BEE-O Lab.
Bionic lab
Fill renaturalizes 10,000 m2 of space previously used as a parking lot at the Gurten site and builds the BEE-O LAB, in which bees play a key role.
On October 21, 2024, the second construction phase of the multifunctional Power Cube multi-storey parking lot at the Fill machine engineering company was officially opened and released for use by employees. The ground-breaking ceremony for Fill's latest project took place on the same day: the BEE-O LAB. The outdoor lab is the logical continuation of activities in the STEM field (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences, technology). The focus of the new lab 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. An interactive educational trail is designed to illustrate the transition from nature to technology to all visitors - whether they are interested in technology or not - and to fascinate them.
Gurten, November 11, 2024 – "Humans can learn a lot from nature and bionics, the interdisciplinary research field of transferring phenomena from nature to technology, plays a crucial role in this. We want to convey this in the new laboratory in a partly playful way," explains owner and CEO Andreas Fill at the ground-breaking ceremony. With the BEE-O LAB, Fill is continuing the strategy he successfully launched with the unique FUTURE LAB - making the fascination of technology an exciting experience for young people and the young at heart. “There are many ways to get young people excited about technology and thus arouse their interest and promote their talents,” continues Andreas Fill.
Awakening an interest in technology at an early age
The target group for the new lab is children aged between six and 13. School excursions and other cooperative activities are planned in collaboration with educational institutions in the region. The six stations of the BEE-O LAB will also be open to the public. Construction of the project began at the end of October 2024. Completion of the flower meadow, including the six honeycomb-shaped stations as central elements, is planned for 2026.
Whether there will then also be beehives on the “Meadow for lazy Filli” and who will look after them is still the subject of discussions. In any case, Fill is once again demonstrating its creativity with the implementation of the BEE-O LAB project - not only in the core business of mechanical engineering - but also in innovative information and educational offers for young people.
