Press & News

Welcome to the press section of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Museum of Technology

Press area

Here you will find current press releases on our exhibitions, events and other activities. For image requests, please contact us by e-mail. We will be happy to put together the motifs you require.
Media representatives who would like to photograph or film themselves in one of our museums can submit a photo or filming request. If you have any questions or would like to arrange an interview, please also send an e-mail to pr@phantechnikum.de

Press contact

Sören Woelke (PR & Fundraising Officer)

Mail pr@phantechnikum.de

Phone 03841-3045716

Sparks ahoy!

The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Technical State Museum is delighted to announce an extraordinary donation. Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH (MMG) from Waren an der Müritz has presented the museum with three impressive models of propeller parts, known as flukes. The flukes belong to a ship's propeller and were successfully set up on the outside area of the phanTECHNIKUM by the company Rostock-Trans GmbH on September 23, 2024.

The models are impressive in size and already attract the attention of visitors. The largest model is almost five meters high and weighs an impressive 1.8 tons. The total weight of the donation is almost 5 tons. These impressive propeller parts complement our museum perfectly and provide a fascinating insight into the world of modern shipbuilding and metalworking “Made in MV”. The casting model is made of wood and is used for casting in a sand mold. The model is molded in sand and then removed. The remaining cavity is then filled with the molten material to produce the desired casting.

The delivery and installation of the casting models went smoothly. The team at the State Museum of Technology will publicize the donation on its communication channels in the coming days and display informative museum texts about the propeller parts on site.

The wooden propeller casting flukes are not only technological masterpieces, but also impressive testimonies to the high engineering skills of Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH, which is known worldwide for the production of propellers and ship parts. With their striking red color and imposing size, they enrich the outdoor facilities of the phanTECHNIKUM and offer visitors to the museum a unique opportunity to explore 150 years of experience in foundry technology and propeller production up close.

The “originals” of the ship propellers were made by MMG for three different ships. A propeller with a diameter of 8.4 meters and a weight of almost 30 tons was manufactured for the newbuild project of the LNG carrier Shaolin. A propeller with an impressive diameter of 10.6 meters and a weight of almost 70 tons was also produced for the oil tanker DHT Stallion as part of a new construction project. Another new construction project concerns the LNG carrier Langenda Suria, which will be equipped with two propellers.

The Technical State Museum MV cordially invites all interested parties to discover the new exhibits on the outdoor area of the phanTECHNIKUM and to be inspired by the size and technical know-how behind these impressive models.

 

About Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH:

Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH is an internationally renowned manufacturer of ship propellers and large castings and is based in Waren an der Müritz. With decades of experience in the field of metal processing, the company is one of the leading suppliers in its sector. Last year, MMG celebrated 75 years of propeller production.

To the T­ablets, get set, go!

Our new Actionbound tour invites you to explore the exhibition on the history of Wismar's folding boats in a completely new and interactive way. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of these historic boats and learn more about their exciting history and the shipyard where they were built.

It's easy to get started: simply ask for the tour at the visitor service desk, borrow one of our tablets, scan the code provided and let the adventure begin! The tour takes you through various stations in the exhibition where you can put your knowledge to the test. Answer exciting questions about the exhibits on display, learn interesting facts about the development of folding boats and discover surprising details from the history of the Wismar shipyard.

Whether you want to play alone or compete with friends - the Actionbound tour offers a wide range of options. You can play for time to make the challenge even more exciting, or compete for points to emerge victorious at the end.

Whatever you decide, one thing is certain: this tour will make your visit to the museum an unforgettable experience. We wish you lots of fun, plenty of aha moments and, above all, lots of success!

On board... for the Swedish Festival 2024

The annual Schwedenweg (Swedish Way), the highlight of the Swedish festival, showcases associations and institutions from the city in a parade through the Hanseatic city. As the largest cultural institution in the city, the phanTECHNIKUM is of course not to be missed.

