When young entrepreneurs study business, they often pick up ideas in lectures that they can use in their companies. Just like Dieter E. Albrecht, a bachelor’s degree student at the Business School Alb-Schwarzwald, part of Steinbeis University Berlin.
Dieter E. Albrecht runs a breakdown recovery firm in Rottweil, south-west Germany, and is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in industrial business administration (IndustrialBBA) based on the Steinbeis Project Competence Concept. During a lecture, he struck upon the idea of designing an articulated vehicle that could recover heavy SUVs and similar vehicles weighing up to 3.5 metric tons, but could still be driven with a standard BE-class driver’s license – even on Sundays, when many types of large vehicles are not allowed on the road in Germany.
After capturing his thoughts on paper and sketching the design, Albrecht started to search for a supplier to build the innovative tow truck. No sooner said than done, and the new universal tow truck was born. As well as conventional vehicle recoveries, the truck is also able to recover vehicles on difficult terrain. And thanks to its articulation and short length, it’s highly maneuverable – perfect for urban areas. The novel tow truck is also suitable for long distance trips, as it includes seven air-conditioned passenger seats. All in all, this invention is nothing short of groundbreaking for the vehicle recovery sector, and Dieter E. Albrecht has already applied for a design patent from the German Patent Office.
Breaking down because of a technical failure is never a pleasant experience. But with vehicles based on Albrecht’s design, recovery firms can rescue large vehicles like SUVs more quickly and easily than ever, passengers included. A great example of knowledge transfer in action – from the lecture theatre to the streets!