360° | The Vogelsang Magazine vogelsang.info Edition 10 | 2023 TAKING OFF INTO THE FUTURE VOGELSANG NEW TALENT How we approach skills shortage > page 36 WE DID IT AGAIN Vogelsang reinvents the progressive cavity pump > page 24 BUZZ, BUZZ, BUSY! 250,000 Vogelsang bees on the go > page 42

EDITORIAL ear readers, D The editorial you have in front of you is the umpteenth version. I can’t recall changing and editing a foreword so many times during the process of creating our com- pany magazine. Why? Because we are in a dynamic si- tuation that makes it difficult for us to make forecasts – politically, economically and in many respects also concerning our own company. Even though the situa- tion on the procurement market and supply chain is- sues have eased slightly, we cannot give the all-clear and sit back and relax. It remains uncertain as to how things will develop further – that applies to the eco- nomy as a whole. This is a major challenge that we take seriously. For our stakeholders, we will make sure to keep this in mind. That is also the aim of the new name of the magazine you’re holding in your hands today: 360°. For us, this represents the all-round view that we want to give you with our company magazine: not only of all Vogelsang segments, but also of our company and our employees. But one other decisive factor closes the circle: the wishes and needs of our customers. As part of this community, we can grow and positively look ahead to the future. We have every reason to be optimistic, because with our products, we provide the basis for many areas of life and work to function perfectly. Vogelsang macerators and pumps, for example, are keeping sewers clear and reliably delivering fresh water in many places. The production of biogas – which, today more than ever, represents one of the alternatives to fossil fuel energy when purified appropriately – can also be handled with our advanced feeding technol- ogy. We are also continuously working on innovations to make liquid manure application in agriculture even more efficient and sustainable. Our partners and cust- omers benefit from our reliable technologies for their business success. So, it’s important for us to keep improving our products and reliably getting them to the places they’re needed. We do that by ensuring a high level of vertical integration at our German sites and a net- work of suppliers that we strive to constantly expand. Nevertheless, we and our suppliers are still feeling the disruptions on the procurement market and in supply chains. This problem will continue to accompany us, but we are adapting in the best way we can. It will be a challenging yet exciting journey for us, one which we hope you – our customers, partners and staff across our 30 subsidiaries worldwide – will embrace with us as the year progresses. We hope you find the magazine an informative read! Best wishes, Harald Vogelsang 360° | 03

36 Title story: New talent Vogelsang trains the generation of tomorrow. Company 32 IN FOCUS: CONTROL TECHNOLOGY That is why companies in Japan also rely on control technology from Vogelsang 34 VOICES FOR VOGELSANG Contract manufacturer Alexander Hackstedt is satisfied with technology from Vogelsang 42 SUSTAINABILITY: BUZZ, BUZZ, BUSY! 250,000 bees are “working” for Vogelsang 44 OUTLOOK: HOT IRONS AND BUBBLING IDEAS How Vogelsang is defying the crises – an interview with the management 48 AROUND THE WORLD: OUR CONTAINERS GIVE HOPE Vogelsang helps earthquake victims in Turkey 50 AROUND THE WORLD: DENMARK The oldest Vogelsang subsidiary is on course for growth Standards 03 Editorial 04 Contents 51 Imprint 48 Aid for Turkey Vogelsang sets up containers for earthquake victims in the Hatay province. 360° | 05

TRADE FAIR REVIEW InnoTrans – International trade fair for transport technology September 20–23, 2022 in Berlin Compact systems for hygienic wastewater disposal and drinking water supply for trains were the focus at InnoTrans. Highlights on the stand were the TUnit, the associated foundation console and the compact CleanUnit cleaner cabinet and the BioUnit. Interested visitors could also find out more about the rest of the Vogelsang product portfolio for rail and transport technology. 360° | 07

EnergyDecentral – The leading trade fair for decentralized energy supply November 15–18, 2022 in Hanover At the same time as attenting EuroTier, Vogelsang also exhibited at EnergyDecentral. The focus at the well- visited Vogelsang stand was on energy-efficient systems and components that contribute to higher gas yields at existing biogas plants by optimizing their operations. Vogelsang launched the HiCone progressive cavity pump just in time for the trade fair. Its conical shape combined with an innovative setting system saves energy and signi- ficantly extends its service life. In addition, Vogelsang presented the Debris Lift Unit (DLU) to the German trade audience for the first time. Combined with the Debris Removal System (DRS), the two machines provide fully automatic ejection and disposal of separated heavy material into a waiting container. While the XSplit could be seen as a complete system solution at EuroTier, visitors to the biogas stand were able to take a close look at the press screw separator technology. The PreMix liquid feeding system also met with great interest. In addition, lots of people wanted advice on all aspects of processing structurally rich biomass using mechani- cal disintegration. November 15–18, 2022 Hanover TRADE FAIR REVIEW 360° | 09

