Ideas − Development – Exchange
UNTHA shredders are the outcome of extensive research and development efforts. To further enhance innovation, UNTHA shredding technology GmbH has established the UNTHA Technology Innovation Center (TIC) in Kuchl, near Salzburg. This center houses the company's research department, product digitization, prototype development, and assembly. It also provides a collaborative space for the exchange of ideas among various departments, external partners, and customers.
The Technology Innovation Center (TIC) is strategically located close to UNTHA's headquarters, production, assembly sites, and e-technology divisions. This proximity allows the TIC to serve not only as the home for the company's R&D team but also as a gathering place for UNTHA employees from all divisions. In addition to an assembly hall for prototype construction, the TIC features CAD workstations, a laboratory, a modular meeting room, and areas for constructive dialogue. The TIC also focuses on advancing AI-supported applications and UNTHA's smart services, such as the MyUNTHA customer platform and the UNTHA GENIUS predictive maintenance system.
"Our goal is to continue providing the best shredders on the market. To ensure our machines meet future market and customer requirements, we are adopting an open innovation approach at the TIC. We aim to avoid developing our products in isolation and finding out post-launch whether they meet customer needs. Instead, we want to foster transparency throughout the development process and incorporate feedback from various perspectives—those of different departments, external partners, and our customers. Ultimately, they are the users of our shredders and can contribute valuable insights based on their experiences," says Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth, Chief Innovation Officer at UNTHA Shredding Technology GmbH.
Further development and prototyping
At the TIC, shredders are designed to meet evolving customer and market demands. "We closely monitor which materials are entering markets and industries, as well as those nearing the end of their life cycle. From this information, we can identify which application areas will require appropriate shredding solutions in the coming years. Our goal is to have the right machines ready when needed," says Christian Lanner, Head of Research & Prototyping at UNTHA and Director of the TIC.
UNTHA shredders cater to a wide range of applications and materials, customized to meet individual customer needs. The product portfolio includes both "smaller" machines, like the new generation of RS series models, and heavy-duty XR and ZR shredders weighing up to 40 tons. In developing new technologies, three critical areas must be aligned: mechanics, electronics, and digitalization. The team at the TIC possesses extensive knowledge and years of experience to effectively consider all these aspects in the further development of UNTHA shredders. Working in interdisciplinary teams, they brainstorm ideas for new shredding solutions, build and assemble prototypes, operate them, and conduct practical tests under real conditions at existing UNTHA customer sites. The development team and technicians monitor these test runs, collecting and evaluating process data using advanced measurement technology and the UNTHA GENIUS assistance system. This approach enables the team to identify and implement potential improvements early in the prototype phase.
Open Innovation Space
Constructive feedback and open communication are essential components of the TIC. As such, the new building is intended to serve as a point of contact and meeting place for both customers and UNTHA employees from Kuchl and around the globe. "Our customers have in-depth knowledge of our shredders because they use them daily. Additionally, our team interacts with the machines in various ways. Their feedback is invaluable to our work. The TIC is a space where all these experiences can be shared to continually enhance our products," explains Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth.
The Open Innovation Space (OIS) is a large, modular area designated for workshops, meetings, and informal gatherings. It represents the intersection of UNTHA's history with its present and future. For example, the OIS showcases cutting units that were part of the first UNTHA shredders while a large panoramic window offers a view of the assembly area, where prototypes are actively being developed. This design allows visitors and the team to maintain a clear focus on UNTHA's mission: delivering innovative shredding solutions that meet the current and future needs of both customers and markets.
Images available for download (free of charge for press purposes, image credit: UNTHA shredding technology GmbH) https://untha.canto.de/b/KU6N2
Images 1+2: (from left) Christian Lanner and Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth with the approximately 6-meter-high “landmark” of the UNTHA Technology Innovation Center – an XR rotor that has been converted into a sculpture
Images 3+4: Christian Lanner and Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth in the Open Innovation Space of the UNTHA TIC
Image 5: Stefan Scheiflinger-Ehrenwerth and Christian Lanner in the Open Innovation Space of the UNTHA TIC. UNTHA founder Anton Unterwurzacher can be seen in the background with his motto.
Images 6+7: Insight into the assembly hall of the UNTHA TIC