Concepts from the farm
Heinrich Timm is the head of the Aluminum and Lightweight Design Center in Neckarsulm, Germany.
Timm designed the Audi Space Frame (ASF) in the early 1980s, on the orders of Ferdinand Piech. ASF technology has already found its way into six Audi models: the first- and second-generation Audi A8, the Audi A2, the latest TT, and TT Roadster, and the high-performance Audi R8 sports car that we drove at the Infineon racetrack. The Lamborghini Gallardo and the Gallardo Spyder also trace their roots to the Aluminum and Lightweight Design Center.
Timm’s family were farmers. As a child, Timm designed and built his on games on his parent’s farm. They wanted him to become a farmer, but Timm wanted to continue to design and build.
In 1997, the Technical University of Vienna presented the Ferdinand Porsche Award to Albrecht Reimold (now plant manager at Audis Neckarsulm site) and Heinrich Timm. In 2008 Timm and his group won the European Inventor of the Year.
Timm explains how aluminum is put together to form a frame. He does so by utilizing concepts from the farm.