From the market square, through the historic old town, the Schwedenweg leads in a large parade through the Hanseatic city. 25 groups with around 280 participants were there this year. The groups came mostly from the region, but also from other federal states, as well as from the Swedish twin town of Kalmar. As in the previous year, the phanTECHNIKUM was represented by two historic bicycles - decorated in Wismar colors - from the permanent exhibition. As a special highlight, a folding boat from 1958 also swam in the river during the procession this year. This Wismar original, almost 4 meters long, drew attention to the current special exhibition on the history of folding boat production at the Wismar shipyard.

The phanTECHNIKUM would like to thank all supporters, without whose help our exhibits could not have been moved.

The Hanseatic City of Wismar estimates that around 100,000 visitors from all over the world celebrated the Sweden Festival in the Hanseatic City of Wismar from Thursday to Sunday (August 15 to 18, 2024).

 

This was the 9th vintage car rally in 2024

On June 22, 2024, the popular phanTECHNIKUM classic car rally took place for the ninth time. In bright sunshine and a great atmosphere, the museum grounds and the streets of Northwest Mecklenburg were transformed into a magnificent stage for classic vehicles. This year's event broke all previous records in terms of the number of participants and once again confirmed its status as a highlight for classic car enthusiasts.

The route took them along the picturesque coastal route of the island of Poel, from Wismar via Redentin, Gollwitz and Timmendorf to the harbor in Kirchdorf and back to the phanTECHNIKUM. The breathtaking views of the Baltic coast and the opportunity to take souvenir photos in Timmendorf provided unforgettable moments. With over 400 guests, 97 participating vehicles and 73 co-drivers, the museum's 9th rally broke all previous records and attracted almost 25% more drivers than last year.

The variety of participating vehicles was impressive: elegant classics from the 1930s, powerful muscle cars from the 1970s and rare vehicles from the GDR attracted the attention of the spectators and provided numerous photo opportunities. Our audience was able to admire the beautiful vintage cars up close and talk to the proud owners. A special highlight this year was the cooperation with the OCC Küstentrophy. More than 75 vehicles and almost 190 drivers made a stop at the phanTECHNIKUM on their route along the Baltic Sea coast and into the Schwerin Lake District, giving the public the opportunity to experience two rallies in one day. From a 1939 Rolls Royce to a 1970s Ferrari, enthusiasts of the scene were able to exchange ideas across all brands.

The mixture of glorious weather, impressive vehicles and a great community created a special atmosphere that will be remembered for a long time to come. We would like to thank all participants!

Next year, the classic car rally at the phanTECHNIKUM will celebrate its tenth anniversary. We will definitely come up with something very special for this anniversary. Stay tuned!

Review of the vernissage: Thank you very much!

We would like to take a moment to express our sincere thanks to all of you a few days after the opening. The opening of our special exhibition “Packsack, Totholz, Kolibri - 70 Years of Folding Canoes from Wismar” not only marks the beginning of a fascinating journey through 70 years of folding canoe history, but also the result of the combined efforts and dedication of many people and institutions.

First of all, we would like to thank all the guests who have found their way to our exhibition. Your interest and enthusiasm are the driving forces that make our efforts complete. The numerous visitors help to ensure that the history of Wismar folding boats remains alive and is carried into the future.

We would also like to express our sincere thanks to our speakers, our association chairwoman Ms. Raum, Mayor Beyer and the collector Mr. Callehn, who once again highlighted the significance of this important piece of Wismar's history with their inspiring words. Our partners and supporters are another important factor in the success of this exhibition. The generous support of the Hanseatic City of Wismar, the Verein Technisches Landesmuseum Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V., the Ministry for Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the EGGER Holzwerkstoffe Wismar GmbH & Co. KG and the Sparkasse Wismar has made it possible to realize this project. Their commitment to culture and history is invaluable. We would like to thank the Fachwerkler Group for conception, architecture and design and click solutions GmbH for the design, scenography and software development. This work has given our exhibition its face.

Special thanks go to Mr. Jörg Callehn, whose unique collection forms the basis of this exhibition. His passion for historical folding boats has made this event possible, and we are deeply grateful that he shares his treasures with us. We would also like to express our sincere thanks to the Verein Freunde historischer Faltboote e.V., represented by Mr. Ralf Petsching, for their expertise and generous support.

Last but not least, we would like to thank our team and all those who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this exhibition happen. From scientific direction to exhibition construction, education and mediation to design and software development – each and every person has made a valuable contribution.

