Phoenix Contact’s key customer unprotected machine parts, and the Enercon. Almost the entire Phoenix Contact wind team took part in the annual safety training course. Whether salesperson or technician, engineer or manager – when it comes goods elevators. A wind nacelle is not an apartment, even if the dimensions of large turbines would be sufficient for a tiny house. The electrical hazard of the to safety on the wind turbine, everyone is the same: the “closed electrical operating facility” is 13 participants are armed with safety shoes, climbing obvious, therefore only persons who are equipment, helmets, and robust clothing. “There are trained as electrically skilled persons are usually two of us on one turbine. And if something actually permitted to work in these areas. After all, happens, there’s only one colleague up there who can help. there are some things in a wind turbine You have to be able to rely on each other”, explains Nils Lesmann, Business Development Manager in “real life”. nacelle or tower that can be hazardous to your health. Epoxy resins, lubricating and Learning before doing hydraulic oils, or cleaning agents require careful handling and appropriate protection. But before they head for the heights, basic knowledge and And sometimes it’s the engineer or service theory are on the agenda. Even if the professionals have technician who bears the risk. A stroke, heard it many times before: what is a technical system? heat shock, or a heart attack are even more The laughing wounded: colleague Lukas Christ is only playing an accident victim 48 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

life-threatening situations when experienced in the remoteness of a wind turbine nacelle. The obligatory three-yearly check-up by the company doctor is therefore also routine for members of the wind team. In addition to an ECG, blood and lung tests are carried out to check whether the employee is fit to work at heights. Stress in the labyrinth In the meantime, Lukas Christ has been “rescued”, his colleagues have routinely set the rescue chain in motion and treated the “casualty”. The two instructors increase the stress level: Now the “injured” have to be rescued from a wire cage labyrinth which simulates the confines of a wind turbine generator. Hoses block the way, and boxes create additional obstacles. Sometimes it’s a heart attack that needs to be treated, sometimes it’s a fracture that needs to be splinted in the confined space before the person can be transported away. Björn Bülter now works in sales as a Key Account Manager for Germany’s largest wind turbine generator manufacturer. Before he joined Phoenix Contact, he was a service technician and worked on a number of wind turbines: “It’s all very realistic here. At the “It is very realistic here. It is at least as tight at the top of a real system”. Björn Bülter, Key Account Manager Every move has to be right: Luis Krekeler abseiling top of a real turbine, we’re often led from the powerhouse along narrow routes into the front hub, past all kinds of equipment and crawling underneath it. And if we want to install and calibrate sensors in the blades, for example, then we need to go even deeper into the system, and things get even tighter”. Things are looking up The second day – things are looking up. But before the climbing harnesses are put on and the helmets strapped on, an experienced instructor gives a theoretical introduction to the subject. Learning the ropes is the order of the day. This equipment is unlikely to be found anywhere else at Phoenix Contact: Climbing harnesses and tackle, carabiners, and hooks. This part of the course is called “Working at Heights”. “On the first courses I attended, we actually descended from an 80-meter tower afterwards”, says Karl-Heinz Meiners with a grin. The 53-year-old Senior Project Manager is a veteran of the team and has worked on wind turbines in a number of countries throughout the world. Today, the eight-meter- high tower in the RescOff hall is sufficient. → The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 49

fast emergency stop of the rotor. There was a huge bang, then we flew through the area. And with us, the sparks that were released in the process. And fire is the worst thing that can happen up there. That was the only time I was really scared”. Respect is a must if you want to leave the airy workplaces unscathed. “We will soon be in Portugal visiting a turbine where we will have to enter the hub. This is where the control cabinet for the sensors we use to measure the blades is located. The problem is, we have to climb out of the nacelle and then outside in front of the hub, where there is an access door. There is no way through from the inside”. says Lukas Christ, who was the casualty the day before. He tightens the climbing harness with a jerk and then hangs limply: another accident victim! This time he is roped down and plays the unconscious man dangling in front of his “rescuer”. However, things are usually much better for the youngster, who has been with the team since 2016. “I am often on prototype systems from Enercon, providing support during technical acceptance tests”. Anyone working on wind turbine generators is largely isolated despite the close proximity and must be able to help themselves or their partner. This isolation is significantly increased for offshore wind farms. Björn Bülter says, “I was offshore for the first time relatively early on, back in 1998/99. There were not many systems back then, so we had to go through the work Ulrich Kleinschmidt and Martin Mester in the labyrinth “You’ve got to be fit for this course”, huffs Karl Heinz after getting out of the super- narrow elevator, which barely has room for two people and still insists on going down. Not training on an oil rig. We took the boat out for people with claustrophobia, “And this job onto the North Sea off the Irish coast. The is not for those who suffer from dizziness”. But anyone who, like Karl-Heinz Meiners, has climbed wind towers during winter storms in Inner Mongolia 20 years ago, “back then without an elevator and just a trouser belt for transfer from the boat to the platform was not without its difficulties – the boat reverses up. You then have to go over to the ladder and up while the waves pounding. The more waves, the more exciting it gets”. safety”, remains cool even when faced with However, thanks to the now well- such challenges. “The training here is much established and globally applicable safety more strenuous than any real work on the standards, serious accidents on and in wind turbines”. The senior member of the wind turbine generators have become rare. And team has only been really scared once. “That was a good 20 years ago, on a Chinese turbine. We were up there because of a fault while the system was running. Today that is strictly forbidden. And then the system went into regular safety training is also an important part of ensuring the safety of the Phoenix Contact experts. Nevertheless, the job remains a challenge … (lo) emergency stop. In other words, a lightning- phoenixcontact.com 50 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine

