Obviously unique - The new RAVENOL tin at the Hockenheimring

The new trademark of the Hockenheimring is 13 metres tall, 6.5 metres wide and weighs an impressive 5.8 tonnes. The newly constructed RAVENOL tin, located directly next to the start-finish straight in the Motodrom, has been attracting the attention of all visitors since the beginning of August. It is the crowning expression of the partnership between the well-known RAVENOL brand of Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH and Hockenheim-Ring GmbH. Along with the promotionally effective tin, the cooperation includes a renaming of the start and finish areas to RAVENOL-Haus, and renaming the north-bend to the RAVENOL bend. While both of the latter mentioned branding measures could already be implemented in spring, construction of the oversized RAVENOL design oil tin required particular planning and considerable commitment from all those involved. The result is not only pleasing to the eye, but rather may also be one-of-a-kind at a race track.

Challenge: Construction of the RAVENOL tin

Conception and project management of the demanding construction project was assigned to the company Fact Werbegrafik (based in Giengen, Germany), who brought the specialist Sergej Wilms (SWIM company from Siershahn, Germany) on board for production and execution.

The true-to-the-original replica oil tin,  was made to scale (55:1) on the Hockenheimring grounds; the elaborate working process taking three months and approximately 2,000 working hours. Sergej Wilms and his team used glass-fibre matting impregnated with synthetic resin to form a completely synthetic negative shape; that is to say a huge template based on a scaled CAD design, scaled down from 13 metres. Using this method, two glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) half-shells were formed, which were laminated together after they had hardened.

“We built the object completely on-site at the ring, so that the transport distances would not be too long. Using two cranes, the fabricated oil tin was loaded onto a flatbed truck and transported at low speed across parts of the race track into the Motodrom. This ensured that no damage was sustained by the plastic housing,” explains Sergej Wilms, Managing Director of the company SWIM, describing the logistical effort required to move the tin to the start-finish straight.

After placement and fixing of the massive structure had been completed within half a day, cosmetic work began to match the outward appearance to the model. Fact Werbegrafik was able to imitate the typical commercial design of the oil tin in detail using gold-coloured lacquer. Large labels with RAVENOL lettering , manufactured from polymer digital printing films with UV protection (which guarantees UV protection stability for up to 10 years) were also used. Markus Kelenföldi, Managing Director of the graphic design agency, is delighted with the results: “This project has been one of the biggest and most exciting for us to date. We have been planning the execution intensely in the last six months, with the help of 3D drawings and models, and are proud that the finished result has turned out so excellently.”

Martin Huning, RAVENOL Director of Motor Sport, who personally supervised the final assembly of the tin in the Metrodom, ascribes particular significance to the new advertising platform: “The construction and placement of such an oversize oil tin is also a special event for us; one which highlights the connection of the RAVENOL brand to motor sport in general, and particularly to the Hockenheimring. I know how much organisational and physical effort has gone into this and would like to express my thanks and appreciation to all companies and persons who have been involved.”

“What started out as an unimaginable - in the truest sense of the word - project, has now become an impressive reality: one of the largest GRP advertising structures in the world - and all that through manual labour. After we had followed the individual building and construction sections for months, the day when the tin was anchored in its final position in the Motordrom was marked by excitement and not least joy,” said Jorn Teske, Head of Marketing of Hockenheim-Ring GmbH.

Video:

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About RAVENOL

The Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH company was founded in Werther/Westfalen in 1946, and develops, produces and sells high-quality lubricants under the brand name RAVENOL. Customers have a wide range of lubricants and care products to choose from: Passenger car and truck engine oils, transmission oils for automatic and manual gearboxes and drive axles, oils for agricultural vehicles, hydraulic oils, industrial oils, specialities, greases, high-performance lubricants, car care products, detergents and winter protection chemicals. Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH is a global player. RAVENOL products are premium “Made in Germany” products and are recognised around the world as premium lubricants of the highest quality, offering the highest product reliability and service. RAVENOL is present in close to 80 countries. More information can be found at: www.ravenol.de

About the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg

The multi functionality that the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg, which was opened in 1932, presents to it 700,000 visitors every year is a jewel of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. Formula 1, DTM and the drag-racing event NirOlympX, alongside many others, offer many top-class international motor sport races. But also open air concerts and festivals, such as Rock’N’Heim, and recreational sporting events, such as the BASF Firmencup, are just a few of the well-known events which take place at the world-famous racing track. Events take place here all year round: traffic safety training, testing by the automobile industry and top-class luxury driving experiences. There is much to experience at the Hockenheimring. The traditional circuit is booked up for more than 320 days of the year, and offers with its numerous possibilities and locations the perfect setting for all kinds of events. More information can be found at: www.hockenheimring.de