Opening of the exhibition “Getting to grips with AI. Shaping the future.” by NRW Minister of Science Ina Brandes. Source: FHM Bielefeld
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE is no longer a future scenario, but a reality. It is already shaping the work of skilled trades today. The Altendorf Group, a technology leader in the field of format circular saws and digitally networked manufacturing solutions, is participating as a practical partner in the new exhibition “Getting to grips with AI. Shaping the future.” at the University of Applied Sciences for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (FHM) in Bielefeld. The exhibition is part of the KIDiHA (Artificial Intelligence and Digital Offensive for Skilled Trades in North Rhine-Westphalia) research project and was officially opened by NRW Minister of Science Ina Brandes.
The exhibition was also on display at the Düsseldorf State Parliament. Under the title “Zukunft.Handwerk.NRW” (Future.Craftsmanship.NRW), various craft businesses from North Rhine-Westphalia presented their AI applications there from October 1 to 23, 2025 — from voice-based assistance systems to intelligent sales solutions. The grand opening by State Parliament President André Kuper underscores the political relevance of the topic. The modular exhibition is designed as a traveling exhibition and shows how AI innovation and tradition are combined in the skilled trades.
The exhibition uses concrete examples to show how AI can make operational processes in the skilled trades more efficient, safer, and more sustainable — from precise data analysis to intelligent machine control. As an industry partner, the Altendorf Group is demonstrating how digital assistance systems create real added value with its AI-supported safety solution HAND GUARD: “Our technology identifies potential risks at an early stage and helps to protect people, machines, and materials — that’s AI in action in the skilled trades,” says Ansgar von Garrel, head of marketing at the Altendorf Group.
A concrete example of successful implementation is provided by the Müthing joinery from Billerbeck, Germany, which is involved in the project as a practice partner together with the Altendorf Group. HAND GUARD is in daily use there — and ensures a significant increase in safety and trust within the team. Employees particularly appreciate the early detection of critical hand movements and the automatic protective response, which causes the system to lower the saw blade in a fraction of a second. The feeling of safety has increased noticeably as a result, the company emphasizes — a good example of how AI creates concrete improvements in everyday working life.
By participating in the exhibition, Altendorf is pursuing a key objective: to make sustainable technologies accessible in a practical and barrier-free manner. “Intuitive, robust, and economically viable solutions are particularly in demand in the skilled trades. That’s why it’s important to us to show AI not as an abstract technology, but as a concrete tool for everyday life and training,” von Garrel continues.
The exhibition is aimed explicitly at craft businesses, trainees, and anyone interested in discovering the benefits of AI for themselves. In addition to digital showcases and practical examples, the exhibition also offers interactive learning stations and access to a comprehensive online platform.
The project is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and receives scientific support from FHM Bielefeld. The aim is to support the digital transformation in skilled trades through practical research, further training, and technology partnerships.
See page 18 of our October/November 2025 issue on our Back Issues page.