THE WIND POWER TEAM There are always new developments from the climbing sector that find their way into the world of technicians The safety experts Safety courses for technicians and engineers for wind turbine generators have been held in Bissendorf near Osnabrück since 2014. Up to 600 courses with different focuses are on the program, often tailored to the respective teams. Rescue from heights, firefighting, and first aid are standard. There are also specialties such as evacuation from the super-narrow elevators in the towers and special training for offshore operations. In addition, graduates are constantly learning new techniques, because rope, harness, and personal protective equipment are also constantly evolving. Under the leadership of General Manager Dr. Steffen Dambach and the founder of RescOff, Dr. Kathrin Dambach, 40 permanent and 20 freelance employees now work to make teams from the wind industry fit in terms of safety. The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 5151

Future discoverers Dubai wins twice Phoenix Contact has been hosting the international technology and education competition “xplore” for 25 years. In 2023, the motto was “Technology Award for a sustainable world”. Two teams from Heriot- Watt University Dubai took first place: “Smart Aquaponic Systems” in the Environment category and “NurseBot” in the Social and Health category. “This is not the first time that students from the university have been successful in the xplore Award, but it is the first time that they have won in two of the five award categories. This result is fruit from the successful cooperation between Phoenix Contact and the university”, comments Iyad Madanat, General Manager Phoenix Contact Middle East, not without pride. tech-education.com BEHIND THE SCENES Swarm intelligence Successful completion of the Beehyve project The “Beehyve project”, which was launched as part of PLCnext Technology at the beginning of 2023, had a successful closing event in December. The aim was to develop smart projects around the automation of a beehive – true to the motto: Using swarm intelligence to create innovative automation technology. Starting out on a literally greenfield site, outstanding projects involving artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and digital twins have emerged alongside the bee home, Building 50 in Bad Pyrmont. At the official conclusion, all participating groups gathered in Bad Pyrmont to present their completed projects and review the year. “The findings and the yield are promising. Next year will be the first regular bee year in which the colonies can do their work stress-free, without having to move and adapt to the technology”, says project manager Iris Trinoga about the next steps. plcnext-community.net/beehyve/ Common ground Integration center for Ukrainian refugees in Poland Colleagues from Rzeszów in Poland, close to the Ukrainian border, have been supporting refugees from their neighboring country with aid packages for almost two years now. However, it was clear early on that they also wanted to help in the long term. Now a new integration center is being built. Dominik Mazur, General Manager E-Mobility Poland developed the idea for the meeting place from the desire to provide sustainable and lasting help at the location that most Ukrainian refugees were seeking refuge. The integration center will offer social and inclusive activities as well as cultural events, language courses, and the opportunity to cook together. The building, in which the lower floor will 52 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine soon be converted into a new integration center, is located in the middle of the city center of Rzeszów. The aim is to complete the space by spring 2024. “I am delighted that, as a responsible employer, we can do something for people in the heart of our city”, emphasizes Dominik Mazur.