Overall, we would like to emphasize that this vernissage not only marks the starting point of an exhibition, but also the beginning of a dialogue and a journey through the history and significance of the folding boats from Wismar. May this exhibition not only inform, but also inspire and help to ensure that this unique cultural asset is preserved for a long time to come.

Many thanks to everyone who helped make this day an unforgettable event.

The Murkels in the phan­TECHNIKUM

The Rostock children's song band “Die Murkels” have created a new video format for families. In “Papa Murkel zu Besuch” (Papa Murkel's Visit), Papa Murkel meets artists and visits museums and exciting places and destinations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This entertaining and valuable presentation motivates children and families to engage in artistic activities themselves or to visit the places presented and discover them on their own. In the latest episode, the phanTECHNIKUM receives a visit from the Murkels.

The program “Die Murkels” is aimed at both people who live in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and families who visit the region. Thanks to the cooperation with Thomas Böhm and Juni Media, the format is shown on the local television stations MV1, Wismar TV and TV Schwerin. In the future, it is also planned to broadcast it on MV-Tourist.TV. This means that tourists could watch Papa Murkel in over 100 renowned hotels in MV and be inspired by his excursions and reports.

The Murkels team also visited the phanTECHNIKUM this week. There was a lot to discover in the exciting rooms of the museum. Many questions about the function and history of important historical machines and people were answered by the museum director Michael Rahnfeld in an interview with Murkels' little blue explorer.

The format fills a gap in the tourism market by targeting children and families in a unique way and looking at the tourism landscape from a completely new perspective for locals and our guests.

 

You don't know the Murkels yet?

Murkels are friendly and shaggy creatures that live in the dunes all over the world. Wherever there are sand and dunes, Murkels are likely to live too. They respect all living creatures on earth and live in harmony with nature. Our little Murkel family lives in a dune on the Baltic Sea beach near Rostock. We love to sing funny children's songs, tell stories and discover the world. Papa Murkel often visits interesting people and places and reports on them in our video format “Papa Murkel zu Besuch”.

Museum makes you strong starts at the phan­TECHNIKUM

The innovative project “An interactive museum tour” enables a participatory museum experience for children and young people through the joint commitment of Licht am Horizont e.V., TLM MV and Filmbüro MV.

 

In 2024, two projects will start at the phanTECHNIKUM. The first project, “An Interactive Museum Tour”, will already be picking up speed during the winter holidays and is intended to offer children and young people without regular access to museum offers the opportunity to actively participate in and help shape the content-related mediation work. The projects are carried out with the local partners Licht am Horizont e.V., a non-profit organization dedicated to the care of educationally disadvantaged children and young people with a strong network in the socio-educational field, and the Filmbüro MV e.V., which has years of experience with media education projects and contributes the technical know-how.

The “Museum macht stark” program gives museums the chance to reach new target groups, financed by the German Museums Association and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In the “Museum macht stark” program, museums are given the opportunity to enter into alliances with socio-spatial partners and thus reach completely new target groups. The special feature here is the full financing of the project by the German Museums Association and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This also gives smaller museums the opportunity to network both regionally and nationally and to carry out socially valuable projects without having to contribute financially themselves. With the funds provided by the BMBF, several hundred small and large projects have already been planned and implemented.

The centerpiece of the project is the training of 12 participants to become peer teamers. The TLM MV and the Filmbüro MV are leading workshops on content and media education preparation. After the training, the peer teamers will develop digital mediation offers with 20 other participants.

The goal is to create several Actionbound tours. The project offers a unique opportunity to promote the participation of children and young people in cultural education and to explore innovative ways of using digital media for cultural education, while also contributing to diversity and inclusion in the field. A nice, lasting side effect is that the results will remain accessible to all visitors to the museum even after the project ends. Using the Actionbound app, the created museum tours can be played by anyone.

But the project work continues during the fall vacation as well. Together with both partners, a second subproject is preparing the implementation of a children's storytelling salon, which will be presented and digitally recorded during a final event. Under expert guidance, the children between the ages of 6 and 10 will take on all areas of responsibility themselves, from developing thematic ideas to technical implementation.