A CLICK AWAY Our new Vogelsang blog What does “a sticky issue” or “comfort on the campsite” have to do with Vogel- sang? We write about these and many other topics on our new Vogelsang blog. Industry and company insights We provide vivid and entertaining re- ports on our day-to-day work and offer insights into the company itself and the segments in which we operate as a me- chanical engineering company: waste- water, agricultural technology, biogas, industry and transport engineering. Our goal is to offer readers educational added value based on practical examples, in- dustry information and tips. That’s why we also include relevant articles from various issues of our company magazine “360°” (formerly “THINK RED!”). More visibility on the web First and foremost, we blog for our readers. In addition, the Vogelsang blog performs another important function for us: It is intended to help increase Vogelsang’s visibility on the web and its ability to be found in search engines. We achieve this through factors such as regularly up- dating the blog content, using appropria- te keywords and formulating texts in a search engine-friendly way. If you enter particular terms in search engines like Google, you will come across informative posts on our Vogelsang blog. Want to find out more? Click here for the blog: blog.vogelsang.info LIQUID MANURE TECHNOLOGY AT A GLANCE New agricultural brochure new Vogelsang’s “Environmentally friendly liquid manure management” brochure is a compact source of knowl- edge about agricultural technology. On around 40 pages we provide an insight into the extensive world of liquid manu- re technology and our products. Readers are given information about individual machines and components, the advan- tages in practical use and technical de- tails. Farmers and contractors can find everything they need to know about the product they are looking for right away. Compact product information: Spread, distribute, convey and process liquid manure From spreading technologies such as dribble hose and dribble bar linkages and strip-till systems to acidification and distribution systems and pumping and shredding technology, we devote at least one page of data and facts to each prod- uct. This includes the XSplit press screw separator, our new agricultural product from last year. The brochure is available in different lan- guages. Anyone interested can download the agricultural brochure here! We hope you enjoy reading it. Here’s the download code 360° | 11

THE WORLD AS A GUEST International Sales Meeting in Essen 3 days, 12 workshops, 130 participants, more than 90 of them from abroad: Vogelsang’s headquarters in Essen (Oldenburg) was the hub for the annual International Sales Meeting. F or the first time in three years, the sales and marketing teams of the international Vogelsang subsidiaries as well as distribu- tors met again on site for profes- sional and personal exchange. The participants attended workshops to learn about new products, techniques and services and receive training from their colleagues on relevant technical refinements. “Around the globe, our sales force should be able to select the right Vogelsang product for individual cust- omer requirements. With regular training sessions, we that uniform, high-quality advice is provided for our individual machines and components worldwide,” says Managing Director Harald Vogelsang. ensure with their needs, the participants devel- oped various customer personas and customer journeys as well as planning product campaigns and sales activities. And what was the conclusion after three days of brimming with sales expertise? “Each of our subsidiaries around the world operates in different, country-spe- cific economic and political environ- ments. This also has an influence on our customers’ requirements and therefore on our sales approaches,” answers Harald Vogelsang. He continues: “Despite these different circumstances, it’s great to see us all pulling together to get the Vogelsang brand out into the world.” On a “getting to know you” tour to the customer This also includes knowing customers and their requirements in detail. What chal- lenges do they have to overcome in their industry? What do they look for in a ma- chine? Which key message can the sales department use to reach them? In order to address customers specifically and in line An international matter: 130 participants from around the world attended our sales meeting. THINK RED 02.2023 | 013 THINK RED 02.2023 | 013

PRODUCT NEWS EVEN MORE FLE X I E L B THE UNISPREAD UNIVERSAL LINKAGE The UniSpread universal linkage has established itself internationally in recent years, becoming extraordi- narily popular as a retrofit solution. The flexible all-rounder is now also available as a hose system version. W hether you are working on grassland or fields or growing crops – the UniSpread from Vogelsang can be used flexibly as a dribble hose and dribble bar linkage. The com- pact and maneuverable universal linkage is particularly suitable for fields bordered by hedges and bushes, uneven terrain or small tankers. Less soil compaction due to hose system option With the hose system version, no tank is required, as the liquid manure is conveyed from the edge of the field directly into the distributor on the linkage via a feed hose. The tractor carries the UniSpread as a conventional attachment and at the same time drags the hose across the field. Eli- minating the tank creates the advantage of reducing the overall weight of the combi- nation. This leads to less soil compaction. The hose system version was presented for the first time at EuroTier 2022 and is available in working widths of 6 to 10.5 meters. “With the UniSpread as a hose sys- tem, we are offering our customers an extra option in addition to the dribble hose and dribble bar linkage and thus supplementing our portfolio for demand- based liquid manure spreading,” says Harald Vogelsang. High distribution accuracy from and The UniSpread linkage can be equipped with precision spreaders the ExaCut series, which distribute the liquid manure evenly and have a coefficient of variation of less than five percent. The key feature of these precision distribu- tors is their high distribution they come equipped with a heavy material separa- tor. This easily re- moves foreign objects such as stones or metal parts and thus prevents the drain hoses from be- coming clogged and the spreading accuracy, system from being damaged. 360° | 15

PRODUCT NEWS VOGELSANG SETS NEW STANDARDS THE HICONE® PROGRESSIVE CAVITY PUMP Learn more. Minimum life cycle costs due to long service life and reduced energy requirements. This is what the HiCone progressive cavity pump, launched by Vogelsang at EnergyDecentral 2022, stands for. The HiCone has a unique conical rotor and stator shape and a smart adjustment system. Ideal adjustment for maximum efficiency With conventional progressive cavity pumps, there is often a sudden, drastic drop in the delivery rate if a gap forms between the rotor and stator during ope- ration due to wear. The HiCone solves this problem with axial adjustment of the rotor, while the conical shape ensures reg-ulation of the gap. This restores the delivery rate to 100 percent. Using an innovative adjustment sys- tem, the rotor and stator can be optimal- ly positioned in relation to each other, and adapted to the operating parame- ters such as pressure, temperature and viscosity. This results in low power consumption. The energy requirement decreases. The HiCone’s automatic start-up is also designed to save ener- gy. Since there is mini- mal clamping between the rotor and stator, a smaller motor than with conven- tional progressive cavity pumps is requi- red to start the pump. With the new HiCone, Vogelsang offers customers, including biogas plant operators, an efficient technology system that can be used to lower the price for energy production and supply. We provide more details about the the biogas section on in HiCone page 24. Unique conical geometry for much longer service life. THINK RED 02.2023 | 17 360° | 17

AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY. BIOGAS 7 questions for Patrick Hummert in since April 2022, working Patrick Hummert has been with Vogelsang the Development & Design Shredding/ Processing Technology depart- ment. He takes the mobile XSplit system solution on site to different plants and carries out the test runs. We talked to him about the XSplit and the custom- er response. Patrick, please explain again briefly what makes the XSplit separator unique. Probably the most important difference com- pared to other separators is that the motor of the XSplit is located on the solids side. Since the gear- box does not come into contact with liquid manure or digestate residue, no extra pump shaft seal for the medium is required. In addition, the QuickService concept provides direct access to the strainer and press screw, ensuring fast service. Due to the high- quality elastomer sealing disc, which the screw works against in the separation area, reliable plug formati- on is created without the need for auxiliary agents. What has been the response from customers so far? So far, we have had a very positive response to the separator. Since the XSplit is different from other manufacturers’ separators, a lot of customers are cu- rious and interested in testing our product. When we are on site, users can see the separator in operation with their own output medium. This is a major ad- vantage. Because this gives them the assurance that the XSplit will meet their specific requirements. What experience has been most memorable for you during your visits? Every site visit is different. For example, one custom- er was already using another manufacturer’s separa- tor, but was no longer satisfied with it. We tried out the XSplit at his site. After just three hours of use, the customer decided to buy the XSplit. He was con- vinced in that short amount of time thanks to the functionality, the throughput and the QuickService concept. Something like that is always a special expe- rience during a demonstration. Which liquid manure is best suited for separation? Liquid manure or digestate with a high dry matter content are best suited. The exact type doesn’t matter here. The lower the dry matter content, the lower the solid matter flow rate. It is also important for the raw medium to be as homogeneous as possible, so that uniform material can be fed through the separator. What would you say is the average operation where separation is used? There is no such thing as an average operation. I’ve already been to many different plants with our mobile separation unit. Our customers include those who work with dairy cattle, in pig or bull fattening ope- rations or at biogas plants. There are also differences in the choice of solution itself. If the plant is already using a separator and wants to replace it, our XSplit can be integrated very well into other systems as a stand-alone machine. If a user is brand new to sep- aration, they will need a suitable system solution that includes a control, pump and separator. The system solution can also be combined with the RotaCut wet macerator. This upstream component ensures a ho- mogeneous output medium. That is an important factor in deciding on the system solution for some companies. What do operations need to be aware of or prepare for during these demonstrations? You only need a 32 amp outlet on site for the demons- trations. There also needs to be enough digestate or homogeneous liquid slurry on hand. We always take care of everything else for the mobile separation unit, such as supply and discharge hoses or power cables. How can interested customers request a demonstration? All they need to do is contact the salesperson respon- sible for their respective sales area. That salesperson will carry out the demonstration and can then prepare a customized offer directly for the business. Many thanks for the interview! 360° | 19 5312674

WASTEWATER VOGELSANG’S TWIN-SHAFT GRINDER AT THE KOBLENZ SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT The Koblenz sewage treatment plant has been situated right on the Rhine for over 50 years. Going back only a few years, digestion tower circula- tion was frequently disrupted due to clogged pumps. As a solution to this problem, the sewage treatment plant now relies on the XRipper XRP wastewater macerator from Vogelsang. The historic city of Koblenz is located in south- western Germany and, with its terraced vine- yards and castle ruins, is considered the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This is where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. The “Stadtentwässerung” is a wastewater treat- ment company owned by the city of Koblenz. Among other things, the local authority operates the Koblenz sewage treatment plant situated right on the Rhine. The sewage treatment plant was put into operation in 1971 with mechanical and biological treatment for a capacity covering a population equivalent (p.e.) of 160,000. Between 1987 and 1992, the plant was expan- ded to 320,000 p.e. and adapted to the new require- ments of wastewater technology, without any inter- ruptions to the sewage treatment plant’s operations. Up to 30 million cubic meters of wastewater per year can be treated in this larger plant. A lot of work for the digestion towers The Koblenz sewage treatment plant operates two small digestion towers, each with a capacity of 2,800 cubic meters, and a large digestion tower with a capacity of 3,700 cubic meters. The digestion towers are fed a mixture of raw and excess sludge specialty drinks as well as sludge from the production of beer and local specialties at a local brewery. This sludge is rich in energy and ensures a high gas yield during anaerobic fermentation in the digestion towers. In the first step, all the sludge at the Koblenz sewage treatment plant is directed to the largest diges- tion tower because it has the greatest buffer potential due to its high capacity. Should problematic compo- nents such as toxins or inhibitors ever be present in the sludge, the bacteria are best able to cushion their effects in the large-volume digestion tower. After the sludge has flowed through the first digestion tower, it then enters the two smaller digestion towers in equal proportions. In total, the sludge remains in the diges- tion towers for about 28 days. The large digestion tower (on the left) has a capacity of 3,700 cubic meters. 360° | 21 z n e l b o K f o y t i C ©

z n e l b o K f o y t i C © WASTEWATER Trouble-free pumps Today, maintenance interventions are rarely required for rectifying malfunctions caused by entangled mate- rial. The XRippers do a great job, reliably macerating the entangled fibrous solid matter and thus preventing clogging of the pumps. The digestion towers circulate optimally again. Only a few stones need to be removed from the stone catcher every one to two months. The employees haven’t yet been able to determine where the stones are coming from. But it is better to elimi- nate them than for them to show up elsewhere in the process at some point. The Koblenz sewage treatment plant has since additionally installed two Vogelsang RotaCut RCQ wet macerators in the sludge dewatering system. They are located upstream of the dewatering centrifuges and ensure the smooth operation of the sludge dewa- tering system. Digestion towers are often egg-shaped (here: Hamburg). 360° | 23 Thanks to the drive system using a bevel-gear motor, the XRipper XRP could be easily installed below the pressure line. DIGESTION TOWERS BRIEFLY EXPLAINED The egg-shaped digestion towers are often found in larger sewage treatment plants. They contain the sludge that is produced when cleaning wastewater in a sewage treatment plant. Mixers and pumps constantly circulate the sludge in the absence of air at temperatures of about 36°C. The digestion towers ensure that the organic components of the digested sludge are broken down by bacteria in a controlled manner under oxygen-free (anaerobic) conditions. Among other things, digester gases with a high me- thane content are formed. These are captured because of their strong greenhouse potential and utilized for energy, for example, to generate heat in a boiler or electrical and thermal energy in a combined heat and power plant. The energy generated in this way is mostly used directly in the sewage treatment plant, reducing the cost of purchasing electricity and gas from outside sources. In addition, the energy can be sold to third parties.

