In the “Physics in Advent” competition, the 10th-grade class from Stadtgymnasium Köln-Porz won a very special prize: a visit to RI Research Instruments and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our "manufactory" at the new site in Obereschbach. 

At the beginning of July, the time had finally come, and we were delighted to welcome the students to our company. Most of them had already heard of particle accelerators. But how such high-tech devices are built and what they are used for—those were some of the questions we set out to explore together. 

Our team provided the guests with detailed insights into the various production steps of an accelerator: from precision work in milling and turning, to laser and electron beam welding, all the way to 3D printing and quality control—all of it live and up close. 

A highlight of the tour was certainly a freshly assembled particle accelerator in one of our halls, which will soon be shipped and used in cancer therapy. So our young visitors had the chance to experience first-hand how technical innovations are used not only in research but also in medical applications to help save lives. 

Of course, we had set aside plenty of time for lively discussions with our guests. Our conversation topics ranged from fundamental physics and the question of how relevant school knowledge is to everyday life, to working conditions in the industry. 

For our production team, the visit was a great opportunity to show what fascinating things we do here at RI—and how we do them. 

Dear students, thank you for your interest, for the energetic Q&A sessions, your bright eyes, and your infectious enthusiasm! Who knows—maybe one day we’ll welcome one of you as a new colleague. Thank you so much for visiting us, and we wish you a wonderful summer holiday!