Zukunftsgestalter: Kann Rohstoff-Spezialist Dorfner mit KI den Umsatz um 40 Prozent steigern?
Das Unternehmen aus der Oberpfalz zeigt, wie sich mit KI Beschäftigte motivieren und Laufzeiten verlängern lassen – und sich der Betrieb Schritt für Schritt sogar von den Rohstoffen emanzipiert.
In the deep Kaolin mine of Hirschau, 70 meters underground, Gebrüder Dorfner mine company extracts fine, iron-free stone used in porcelain, cosmetics, paper industry, and paint. The company's central office sits atop the abandoned excavation grounds, surrounded by the West and East fields. While the fields continue to expand, the future of the mine is evolving thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Since 2020, Dorfner has been utilizing AI to improve efficiency and lengthen the extraction period of the Kaolin reserves. The company's 130-year-old Central Office is now a hub of innovation, with a team of 300 employees generating around €100 million in annual revenue.
AI has helped Dorfner to reduce the amount of raw material needed by one-third, cutting the annual extraction of raw ore from roughly one million tonnes to about 300,000 tonnes. This has not only saved resources but also increased the company's revenue and growth.
The CEO, Mirko Mondan, emphasizes that the company has grown not just in terms of resources but also in revenue. With the same products, industries, and strategy in place, Dorfner aims to continue its growth and innovation for another 130 years.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