S M A R T A D J U S T M E N T S Y S T E M Energy-efficient and sustainable technology is more important than ever before due to the cur- rent climate crisis. This also applies to pumps, which account for a significant share of the energy consumption in modern industrial nations. It is estimated that pumps consume up to 25 per- cent of the electricity produced worldwide. In the European Union, for example, pumps account for 30 percent of the electricity consumed by all machines driven by electric motors. With the new HiCone progressive cavity pump, Vogelsang is offering an especially energy-efficient and durable pump. “In developing the HiCone, we had to both rework the design of the pump as well as rethink traditional manu- facturing methods.” Markus Kolbeck, Head of Development & Construction Product Management A Revolution for progressive cavity pumps During the development of the CC series, the focus was still on reimagining the design and making the pump more practical to handle, especially for mainte- nance and service. In contrast, the development team for the HiCone set a different focus and dealt intensi- vely with the geometry of the rotor and stator. BIOGAS But what exactly sets progressive cavity pumps apart from the rest? Progressive cavity pumps are rotating, positive displacement pumps with the pump- ing principle based on the rotor permanently rubbing against the stator. This provides sealing between the suction and discharge sides, but also means constant wear. Over time, the contact between the rotor and stator is lost due to abrasive wear. This results in a gap being created between the rotor and stator through which the medium flows back. In practice, this usually becomes apparent due to a sudden, sharp drop in ca- pacity. If the speed of the pump is increased, this can temporarily increase capacity again. However, this is only a short-term solution. Due to the higher friction speed, the wear will now progressively get much faster. The only remedy is to change the conveying elements; the wear parts need to be replaced. Our solution: readjustment instead of part replacement With the HiCone, Vogelsang has provided an intel- ligent solution to the problem, without the need to always change the parts. The inner shape of both the rotor and stator is typically cylindrical. In the HiCone, these are now both conical in shape. By adjusting the rotor axially, the gap between the two can be regulated again. This compensates for the wear, and the pump can be returned to its initial state at 100 percent capa- city. This means that adjustments can be made quickly and easily – and during operation at that – instead of causing costly and time-consuming parts replace- ment. This the increases stators many times over. the service life of 360° | 25

BIOGAS M A X I M U M E F F I C I E N C Y T H A N K S T O M I N I M A L P O W E R C O N S U M P T I O N A N D I N T E L L I G E N T S TA R T- U P A U T O M AT I O N Harald Vogelsang’s somewhat provocative statement is based on two considerations: the experience Vogelsang has as an innovation leader in these kinds of situations, and the un- beatable advantages of the conical shape. The increased service life multiple times over, the significantly reduced downtime and spare parts costs, and the high efficiency during start-up and ope- ration of the pump lead to very low life cycle costs. The HiCone also scores high marks in terms of sustain- ability. This is a result of the reduced power require- ments and the increased service life of the stators. You can also expect to see more new developments in the future. Vogelsang’s experts are continually working on optimizations, which we will be sure to report on in an upcoming issue. away torque and the power require- ments for starting the pump are ex- tremely high. Due to its conical shape and the clever automatic start-up feature of the HiCone, this “problem” is eliminated. And the best thing about it is that the intelligence required for this is already built into the HiCone pump. Users do not have to make any changes to the higher-level controls. HiCone: the future of progressive cavity pumps “The HiCone will permanently change the world of progressive cavity pumps,” asserts Managing Director Harald Vogelsang. “Progressive cavity pumps without this conical geometry will only be able to exist in niche applications in the long term. Conical geometry will be the new standard.” QUICKSERVICE INSIDE Thanks to a unique, new type of connection between the drive shaft and rotor, as well as the angled flange on the pressure port, the rotor and stator can be replaced as a unit or individually – without having to remove the connec- tion to the discharge side or suction side pipework. Just a few screws need to be removed and the ent- ire rotor–stator unit can be swung out and replaced in one piece. This is possible thanks to the conical, friction-locked connection between the rotor and the cardan shaft, which can be easily released from the pressure flange. Yet another benefit is that a wear- resistant sleeve that does not have to be removed for parts replacement protects the robust cardan shaft. This helps prevent any consequential damage caused by improper installation from the outset. Vogelsang has also integrated the Quick Service feature, which is unique on the PA R T S R E P L A C E M E N T D I S M A N T L I N G T H E W I T H O U T P I P E L I N E S market, into the HiCone. 360° | 27

