Following the conclusion of the two-day SophiA final meeting, participants enjoyed an enriching excursion on Friday to BITZER Headquarters and the SCHAUFLER Academy. The visit provided an exceptional opportunity to deepen their practical knowledge of refrigeration technology and safety practices.
The day began with a warm welcome at BITZER Headquarters, where Volker Stamer presented an overview of the company and the SCHAUFLER Academy. Participants then explored the BITZER showroom through a guided tour, gaining insights into the latest refrigeration and air-conditioning solutions.
Afterwards, the group transferred to the SCHAUFLER Academy, where a group photo marked the start of interactive sessions. Participants were divided into three groups for specialized workshops:
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Group 1 focused on Safety Aspects of Refrigeration Systems with Hydrocarbons led by Alexander Garbe, and Failure Analysis of Reciprocating Compressors led by Simon Beck.
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Group 2 attended the same sessions in reversed order.
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Group 3 explored the Basics of Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heat Pump Technology under the guidance of Volker Stamer.
Following the workshops, participants enjoyed a shared lunch before continuing the day with guided lab tours. Simon Beck and Hanna Brandstetter provided insights into practical laboratory setups, highlighting both safety protocols and experimental techniques.
The excursion concluded with a guided factory tour led by Manuel Kuttruff and Oliver Filp, offering an in-depth look at the production processes behind BITZER’s innovative refrigeration solutions. The day wrapped up with a summary session and the distribution of certificates of attendance, celebrating participants’ engagement and learning.
This excursion exemplified the SophiA project’s commitment to combining academic discussion with hands-on experiences, reinforcing participants’ understanding of cutting-edge refrigeration technology and best practices in the field.
