Düsseldorf, 28.06.2023

From 10 to 16 June, Qianfang Zhao, Deputy Head of Shandong Hongqiao New Materials Co., Ltd., and Prof. Dr. Hai Zhang (Suzhou University), Head of Weiqiao (Suzhou) Lightweight Research Center, led a delegation of Weiqiao Lightweight Base to Germany for an exchange.

Networking with leading companies and promoting global collaboration

From 12 to 13 June, the delegation first visited the largest international foundry exhibition GIFA2023 in Düsseldorf. The delegation was warmly welcomed by the organiser, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. At the welcoming ceremony, Qianfang Zhao said that Weiqiao was looking forward to an intensive exchange with outstanding enterprises from all over the world and strengthening cooperation. In the exclusive interview, Prof. Hai Zhang introduced the innovations and developments of Weiqiao Group and stressed to continue the path of sustainable development. At the fair, the delegation met with leading enterprises such as Raffmetal, Emirates Global Aluminium, Norsk Hydro, Gautschi and the German Foundry Association.

Promoting industry-academia-research cooperation to solve industrial problems

The delegation then visited the Advanced Metals and Processes research cluster at RWTH Aachen University (AMAP). At the meeting with AMAP core members, Professor Hai Zhang said that he would be very happy to cooperate with universities and research institutions in R&D and talent training in the future, as well as to jointly promote the integration of industry, education and research intensively. Afterwards, Prof. Dr. Hai Zhang and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Hirt, Head of the Institute of Image Forming at RWTH Aachen University (IBF), signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation”. The Weiqiao (Suzhou) Lightweight Research Center also held an on-site job fair in Aachen to attract global talent in the field of high-performance metal materials.

Exchange on developments in cutting-edge technologies 

The Foundry Institute (GI) and the Institute for Metallurgical Process Technology and Metal Recycling of RWTH Aachen University (IME) as well as the Institute for Welding and Joining Technology (ISF) were also on the programme in Aachen, while the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) and the Baden-Württemberg Economic Development Corporation (BWi) were in Stuttgart. The focus was on exchanging experiences on technological innovation strategies in the automotive sector and sustainable development solutions, as well as understanding the economic environment in Baden-Württemberg.