5 questions for Lars Mester Lars Mester, Product Manager at Vogelsang, developed the ASU together with his team. And that’s exactly what we talked to him about. Lars, when did Vogelsang start developing the ASU? My team and I had already designed the first concepts back in 2017. We have been successfully testing the ASU in the market since 2019, and it is now being used by customers. What was particularly important to you during its development? How have you responded to market demands in this context? During the design process, we focused on combinations of materials that make the ASU particularly fail-safe. During the test phase, we paid special attention to operational safety and a long service life. The aim of creating the constant conditions was supposed to increase the service life of the mechanical seal. What challenges arose during development? First, we had to achieve proper operation of the ASU with a fast pressure buildup in the seal chamber. This presented a hurdle, particularly in terms of producing the necessary series-ready com- ponents. That is because of the high degree of precision required. The design was therefore subject to strict specifications in view of the complexity of the components, the choice of materials and the handling during assembly. What is so “innovative” about ASU? If a pump is equipped with an ASU, it takes care of building up the seal chamber pressure and supplying the seals of the rotary lobe pump with buffer fluid. This is completely automated with no man- ual intervention. The ASU does not need an extra drive for this, so it also doesn’t require an additional power supply – which of course saves space. In short, the ASU is ingenious in its simplicity. Which fields of application is the ASU most suited for? In principle, the ASU is suitable for all pumping processes whe- re the pump shaft seal of the rotary lobe pump is to be supplied with buffer fluid. The use of the ASU is especially beneficial for 24/7 applications, such as digestion tower circulation in the wastewater sector, or for processes that cannot be monitored on a regular basis. Many thanks for the interview! 360° | 29 54312

One of the disposal systems in the transport technology segment is the BioUnit, a special cleaning device for automatically cleaning biore- actor toilets and disposing of their contents. Further development of the BioUnit was in full swing when you joined. Why was the project so urgent? When I took up the position as the new head, the BioUnit was such a pressing project because we wanted to showcase it as early as at the InnoTrans trade fair in September 2022. And we succeeded in doing just that. Customers from Europe, the Far East and the USA visited us at the international trade fair for transport tech- nology to learn more about the technol- ogy of the new BioUnit. What’s new about the BioUnit? With our “original” BioUnit, users would have to start and check the individual cleaning cycles manually, which of course is time-consuming and requires expertise. We wanted to make life a little easier for the rail operators, and for that reason, we decided to optimize and automate the BioUnit. It now handles the cleaning cycles completely autonomously – from rinsing and adding chemical cleaning agents to determining the system status. TRANSPORTATION Automation simplifies the application and makes operation easier. This criterion is important in a time of shortage of skilled workers, particularly with the difficulty of attracting new employees in our industry. This factor drives a need for new techno- logy in railroad engineering. Many thanks for the interview! The New BioUnit simplifies disposal. CLEAN AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON Vogelsang BioUnit 2.0: fully automated disposal system for mobile wastewater disposal from bioreactor toilets When trains are on the maintenance track, they don’t gen- erate revenue. That’s why railroad operators are keen to extend the required maintenance intervals. Bioreac- tor toilets are an important component in this context, as their cleaning needs to be carried out less frequent- ly. With the BioUnit from Vogelsang, cleaning bioreactor toilets in trains is not only hygienic and fast, but now also automated. bioreactor toilets. In addition to extracting the wastewater, this also allows the bioreactor to be circulated and rinsed during the cleaning cycle. An additional high-pressure pump supplies the high-pressure cleaning nozzles instal- led in the bioreactor ensuring efficient mechanical clean- ing and mixing. In the past, users would have to start and check the individual cycles manually – this is precisely where the Vogelsang team saw potential for improvement. W hile conventional collection tanks need to be emptied every two to four days on average, bio- reactor toilets only need to be emptied every two to six months. However, cleaning these systems is complex. Chemical additives are needed to clean and decalcify bioreactor systems, which must be added during the cleaning process and rinsed out again after a soaking time. Several cleaning cycles may be necessary to clean the system optimally. Railroad ope- rators use the BioUnit from Vogelsang specifically due to these requirements. BioUnit: optimally equipped The BioUnit has a wastewater tank and a Vogelsang rotary lobe pump for the various cleaning steps required for the New: automated cleaning process The optimized BioUnit now handles the various cycles of rinsing, adding chemical cleaning agents and determining the system status with complete autonomy. The BioUnit control has a communication interface to the bioreactor. The required connection is established via a signal cable. This enables sensor-monitored operation and control of the valves. A large touch display allows the operator to adjust settings and monitor the operation of the system. Automation solutions such as pre-selecting the fill quan- tity, automatic shutdown, remote maintenance access and automated production data acquisition ensure that users can save resources while making their work processes more efficient. The results can be recorded and evaluated. 360° | 31

COMPANY. IN FOCUS There is also e-support for questions concerning electronics. The Vogelsang team can connect directly to the con- trol system via remote control in order to react quickly in the event of a mal- function, rectify the fault and make ad- justments. “We have already used the e-support service and were impressed with the fast and uncomplicated sup- port – even across a far distance,” said Bussacker. Plug & play for complex machines The PCU presents all important data in an easily under- standable manner. Control technology as standard In addition to reliable operation, automation also enables continuous monitoring of individual para- meters. The technology detects malfunctions at an early stage and rectifies them by responding appropriately. When users implement a modern control technology, they are laying the foundation for low operating costs over the long term, maximum machine availability and high economic efficiency. Vogelsang’s goal is there- fore to equip its products with control technology as standard, making machines even more durable and efficient. Focus on software development Developing a control technology requires in-depth expertise. Vogelsang has geared itself towards that and built competencies in this area. In addition to the me- chanical engineers, software development engineers have now also joined the control technology team. The development that revolves around the topic of automation is fast and dynamic. In other words, even more projects can already be found at Vogelsang team workstations. These include, for example, extended plug-and-play solutions, i.e., the simple connection and rapid commissioning of machines and components that require a sophisticated, pre-configured control unit. The development engineers are also working on making the technology and its functions as compact and comprehensive as possible. The experience that Vogelsang’s experts gain from numerous applications in a wide variety of areas is constantly incorporated into the further develop- ment of the software. As Carsten Bussacker puts it: “As a specialized mechanical engineering company for agriculture in Japan, we are focused on the subject of automation and closely exchange the requirements of our custo- mers with Vogelsang. Vogelsang uses this as the basis for continuously optimizing the software. That bene- fits not only our customers, but also us as a supplier of reliable machines.” Also in Japan, especially reliable thanks to Vogelsang control technology: the Premix. 360° | 33

