Full speed ahead for talent development

Showcasing its commitment to talent development, Norelem has acted as the primary sponsor for VDI-Racing-Camp. The 2022 camp was Norelem’s second event in partnership with VDI, after a successful first partnership in 2019.

This year’s VDI-Racing-Camp powered by Norelem was held at the F&T LaSiSe testing track near Dortmund, Germany, which is typically used as a research and testing facility for the load securing industry as well as a training course for HGV and load securing truck drivers, making it the perfect location for this year’s camp.

VDI’s Racing-Camp powered by Norelem allows students to prepare themselves for the upcoming Formula Student competitions by testing their vehicles under real conditions in all disciplines. The teams build cars in one of the three categories: combustion engine, electric car, or driverless car. Every year, new teams are invited to participate, which ensures that there is a good mix of teams with various levels of experience. This makes the event a perfect preparatory event for the international design competition, which is hosted by Formula Student.

“We are extremely proud to act as main sponsor of the inspiring VDI-Racing-Camp,” says Marcus Schneck, CEO of Norelem. “It is a perfect showcase of Norelem’s commitment to developing future talent. The manufacturing sector is currently facing a mass skills shortage; however the skills that the participants at VDI-Racing-Camp powered by Norelem have displayed show to us that the future of the manufacturing industry is in safe hands, so long as we can continue to develop talent effectively.”

Over four days, more than 20 teams and more than 300 participants tested their skills in competitive conditions to produce the best vehicles they could. The teams tested their vehicles across a range of disciplines and were judged by a panel made up of former students and long-time Formula Student enthusiasts. The students also got a chance to get familiar with new product innovations at the Norelem SHOWTRUCK and learn from some of the Norelem ACADEMY technicians.

Throughout the test event, the teams made use of different Norelem standard components in the construction of their vehicles. Components such as rod ends, clevis joints and angle joints were used in wheel suspension by many teams. Additionally, equipment construction products, which are a large part of Norelem’s sales market, were used to build many of the assembly facilities used in the competition. Equipment such as aluminium profiles, handles, wheels, and telescopic slides were used in the construction of the main assembly tables and in sophisticated loading systems, both of which were used by many teams to complete their vehicles.

The sponsorship of VDI’s Racing-Camp is just one example of Norelem’s dedication to talent development. Recognising the vital importance of supporting the development of the future engineering and manufacturing workforce, Norelem play an active role in sharing knowledge through the recent innovations of Norelem ACADEMY, technical lectures, as well as through use of the mobile show room the SHOWTRUCK.