Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA

With its “Smart System Optimization“, Fraunhofer IPA has developed a tool that identifies errors in interlinked manufacturing systems and shows their root causes. In order to do this, high-performance machine control connectors and external sensors such as smart cameras record relevant process characteristics.

The robot that engineers at Fraunhofer IPA are currently examining in their research cleanroom has traveled a long way: a few days ago, it was sent by air freight from Korea.

The Orthopedic University Hospital Heidelberg and Fraunhofer IPA have expanded their long-standing research partnership by jointly founding a competence center.

A four-person research team headed up by Kai Pfeiffer from the Robot and Assistive Systems Department at Fraunhofer IPA has developed a cloud-based navigation technology. It increases the reliability, flexibility and efficiency of driverless transport systems (DTS). At the same time, the new approach facilitates versatile production and provides production planners with valuable data on what are known as digital shadows.

Bionics for gripping: Nature provided key inspiration in the development the new shape-adaptive forceps. The tips gently adapt to the surface, distribute pressure evenly and ensure that surfaces are not damaged. An ideal tool for biologic research and surgery.

Researchers at Fraunhofer IPA have developed a new process that combines 3D printing and casting. In additive freeform casting (AFFC), first a shell of the part is manufactured using FLM printing, then this shell is filled with a two-component resin. This saves time, increases stability of the part and allows new materials to be printed.

Cars, furniture, electronic enclosures – all sorts of things are painted. However, the usual paint drying processes have attracted criticism on account of high energy consumption. A new refined system reduces energy requirements, sustainably protects the environment and drastically shortens cycle times.

At the Fraunhofer IPA booth No. 421 in Hall A4, the four cornerstones of Industrie 4.0 – production, product, IT and human – can be experienced in different ways within the general context of a digitized industrial world.

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