VOICES FOR VOGELSANG. ALEXANDER HACKSTEDT As part of our testimonial campaign, this edition features yet another satisfied Vogelsang customer. This time, our customer voice comes from Höltinghausen in the district of Cloppenburg, Germany. “ I CHOSE VOGELSANG because in our industry it all comes down to technology that I can rely on.” Alexander Hackstedt, contract manufacturer from Höltinghausen in Lower Saxony The dribble bar linkage in use. Our family business manages 1,050 hectares in Lower Saxony. As a service provider, we have to deal with different liquid manure types and all kinds of field structures and sizes. This requires technology that can be used flexibly. Since 2021, we have been working with the SwingMax dribble bar linkage at a working width of 30 meters. Within the selection for ground level application technology, the linkage at this working width is one of the cheaper alternatives. Despite changing liquid manure types, we still see high application and distribution accuracy. This is also reflected in the later crops. Meanwhile, we have already spread approx. 120,000 cubic meters of liquid manure with the SwingMax and benefit from a high level of operational reliability. Our proximity to the Vogelsang site in Essen (Oldenburg) also played an important role in our purchase decision. If spare parts are needed, we are supplied with them quickly, meaning that we can also quickly get back to work. In addition to agricultural contract work, we are also active in the trade of nutrients. For this, we need pumps on the vehicle that can convey vari- ous media smoothly and reliably. These requirements are met by the rotary lobe pumps from Vogelsang. From liquid manure to digestates and other liquid products, our company can transport it all. 360° | 35

OF F OF F INTO THE INTO THE FUTURE FUTURE Combating the shortage of skilled workers with new talent Leading in Technology – that is our claim. We promote research and development for product innovations and have been named Innovation Leader multiple times over. To ensure that this continues in the future, we are always looking for new creative minds with a fresh view of customer needs and technology. And in times of a worldwide shortage of skilled workers, this poses a major challenge! 360° | 37

WW e are training tomorrow’s generation today to design, build, market and sell our machines,” says Managing Director Harald Vogelsang, explaining the local principle of success. “In this context, it is important to us that these aspiring young professionals can identify with the company and develop their skills to the fullest.” Working independently and being able to try things out are key. Young professionals experience a variety of departments and get to know the company from the ground up. Thanks to this multifaceted training approach and the varied range of tasks, the top performers of tomorrow are soon able to actively participate in projects – an important factor that con- tributes to their sense of satisfaction. The special training system in Germany In Germany, training for young professionals has a special structure. Participants train both at a company as well as in a vocational school. Depending on the profession, the training lasts between two and three and a half years, and ends with an examination before an official committee. One special format includes the work-integrated learning (WIL) program, a combi- nation of university classes and practical phases in a Click here ! COMPANY. EMPLOYER BRANDING company. The aim is to closely link theory and practice and to provide students with a university degree as well as valuable professional experience. Vogelsang is currently training a total of 76 trainees and WIL program students in various pro- fessions. The range spans from precision machinists and IT specialists for system integration, to industrial clerks, technical product designers, electronics techni- cians and mechatronics engineers, as well as Bachelor of Engineering students with a focus on mechanical or electrical engineering. The results are impressive: a large majority of the trainees are keen to stay on with the company after completing their training. This is how Vogelsang can benefit from these well-trained young professionals while also combating the shortage of skilled workers. Drawing attention to exciting jobs A special team of trainers represents Vogelsang at ca- reer fairs and informational days and also helps guide trainees and parents through the years of education. New communication channels are also being used to reach the young target group. For example, Vogelsang specifically targets young talent with its company profile, Future@Vogelsang on Instagram. Vogelsang trainees use photos, reels and stories to present their training professions and give a glimpse of what they do. This is also how followers find out what the trainees experience together apart from their daily work routines and see which job fairs and information days Vogelsang will be attending. » Our training team is looking forward to more Vogelsang new talant. 360° | 39

COMPANY. EMPLOYER BRANDING INTERESTED? We are glad to welcome (not only young) new members to the Vogelsang family! 360° | 41

COMPANY. SUSTAINABILITY Increasing insect mortality brings a threat of si- lent meadows and forests and barren agricul- tural land. Over the last 30 years, the number of insects has fallen by 75 percent. But they are essential for our ecosystems. They break up the soil, act as beneficial insects and provide food for other creatures. And even more importantly, the pol- lination achieved by a single bee colony binds at least 60 tonnes of CO2 per year. Thus, protecting bees is climate protection and also serves as a great opportu- nity for Vogelsang to make a sustainable contribution to biodiversity and the environment. always have enough food – this is especially impor- tant in autumn and winter. This is because as soon as the first night frost occurs, hibernation begins. To prepare the bees for winter, beekeepers make sure the hives are clear and use anti-mite treatments. The win- ter months also provide a good opportunity to make and repair boxes, frames and foundations and com- plete more training and preparations for the coming beekeeping year. PROJEKT 2028 brings companies and beekeepers together That is why Vogelsang has been supporting PROJEKT 2028 run by the start-up “Hektar Nektar” since July 2022. The aim is to protect bees and promote their survival. Vogelsang has sponsored five bee colonies, consisting of a total of around 250,000 bees. “As a global company, including in the agricul- tural sector, we particularly value the work that bees do. Without their help, the agricultural yield of fruit and vegetables would be significantly lower. Unfortu- nately, bee colonies struggle to survive today without human care. We are pleased to be promoting in- sect biodiversity with PROJEKT 2028,” says Harald Vogelsang. PROJEKT 2028, set up by the Viennese start-up Hektar Nektar, is one of the largest digital bee protec- tion initiatives in Germany and Austria. The start-up brings together businesses, private individuals and beekeepers. More than 150 companies – from small businesses to international corporations – are already involved. Together they have already increased the number of bees in Austria and Germany by more than 30 million. The start-up’s goal is to increase the bee population by a total of ten percent by 2028. As Martin Poreda, Founder and CEO of Hektar Nektar, says: “When it comes to species protection and biodiversity, we need the help of industry.” A new home for the bees The Vogelsang beehives have been looked after by five different partner beekeepers in the Lehrte area near Hanover since August 2022. Beekeepers regu- larly check the health of the bees and make sure they Depending on the food supply, a colony of bees can produce 30 kg of honey per season. Partner beekeeper Denis Selvi- Cunzemann regularly checks our bees. More info about Hektar Nektar here. We use our honey as a gift for business partners and guests of the company. 360° | 43

