Daily CSR

What links honeybees and ultrasound devices?
The answer is Michael Geng — beekeeper and engineer at Baker Hughes in Hürth, Germany.
Both bees and ultrasound rely on vibrations to perform essential tasks. At Baker Hughes’ Waygate Technologies, ultrasound testing and portable inspection systems use high-frequency sound waves to check infrastructure, components, and materials for hidden defects without causing damage.

Michael explains, “Our tools send out ultrasound at frequencies of a few megahertz. When the soundwaves hit a flaw inside the material, they bounce back, allowing us to detect it.” This technique is critical in industries that require reliable maintenance, from pipelines and EV batteries to train tracks and aircraft wings. Waygate’s portable non-destructive testing (NDT) technology is also widely applied in automotive, electronics, and additive manufacturing to assess the quality — and therefore the safety — of materials on site.

Bees, on the other hand, use vibroacoustic signals for communication. These signals, created by wing movements, body vibrations, or pressing against hive surfaces, correlate with hive activity and can even signal upcoming events such as swarming.

A Spark from Kindergarten
Michael’s journey into beekeeping began in 2017, when another parent at his daughters’ kindergarten introduced him to the practice. Inspired, he attended training, purchased two hives, and soon found himself deeply immersed in the hobby. Today, he maintains colonies in his garden and a friend’s nearby yard, producing enough honey to share with colleagues and neighbors.

Every year, he hosts a “Honey Happy Hour” at the Baker Hughes lab, giving coworkers the chance to sample and buy his harvest. He also keeps jars at his desk for anyone needing a quick pantry refill.

Engineering at Work, Beekeeping at Home
At Baker Hughes, Michael’s main responsibility is developing hardware, software, and circuit designs that advance Waygate’s NDT technology. These systems deliver data-driven insights that enhance quality control, support predictive maintenance, and reduce downtime across industries.

During his 24 years with the company, he has helped develop several major products, including the Krautkrämer USM100 portable flaw detector, which combines smartphone-like usability with precise inspection capabilities. Applications range from weld and corrosion testing to the inspection of composites in wind turbine blades and nuclear plants.

While his engineering is digitally advanced, honey production is a more hands-on process. His spring honey, flavored by apple, cherry blossoms, and rapeseed, has a caramel-like taste, while the summer harvest, sourced from Linden tree blossoms, is lighter and fresher. With help from his daughters, Paula and Lena, Michael sells honey, mead, and bee colonies locally under the label Efferener Bienenhonig. He also helps capture swarms for the community.

Sustainability Threads
Michael values beekeeping for the balance it brings to his life. “At work I sit behind a computer,” he says. “With bees, I’m outdoors, using my hands.” For him, engineering and beekeeping complement one another.

Both pursuits also contribute to sustainability. NDT prevents leaks and waste in pipelines, refineries, and steel production, helping industry operate efficiently and safely. Beekeeping, meanwhile, supports biodiversity and pollination at a time when many wild bee populations are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides.

Although managed honeybees are not endangered, their pollination benefits extend to gardens and farmland alike, helping safeguard food production while broader conservation efforts protect wild pollinators.

Building a Resilient Future
As industries face growing demands for safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility, NDT plays an ever-larger role in predictive maintenance and smarter operations. Michael’s dual passions — advancing inspection technology and caring for bees — reflect a consistent commitment to quality, resilience, and sustainability.

Whether analyzing ultrasonic signals or harvesting golden honey, he is shaping a future built on precision, care, and the power of vibrations.