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The Future Lab, Next World Factory, BEE-O LAB and Next World Academy – the Upper Austrian machine engineering specialist Fill is demonstrating how age-appropriate knowledge and learning workshops of a different kind can get children and young adults interested in science and technology. The globally operating company has been continuously investing in education for many years while exploring new approaches to learning and vocational guidance. Its success is testament to these efforts. Since the Fill Future Lab was founded three years ago, more than 10,000 visitors have participated in various age-specific workshops. The 500th workshop was celebrated on December 17, 2024 together with two classes of the Mettmach secondary school. That same day, the inauguration of the Next World Factory with six modules focusing on the environment, science and sustainability marked yet another milestone in the field of education.
Gurten 17 December 2024 – “Education today – tomorrow – the day after tomorrow. How can we best prepare future generations for the world of tomorrow? This is one of the most pressing questions of our time. We have been working on this topic for many years and have since achieved numerous successes. In our Future Lab, we observe every day how children and young adults discover their talents and their interest in technology,” says Andreas Fill, CEO and owner of Fill Machine Engineering.
Future Lab – discover your genius
The Future Lab is a laboratory where children, teenagers and adults can explore the world of digitization and state-of-the-art technologies in a playful manner. Over the past three years, more than 10,000 visitors have participated in a wide range of workshops in the Future Lab. On an area of 140 square meters, the cross-generational think tank provides educational opportunities that inspire and arouse interest. With its eight laboratories, equipped with 3D printers, green screens, robots and programming platforms, the Future Lab offers a creative and stimulating environment for experiencing the technologies of the future. Its target groups include children in kindergartens, elementary schools, secondary schools and high schools as well as apprentices and adults. Fill's customers, suppliers and partners are also invited to work together on innovations and collaborative projects.
Next World Factory – learning for the world of tomorrow
On December 17, 2024, the Next World Factory was officially inaugurated at the Gurten site in the presence of Andreas Stangl, President of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor, along with representatives from education, the press and interest groups. The six modules focusing on the environment, science and sustainability showcase Fill's novel approach to education and vocational guidance. The Next World Factory complements the Future Lab, which primarily serves pupils from primary and secondary schools, while the Next World Factory focuses on the age group of apprentices. In the scheduled workshops, young people are able to gain in-depth knowledge of STEM fields (mathematics, IT, natural sciences, technology). Using newly developed methods, they are able to get to grips with the contents and skills required for the company's various technical apprenticeships. One of the tasks, for instance, involves designing and producing an e-car model as a team.
The 180 m² Next World Factory comprises six modules: the Energy Lab, Cycle Lab, Engineering Lab, CNC & E-Technology Lab, Welding Lab and Quality Lab. The first workshops to be attended by Fill apprentices in the Next World Factory will commence in 2025. The aim is to give trainees the opportunity to think outside the box of their chosen vocational profession. Electrical engineering apprentices can thus gain insights into the welding and milling work of apprentices in mechanical engineering, or be introduced to high-level language programming. In future, Fill will open the premises to other companies in the region for in-depth further training of their apprentices.
BEE-O LAB – flower meadow with a bionic lab
The second construction phase of the multifunctional Power Cube, a multi-storey parking lot at Fill's headquarters in Gurten, was completed on October 21, 2024. This also marked the release of the parking decks for use by the Fill team. On the same day, the ground-breaking ceremony was held for a new project: the BEE-O LAB, an outdoor laboratory in which bees will play a key role. An area of 10,000 m2 previously used as a parking lot will be renaturalized and made available for the BEE-O LAB. The focus is on natural sciences with an emphasis on ‘bionics’. Six stations, whose connecting paths resemble a honeycomb when viewed from a bird's eye view, are waiting to be discovered. Visitors can follow an interactive educational trail illustrating the transition from nature as a role model to technology.
“Mankind can learn a great deal from nature; bionics, the interdisciplinary field of research dealing with the transfer of natural phenomena to technology, plays a crucial role here. We wish to convey this in our new lab in a partly playful manner,” says Andreas Fill, explaining the motivation behind the latest ‘educational investment’ at Fill.
The BEE-O LAB with its six honeycomb-shaped stations is primarily aimed at children between the ages of six and thirteen, and will also be open to the public. Various collaborations with educational institutions in the region as well as school excursions are currently being planned. The BEE-O LAB, which will be built on a flower meadow, is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2025. With the implementation of this project, Fill is once again showcasing its creativity – not only in its core business of machine engineering, but also by offering young people innovative information and educational opportunities.
Next World Academy – learn, find, integrate
In the next phase of expansion, the Future Lab and the Next World Factory will find a new home in the Next World Academy, a dedicated training center. Moreover, the apprenticeship workshop will be expanded further and made available to other companies, while the BEE-O LAB will be extended to include outdoor sports areas. Fill's headquarters in Gurten will be home to Austria’s most modern educational facility for technical professions. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2028. Until then, work will continue on the vision of establishing a separate bilingual school for young talents with an interest in technology.
This project also addresses the question of how to recruit the best employees in the future. To develop successfully, companies and organizations require individuals with an analytical mindset who are capable of working with state-of-the-art materials. Creative minds who can develop innovative concepts, yet also excel as team players with pronounced social intelligence, are in high demand. These skills and abilities will be cultivated at Fill's Next World Academy.
The world is evolving rapidly, and new challenges demand new skills and interdisciplinary thinking. With its wide range of innovative educational offerings and activities, Fill effectively engages young people, awakening and fostering their interest and enthusiasm for technology. This lays the foundation for a successful and bright future.
Corporate Data
Fill is a leading international machine engineering company based in Gurten, Upper Austria. With sophisticated high-tech systems and custom manufacturing solutions for metal, plastics and wood, Fill makes its customers the best in their fields. The automotive, aviation, sports and building industries all benefit from Fill’s expertise. Since it was founded in 1966, the company has distinguished itself through enormous innovative strength, strong values and the best jobs. “If you are seeking the best solution, shape your future with Fill” is the guiding principle of the company’s more than 1,000 employees. “We are one!” is their vision and stands for togetherness not only with the team, but also with customers, suppliers and partners. The company is 100 percent family-owned and managed by Andreas Fill (CEO), Martin Reiter (CFO), Alois Wiesinger (CTO) and Günter Redhammer (COO). In 2023, Fill recorded sales of around 210 million euros.
Caption:
Photo 1: Fill Future Lab (© raumpixel)
Over the past three years, more than 10,000 visitors have discovered their talent and interest in technology at the Future Lab.
Photo 2: Next World Factory (© Fill)
In workshops at the Next World Factory, apprentices gain in-depth knowledge of STEM fields (mathematics, IT, natural sciences, technology).
Photo 3: BEE-O LAB (© Fill)
Fill is renaturalizing an area of 10,000 m² previously used as a parking lot, and is constructing the BEE-O LAB outdoor lab with a focus on natural sciences and bionics. (visualization)
Photo 4: Next World Academy (© Pen & Paper)
With the Next World Academy, Fill is constructing Austria's most modern educational facility for technical professions located in Gurten. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2028. (visualization)
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