COMPANY. OUTLOOK Vogelsang is working hard with its in-house think tank and has tossed a few irons in the fire this year as well – a recipe for success in times of crisis? Despite being affected by disrupted supply chains and (raw) material shortages, the medium-sized, family-owned company recorded a significant increase throughout the previous year (plus 20 percent) with 173 million euros in sales in the fiscal year of 2022. What factors contributed to this positive development ac- cord-ing to Vogelsang? How is the machine builder preparing for further challenges and what are the company’s plans for the future? We talked about this with Managing Directors Harald Vogelsang and David Guidez. They manage the mechanical engineering company together with Hugo Vogelsang. 360˚: The recently published business figures for 2022 are crystal clear – Vogelsang is expe- riencing continuous growth. 360˚: What measures have you taken against that? Harald: Even during the Covid years, we ramped up our capacity because disruptions in supply chains had already increased sharply. This caused a domi- no effect. It meant that companies filled their ware- houses, which in turn caused shortages and delivery issues across the industry. In order to counter this, we once again strengthened our purchasing staff and maintained close contact with our suppliers. David: We also expanded our supplier pool to address the supply chain issue. Nevertheless, there was no way of avoiding asking our customers for their patience and understanding in the situation. 360˚: How have customers reacted to the delivery delays and price increases? David: They have shown solidarity with us. We are very grateful for that. It was impressive to see how our customers supported each other and exchanged missing spare parts amongst themselves, for example. There is a lot of loyalty in the Vogelsang community. » Harald: That’s right. We performed particularly well in the agricultural technology and biogas segments and have also increased sales in the pumps segment with our EP and VY series industrial pumps for the chemical industry. We’ve also grown in terms of personnel and have strengthened our team with a total of around 150 new colleagues. As a result, we currently employ more than 1,300 people world- wide. Our training rate is also high. We are currently training over 70 young people in a variety of professions. 360˚: The coronavirus pandemic, shortages in the procurement market, an energy crisis and uncertainties caused by the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine – Vogelsang has emerged stronger from the last few crisis- ridden years. What do you attribute this to? Harald: We are broadly positioned with our product portfolio in the segments of wastewater, agricultural technology, biogas, industry and transport technol- ogy. This provides us with stability alongside our in- ternational orientation. At the same time, this broad spectrum also brings about complex purchasing pro- cesses as well as all of the complicated supply chain networks that come along with that. As a result, we have also had to deal with missing parts and long delivery times. And this was despite our high vertical range of manufacture in Germany. 360° 10.2023 | 45 360° | 45

COMPANY. OUTLOOK Harald: In Essen (Oldenburg), we are laying the foundations for a great position in markets that are still new to us, such as the chemical and food technol- ogy sectors. We also intend to continue driving our market proximity and internationalization forward by establishing new subsidiaries. 360˚: So the signs are set for growth in the future as well. What will be the drivers, what are the potential roadblocks? Harald: Inflation and the political environment are depressing the economic sentiment and investment appetite. One hindrance is certainly still the shortage of skilled workers. However, we are well positioned as a training company and offer an attractive working environment with our broad portfolio of services and products. But we cannot rest on our laurels. That’s why we always keep moving and are continu- ously expanding our training offer with new courses, for example business administration as a work-inte- grated learning study program. David: We are seeing a shift towards more ecology as one of our key drivers. First and foremost, this in- cludes our machinery and components, for example for the treatment of wastewater or environmentally compatible, low-emission liquid manure spreading technology. This is enabling our customers to meet increasing environmental requirements. We are also gearing our company itself and our entrepreneurial activities towards greater sustainability. Hugo repor- ted on this in detail in the last issue of our company magazine. Overall, we believe we are well positioned to meet the future challenges. Harald: But this will also require economic normal- ity and stability. This can only be achieved through a de-escalation of the conflicts worldwide. For the people in the affected regions, the humanitarian situ- ation needs to improve as quickly as possible. Many thanks for the interview! Harald: We have developed a customer portal for this purpose that allows customers to select and order their own spare parts. In production, we are automating processes and ensuring free capacities 360˚: Which production processes are involved here? David: We are investing in the partial automation of processes in gasket assembly, for example. In addi- tion, we have also acquired items such as a welding robot and a modern laser system for sheet metal processing. Using laser equipment, we create blank cuts for pumps and other products. The system is also connected to an automated sheet metal storage system so that sheet metal parts processing and avail- ability run continuously and without interruption. As a result of these initial measures, we are now man- ufacturing even more efficiently and have already been able to increase our production by 30 percent. One additional plus point, especially in these times, is that as a company we have become more inde- pendent of suppliers in the field of sheet metal processing. Harald: By automating processes, we are also reliev- ing our highly qualified specialists of routine tasks and creating free capacity for “ demanding” activi- ties. As an employer, we are able to offer an attrac- tive, modern working environment and professional prospects. 360˚: What role are new technologies playing in Vogelsang’s corporate plans? Harald: Since the company was founded, we have been pursuing the goal of constantly developing our- selves, of not standing still, of providing impetus. This also includes being open to new technologies and investing in them. Research and development is our source of new bubbling ideas and plays a central role in our investment plans. We plan to invest up to 32 million euros worldwide in buildings, machinery and tools over the next four years. David: Our headquarters in Essen, Lower Saxony, will continue to be the hotbed of ideas and inno- vation. This is where new products are created, where we are bundling our core competencies. The results are product innovations such as the recently launched Automatic Supply Unit seal supply system for our rotary lobe pumps. 360° | 47

