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Michael Faraday Institution e.V.


 

Technical Visit: 24th. September 2016

 



Backnang – Impressive industrial history in provincial Swabia

 



Germans generally regard Swabians as an industrious people, but you would be wrong to think that you have to visit Stuttgart to see examples of technical masterpieces. The town of Backnang lies around 30 km north-east of Stuttgart and can boast an impressive industrial legacy stretching back more than 150 years. But Backnang has more – it still has a strong connection with modern engineering and, in particular, with satellite technology. Why not join us for a technical visit that combines elements of both worlds?




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The German Centre for Satellite Communication Centre (Deutsches Zentrum für Satelliten-Kommunikation), or DeSK, maintains a showroom illustrating the history of satellite communication. The showroom contains many interactive scale models of satellite systems including details of the latest Heinrich Hertz satellite mission.



The IET Germany Local Network & Michael Faraday Institution e.V. have arranged an exclusive tour of the showroom for our group in the morning. If you always wanted to know more about how satellites work please register – places are limited due to the size of the showroom.



 



c3c6ccac9d9b0c152c432891ad76b216-huge-bk-tower.pngBacknang lies on the Deutsche Fachwerkstraße and has many timber-framed buildings. Please join the group for lunch in the town’s centre or feel free to spend some time visiting the historic buildings including the Stiftskirche which dates back to the 12th.Century. The church is part of an ancient abbey that used to be the burial place of the Margraves of Baden before Backnang passed to Württemberg in 1297.






 

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After lunch the visit will continue with the Technikforum which contains Backnang’s collection of industrial exhibits and covers four specific areas of interest: tanneries, weavers, Kaelble (an HGV manufacturer) and telecommunications. We have arranged two separate tours: Kaelble and telecommunications. You will be able to join both tours and also to explore the rest of the building and the other exhibits. Many exhibits, particularly the Kaelble motors, have been lovingly restored and can be demonstrated. The Technikforum uses the museum-digital website for explanations of its exhibits. This means that each item has a QR code that can be read via your smartphone to direct you to a detailed online description. In addition, there are background information boards in German and English. For the Technikforum we are able to accommodate more visitors than for the DeSK tour so please register separately for either or both tours.




The DeSK showroom and the Technikforum are within easy walking distance of the town centre and the railway station. The map below shows both locations, the railway station and suggested pedestrian routes between them.

 


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How to get to Backnang


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Use the S-Bahn S3 from Stuttgart which runs every 30 minutes on Saturdays. Backnang is the last stop on the line. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes from the main station. There are also regional trains (R3 line) which are slightly quicker but run less frequently.


Use the S-Bahn S4 if coming from Ludwigsburg. Backnang is also the last stop on this line.



By car: take the Mundelsheim/Backnang exit on the A8 between Stuttgart and Heilbronn. Follow the signs to Backnang for about 20 km. You can park for free at the railway station / ZOB in Backnang (10 minutes walk to the town centre) or at the Technikforum during our visit. There are also several car parks directly in the town centre (fee payable on Saturdays).

 




Meeting point for DeSK showroom tour at 11:00



In the Grabenstraße outside the Commerz-Bank (near house number 7) at 10:50 on Saturday 24th. September 2016. The showroom is difficult to find so please be punctual!

 




Update: Meeting point for lunch at 12:30



Gasthaus Storchen, Uhlandstraße 13, 71522 Backnang. The restaurant offers both Greek and Swabian specialities






Meeting point for the Technikforum at 14:30



Wilhelmstraße 32 at 14:20 on Saturday 24th. September 2016.

 




Language



The tours will be held in German. There will certainly be other visitors in our group who can help translate or explain in English if you are not fully fluent in German.

 




Costs



Both tours are provided by charitable organisations and there is no charge for entry. The volunteers are proud of their work and are giving up their Saturday to show off their exhibits. We would therefore ask you to donate generously using the boxes provided at both venues.




Further Information



Important: please register using this link: https://localevents.theiet.org/29d6b7  or by scanning this QR code:

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The deadline is 18th. September 2016. Contact Howard Gray via the IET Community website for more information.