Engineers in the spotlight — Get to know Jenny Schulte, who represents the many dedicated specialists in thyssenkrupp’s Steel division. She is overseeing the development and introduction of scalur®+Z.
Name: Jenny Schulte
Age: 36
Fields: Product services and technical customer support
scalur®+Z is a hot-dip galvanized flat product that is perfectly suited for rollforming processes and lets customers save on materials, time, and money.
What is special about scalur®+Z?
thyssenkrupp can guarantee a thickness tolerance of up to ± 0.06 millimeters for this material. This is a boon to customers, who benefit from a material with a constant thickness tolerance that lies significantly beneath the standard limit. This material’s strict tolerances also allow for more strip per coil and reduced component weight. Moreover, the production process does not require retooling as frequently as processes for other materials do, which means that the customer experiences comparatively fewer standstills.
What role do you play in the development process?
I was already responsible for overseeing the hot-rolled material scalur®, so it makes sense that I was asked to oversee development and introduction for the fully galvanized version of that material, scalur®+Z. I monitored the initial tests together with my colleagues, and worked with the Product Strategy team to decide which grades would go with this new product. Now, I will oversee the initial rolling trials and support customers during the processing stage. When the product is ready to come onto the market, I will oversee the market introduction process. This will involve training the technical customer support staff who will support customers using this material.
What was the career path that led you to this position?
I studied Industrial Engineering and wrote my thesis at thyssenkrupp’s hot-dip galvanizing line 1. Afterwards, I was offered a position at the company, and I stayed. That was about nine years ago now. Time has just flown by, thanks to diverse tasks and varied cooperation with customers and production.
scalur®+Z can also be used to make containers and electric motor housings. In the case of containers, the main advantage to using this material is its comparatively low weight – empty containers are now several kilos lighter.
Jenny Schulte
Where will scalur®+Z be used?
In telescopic rails, for example, as well as in numerous stamped parts. scalur®+Z can also be used to make containers and electric motor housings. In the case of containers, the main advantage to using this material is its comparatively low weight – empty containers are now several kilos lighter.