The Rudolf Diesel Medal is Europe’s oldest innovation prize and has been awarded since 1953. The award honours personalities and companies that have made a significant contribution to increasing the quality of life, prosperity and the preservation of the culture of innovation in Germany.

The Diesel Medal for the best idea for the future is a prize of 5,000 EUR for students and graduates of technical and natural sciences. The competition is designed according to the principles of open innovation and deals with the tasks of German medium-sized technology companies. For the first time, the Future prize is intended to honour current ideas from talented young professionals. Young technology enthusiasts between the ages of 18 and 35 can participate.

Blade Integrated Disks are components used in jet engines and turbines. These components are mainly made of forged disks with titanium or Inconel alloys. First the bore and the outer contour are manufactured. In a further work step, the component is located in the bore and centrically aligned. Then the blades are milled from the solid material. In this process, excellent concentricity and centric mass distribution must be achieved. A rigid machine tool and workpiece clamping are prerequisites for high productivity. Limiting factors are the machinability of the materials and the low stability of the blades.