December 19, 2024: When people in production turn off the lights and assume that machines and artificial intelligence are also at rest…
In a large modern production hall, where the rhythmic pounding of punches or the precise movements of CNC machines, production robots and automatic visual inspections normally set the tone, there was an unusual silence on a December evening shortly before Christmas. Work was to be suspended for two weeks after the New Year. However, machines and artificial intelligence had come up with something special: their own end-of-year celebration.
The memory of this celebration would stay with the guests for a long time and prove that peace and togetherness are possible if everyone wants it and is happy to be part of a community.
For months, they had been secretly discussing how they could organize this time of year in their own way. The idea of inviting all the products manufactured by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies to a party led to great anticipation and careful preparation.
Everyone can take part
At the beginning of the planning phase, there was a heated debate as to whether newly developed products such as DIAvent®, Busbars, Prismatic Cell Caps and Thermal Barriers should also be invited. For one thing, they looked very different from the rest, and for another, they had recently pushed themselves to the fore in the media and stolen the show from the traditional seals. However, the organizing team wanted to show that machines and artificial intelligence also have values – in the best Freudenberg manner: No one should be excluded, no matter where seals, systems and components came from and how different they might be. The innovative power of the new products and the diversity and decades of experience of traditional seals should be celebrated together in harmony. After all, they might come across each other again later in different applications. This gave them the opportunity to get to know each other and network at an early stage. Networking is also very important in these circles.
As the celebration began, festively decorated humanoid robots greeted the arriving guests at the entrance to the hall. The Simmerring® appeared with its large family, which had flown in from all over the world, and the DIAvent® was beaming with anticipation. The accumulators rolled in energetically, followed by diaphragms, flat gaskets and O-rings. The damper seals and bellows were not slow to arrive either, while the tiny micro and flap seals mingled with the crowd. Valve stem seals provided additional protection and comfort. And while the “new kids on the block” were a little on the sidelines at first, they were quickly swept away by everyone’s good humor and welcomed into the circle of established riders with open arms.
The large production hall was transformed into a huge party mile. Fairy lights and colorful projections conjured up a festive atmosphere. Alexa provided the musical backdrop and played a carefully selected playlist. In between, Siri read stories from all over the world about how big and small people in different cultures receive their gifts and from whom.
But the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the dancing. Humanoid robots and some cobots performed a cancan together and even got the normally static production machines to move rhythmically to the beat. The CNC machines turned to the sound of the music, the automatic visual inspections swayed contentedly to themselves. Thermal barriers swung accumulators in circles, Usit rings asked micro-seals to dance, Simmerrings taught busbars a slow waltz.
Meanwhile, the other cobots took care of the physical well-being. They served alcohol-free mulled wine and baked fresh crêpes, the aroma of which filled the hall. It was a time of peace and joy, in which all differences became secondary and supposed animosities in the community disappeared.
When the first ray of sunshine fell through the windows of the production hall, everyone knew that they had experienced something very special. The very different guests parted with broad smiles. Machines and AIs returned to their places, ready to get back to work with renewed energy after the holidays. But the memory of this celebration would stay with them for a long time and prove that peace and togetherness are possible if everyone wants it and is happy to be part of a community.
With this in mind: Happy and reflective holidays!
