May 27, 2025
Excursion of the Chair of Processing Machines and Processing Technology 2025
Visiting Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG
How are high-precision, fast and highly efficient processing machines developed? What technologies are behind modern packaging machinery?
As part of a multi-day excursion to Regensburg, students explored these and many other questions in depth. A group of 21 students from the Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering programs were given fascinating behind-the-scenes insights into leading companies in the packaging and processing industry.
The excursion began with a visit to Gebrüder Leonhardt GmbH & Co. KG Blema Kircheis in Aue-Bad Schlema. There, the students learned about the manufacturing process of composite cans and metal closures and were given a tour of the company’s production halls, where the corresponding processing machines and systems are developed and built.
The second day started with a visit to Brauerei Bischofshof GmbH & Co. KG in Regensburg. Students were able to follow the entire brewing process – from the brewhouse to the bottling line – up close. A particular highlight was the tour of the fully automated filling plant, followed by a guided beer tasting.
Bottle filling at the Bischofshof Brewery
Afterwards, the group visited Krones AG in Niedertraubling – one of the world’s leading manufacturers of filling and packaging technology. The visit tied in perfectly with the brewery tour, as the students now witnessed how the very machines they had seen in action are actually built. The company also offered insights into the field of project management, including its tasks and challenges in an international engineering context.
On the third day, the group visited Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG in Fürth. As a leading expert in thin-film technology, the company introduced the students to innovative surface finishing techniques and shared current strategies related to sustainability and environmental responsibility in industrial processes.
The final stop of the excursion was Loesch Verpackungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Altendorf. The visit focused on highly specialized packaging machines for the confectionery sector. In addition to a detailed tour of the manufacturing and assembly areas, students gained authentic insights into the daily work of engineers in a globally operating mechanical engineering company.
Throughout the tour, the combination of direct contact with industrial production, hands-on insights into machine development, and open dialogue with professionals from the field allowed students to meaningfully connect their theoretical knowledge with practical applications and broaden their perspective on future career paths.
We would like to sincerely thank all company representatives for their time, openness, and the excellent organization of the visits.
Special thanks also go to the Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering for supporting the travel expenses and to the Gesellschaft von Freunden und Förderern der TU Dresden e.V., whose financial support made the bus trip possible.