BEHIND THE SCENES Markus Philipp is visibly delighted at receiving the award from a distinguished circle Master of standardization IEC Award for Markus Philipp The International Electrotechnical Commission honored Markus Philipp with the IEC 1906 Award in Offenbach. With this award, the standards organization has honored his extraordinary commitment in the field of surge protection. He is Director of Research and Development in the Business Area Surge Protection and a member of the technical committee “TC37 – Surge Protective”. His working group deals with the product standardization and application of surge protection and the condition monitoring of surge protective devices, for example in offshore wind turbine generators. “It is important for Phoenix Contact to be actively involved because standardization work creates the basis for future products and technologies”. At the age of 43, Markus Philipp is one of the younger members of the IEC international standards organization. “You are thrown in at the deep end a bit”, says the electrical engineer, laughing as he remembers jumping in at the deep end – a meeting in Greece that he had to moderate and chair in front of around 50 people from more than 30 countries. Since then, he has been involved in many national and international working groups and task forces on the subject of surge protection. iec.ch/awards Transport. “We are proud to be able to make a valuable contribution to the All Electric Society and thus also to sustainability in our supply chain”. Handover Charlie Lim, new General Manager Southeast Asia He knows the Job. The new General Manager Southeast Asia has been active at Phoenix Contact since 2016. He began his career as a sales manager and then held various management positions in sales. Lim succeeds Cher Hung Seet, who is retiring after 25 years as General Manager. Lim’s responsibilities not only include sales, but also marketing and service. phoenixcontact.com E-truck First e-truck in operation Phoenix Contact’s fleet of logistics vehicles has included an e-truck since mid-September. Following a successful test week in January, a Scania electric truck including a mobile charging device has been leased for twelve months and will be used both for internal plant traffic and as a shuttle for the Blomberg – Steinheim route. The test phase has already proven to be a complete success. In addition to noise reduction, the vehicle also scores highly in terms of performance. “With a range of up to 350 km, the battery and engine performance have been significantly improved compared to the 88 km of the test vehicle”, reports Christoph Niedernolte, Manager Internal The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 3/23 53

BEHIND THE SCENES Sustainability Gold sustainability rating For the first time, Phoenix Contact has achieved the gold medal in the internationally recognized sustainability rating by EcoVadis, the world’s largest provider of sustainability ratings, with 76 out of a possible 100 points. “We have improved due to our diverse projects”, says Andreas Kehl, head of the project, delighted with the gold status. Phoenix Contact performs particularly well in the fields of Environment and Labor and Human Rights. High scores were also awarded in the rating for Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. Numerous colleagues have worked hard to achieve this. “For the evaluation process, the parties involved had to provide very precise documentation and back it up with evidence. This resulted in a total of around 100 pages”, says Kehl, praising the effort – which has now been recognized. “Only by integrating sustainability into our business model can we meet customer requirements and at the same time comply with legislation”. ecovadis.com Jorina Thomas, Michael Brenker, Janine Schulze Waltrup, and Sophie Heil (from left) from the HR Department are delighted with the recognition Top employer Phoenix Contact shines with two awards The Top Employer Institute has honored Phoenix Contact with both the Top Employer and Top Company Award 2024 and as one of the 20 best employers in Germany. Based on a series of preselected subject areas that should have a positive effect on the working environment, the internal project team identified and presented how work is experienced at Phoenix Contact. “We are delighted to have received confirmation that we are on the right track as an employer. The Top Employer 2024 Award reflects to us ‘from the outside’ that we are creating excellent conditions for good work. The Top Company 2024 Award reflects to us ‘from the inside’ that the employees of Phoenix Contact share this assessment”, emphasizes Michael Brenker, Director Global Talent Management and Employer Branding. top-employers.com 54 UPDATE 3/23 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine Inclusion VdK award for Peter Whitmore Peter Whitmore was awarded the “vilmA” prize by the VdK social association. It is awarded to people with disabilities who are active in the areas of employment and training. NRW State Parliament President André Kuper gave the laudatory speech. “Everyone enthusiastically describes him as a forward thinker and visionary who creates a team spirit. He always remains empathetic and has an open ear for everyone”. Peter Whitmore is proud and grateful for the award. “I am actually someone who does not focus on my disability. I am a manager, I am a colleague, I am a husband, and a father. And my wheelchair just goes with me”. vdk.de Machine safety Accumulated knowledge in book form From January 20, 2024, machine manufacturers must ensure that their products comply with the new EU Machinery Regulation. A subject that is shaking the industry. Torsten Gast, Director Competence Center Services, has published a book in collaboration with the experts Alois Hüning and Philipp Reusch, which provides a quick and uncomplicated overview of the changed items and attachments. So far, however, only in German. vogel.de

The next issue will be published in Spring 2024: A Walk in the park It is not milk and honey that flows here, but data and energy. The All Electric Society Park in Blomberg is not just an architectural showpiece for Phoenix Contact. It shows what is already possible today. This makes it a technological innovator for the world of tomorrow. 55 Legal notice Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG Corporate Communications Lutz Odewald (Editor-in-Chief) Telephone: +49 5235 3-42153 Email: lodewald@phoenixcontact.com Paula Meier-Galbete (pmg) Senta Pietschmann (sp) Design and implementation: Corporate Communications, Graphic Design Image credits: Cover image: © Shutterstock, debra hughes © Shutterstock: 2, 6, 7, 15, 46, 48-49, 50 Andre Köller: 8 ff., 16 ff., 20 ff., 26 ff. Thomas Franz: 30 ff. Christina Jahnich: 38 ff. Lutz Odewald: 42 ff. Thorsten Sienk: 13, 14 From the industry: Scandlines, ETH Zürich Copyright © 2024 by Phoenix Contact All rights reserved.