With the spaceship to Dach+Holz in Cologne

With the spaceship to Dach+Holz in Cologne

Friedrich Reinbold from Friesach in Carinthia enjoys an excellent reputation for his innovative approaches to promoting young professionals. In the interview, he reveals how he came up with the idea of ​​the Spengler spaceship and what this extraordinary project connects with his craft.

How do you, as a seasoned master craftsman, come up with the idea of ​​associating a trade fair presence with the starship Enterprise known from TV and cinema?

Friedrich Reinbold: This idea goes back to a special method for training our apprentices. We first trained our apprentices in building aircraft models made of titanium zinc more than ten years ago.

This is unusual. In training, gutter boilers, chimney guards or pipe angles are usually manufactured?

That's correct. But these components are very complex. Career starters in particular are not immediately enthusiastic about this. Things are different with an airplane model. When building an aircraft model from titanium zinc, almost all of the work steps relevant to the plumbing trade are used. First, as with all metal structures, the components are unrolled and cut out. The apprentice gains knowledge about cutting that he will need throughout his entire working life. The parts then have to be shaped. We use round bending machines or folding machines for this. Many forming processes are also carried out by hand. This is exactly how the parts of the aircraft model are created. Everything is put together using traditional soft soldering technology - a skill that, despite all the innovations, will continue to play a major role in the plumbing trade for decades to come.

So how do you get from the plane to the spaceship?

We are active as trainers and workshop partners in metal roof and facade technology and have already manufactured many aircraft models together with our participants. At some point the desire arose to build a model of the TV spaceship Enterprise. The construction of the prototype and the development of the associated manufacturing processes were successful. We are currently optimizing the project - in close collaboration with the aircraft mechanic from Kaelin Aero Technologies GmbH, the ornamental plumbers from the roof decoration manufacturer Kaufmann Spenglereibedarf Ulm and experts in thin sheet laser processing.

Why are the preparations for a workshop so complex?

The aim is to prepare the workshop so that every participant has a finished Spengler spaceship in their hands within just two working days.

How will the workshop work?

All interested trade fair visitors can experience this for themselves during Dach+Holz International. Using the example of the spaceship Enterprise, we show how model construction from titanium zinc works - and produce a complete model live in Cologne. Visitors can follow the construction up close, ask questions and learn more about the diverse activities in the plumbing trade. By the way, for me it's the best job in the world!

A notice:

Dach+Holz International, the trade fair for green building, building envelopes and structural timber construction, will take place from February 24th to 27th, 2026 at the Cologne exhibition center (D).
Further information: www.dach-holz.com
(bt)