AROUND THE WORLD. AID PROJECT TURKEY Help for Hatay – a report by Zeynep Temiz A constant sound of creaking and grinding has accompanied us since we set out. It’s the sound of destroyed buildings and rubble. I’m accompanied on this trip by my husband, also a Vogelsang employee, and our son. We are driving through Hatay, a province in southern Turkey – one of the regions hardest hit by the February earthquake. With us, we bring people some hope for normality. new perspectives for children and is an important anchor for them away from the rubble and family tragedy. The employees of Vogelsang have collected money for this purpose. The company’s management has pitched in, raising the donation amount even higher. Thus, we were able to invest a total of 45,000 euros in ten containers, which are used as housing containers and for school operations, as recommen- ded by INFAK. Our destination is Belen, a major town in the province of Hatay. There we meet with local political representatives. Always by our side are representatives of INFAK e.V., a Germany- based non-profit organization that supports those in need of help in various circumstances of life. We look around and cannot tear our eyes away from the destroyed houses and large piles of rubble. It’s hard to say what is most lacking here. The earth- quake has left two million people homeless in Turkey alone. According to the Turkish government, more than 300,000 buildings are moderately to severely damaged or need to be demolished. Residential build- ings were hit, but also important public buildings and institutions, including schools. At the handover of the containers in Belen, we find ourselves surrounded by children who thank us with pictures they have drawn. It’s a touching moment that will resonate with us for a long time. Preventing ghost towns We drive on through the region, seeing many destroyed houses, but also buildings that at first glance still seem intact. Nevertheless, there are no lights on in the streets in the evening. According to official figures, 3.7 million people have now left the affected areas in Turkey. Ghost towns are left behind. This is exactly what the government wants to prevent, we are told. That’s why local politicians are taking countermea- sures, creating temporary housing with containers and tents and pushing ahead with reconstruction. School and residential containers as supportive anchors Hope for reconstruction That is why we are here. We want to give a bit of nor- mality back to the children in the earthquake area, and bring structure and security to an everyday life marked by uncertainty. Regular schooling opens up On the way back, we see long lines of trucks. The vehicles are fully loaded with debris, which they are transporting away. A shattering image that at the same time gives hope – for the reconstruction of a destroyed region and a future after the quake. Information: AID FOR TURKEY AND SYRIA Donate here: T he people in the affected regions in Turkey and Syria are still in need of help. There is a lack of medical supplies, power gen- erators and mobile sanitary facilities, all needed to bring order to the daily lives of the affected people. AHK, the German-Turkish Chamber of Industry and Commerce, provides current information on its website about the relief supplies needed, and is the point of contact for chambers of com- merce and companies that can give humani- tarian aid. Private donations can be made to organiza- tions such as the “Aktion Deutschland Hilft” association. 360° | 49

AROUND THE WORLD. DENMARK Company profile Vogelsang Denmark • Name: Vogelsang A/S Denmark • Location: Tarm, Denmark • Website: www.vogelsang.info/int/company/ subsidiaries/denmark/ • Year of founding: 1988 • Number of employees: 13 (January 2023) • Main segments: agricultural technology, biogas, industry, traffic engineering, wastewater machinery mechanics will complete a nine- month training course in a workshop internship at Vogelsang. “We hope this will spark the interest of talented young people who will then return after graduation and seek permanent jobs here at Vogelsang,” Nielsen said. In order to drive growth even more, Denmark is also focusing on pushing marketing further and professionalizing it. On course for growth Over the past seven years, the Tarm branch has grown from 5 to 13 employees and has also increased its sales by a full 600 percent. Two years ago, it also expanded its building capacity to 100 percent. Nielsen and its team continue to work consistently to ensure even stronger growth. According to Nielsen: “It will be necessary to expand our space even fur- ther to accommodate new employees and inven- tory. One of the reasons for this is that our site is experiencing an ever-increasing demand for on-site service, and we would therefore like to recruit even more employees in the service department.” In this context, the subsidiary is also keeping a close eye on the next generation of employees and is work- ing together with a training center for machinery mechanics. As part of this “partnership,” prospective Solid dosing for biogas plants: Vogelsang A/S Denmark provides a complete PreMix liquid feeding system including vertical mixer, sensors and control. IMPRINT Editor: Layout: Frese & Wolff GmbH, www.frese-wolff.de Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG Holthöge 10–14 | 49632 Essen (Oldenburg) | Germany Phone: +49 5434 83-0 | Fax: +49 5434 83-10 [email protected] | vogelsang.info Circulation: 1,300 copies Publishing: biannual Managing Directors: Harald Vogelsang, Hugo Vogelsang, David Guidez Editor in Chief: Marketing Vogelsang Concept and text: VOCATO public relations GmbH, www.vocato.com All information and contributions are selected to the best of our knowledge, however without guarantee. We always welcome sug- gestions, wishes and contributions. The articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. All rights are reserved. Copying or electronic distribution with the publisher’s written permission only. THINK RED 02.2023 | 51 360° | 51