Press Releases

Processes for the cost-effective production of micro- and nanostructured surfaces from polymer material are in great demand for the industrial mass production of functional films and molded components. Existing injection molding and roll-to-roll processes often cannot yet achieve the required throughput and sufficiently high reproducibility for many promising product ideas. The ninth international conference "Polymer Replication on Nanoscale" (PRN), which will take place in Aachen on June 1 and 2, 2023, will therefore focus on processes for more efficient production of functional nanostructured surfaces and present possible solutions.

In early December members of the research community "International Center for Networked, Adaptive Production ICNAP" gathered in Aachen for the Annual Meeting. As a result of the two-day meeting, the participants chose five new research topics and participated in an intensive professional and personal exchange about the research work of the past year.

Speed or accuracy? As far as COVID-19 tests go, this was the choice you had to make. In the future, this dilemma could be a thing of the past. The Pathogen Analyzer combines the advantages of PCR testing and rapid antigen testing – it provides a reliable result after only 20 to 40 minutes. In not too long, this assay will be able to simultaneously detect up to 11 other pathogens. A demonstrator of the system will be exhibited at the MEDICA trade fair in Düsseldorf from November 14 to 17, 2022 (Hall 3, Booth E74/F74).

Part distortion is a major cost factor in the production of metallic parts, especially in the case of large and thin-walled workpieces that play an important role in lightweight design or in aerospace. The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen, together with partners, has now successfully developed a system for reducing part distortion caused by residual stresses: With model-based process design and a new type of clamping system, companies will be able to significantly reduce part distortion during milling in the future.

Smart sensors that are wirelessly attached to the component, improve the understanding and control of production processes so that processes can be flexibly monitored and adaptively controlled. What sounds like a far-off vision of the future is already being implemented by the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen, Germany: Together with seven industrial partners, the researchers have designed an intelligent and flexible process control system that can process large amounts of data and transmit it almost instantaneously using 5G and cloud technology.

How can existing production processes be redesigned and optimized by using digital methods? When is it worthwhile for companies to intervene in such processes and change them using digital technologies? The "International Center for Networked, Adaptive Production ICNAP", a consortium of three Fraunhofer Institutes from Aachen, presents current research results on digitalization in industry in a recently published study report. The report summarizes practical research on the use of artificial intelligence in production, machine-integrated real-time communication based on 5G networks and the monetization of industrial data; and is now available for free download.

In order to achieve the urgently needed climate neutrality in industry and the socienty as quickly as possible, energy requirements must be reduced and resources used more efficiently than before. Many industrial manufacturing processes will have to change significantly to achieve this. In the "R2R NET" network, 20 European partners from industry and research are further developing roll-to-roll systems and processes for their rapid use in production. On September 21, 2022, the partners will present current developments, success stories and the latest generation of production equipment at a workshop. Interested companies and research institutions can register now.

5G already holds enormous advantages for the manufacturing industry, as process sequences can be monitored or mobile robots controlled in real time. But the process industry could also benefit from the new mobile technology: smart sensors can be used to monitor processing operations and predict the probability of component failure. To make the advantages of 5G for the process industry visible, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT from Aachen is installing and hosting a 5G mobile system for the first time at Achema, the leading trade fair for the process industry. The Aachen-based scientists are using a newly developed prototype to illustrate how the status of a pumping system can be monitored in real time. The prototype can be viewed at Achema in Frankfurt from August 22 to 26, 2022, at 5G-ACIA in Hall 11, Booth E3.

At ACHEMA, the world-leading trade show for the process industry, a live private 5G network setup will be showcased at the booth of the 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA). The private 5G network is set up in collaboration with Fraunhofer IPT and Ericsson. The live private 5G network and the live exhibitions from various 5G-ACIA members, including AI-Link, Bosch, Ericsson, Fraunhofer IPT, HMS Networks, Keysight, Phoenix Contact and Qualcomm, can be viewed at ACHEMA in Frankfurt, Germany, from August 22 to 26 at the 5G-ACIA booth in Hall 11, Booth E3.

Digital networking of machines and systems offers enormous opportunities to make production chains more efficient, flexible and sustainable. However, small and medium-sized manufacturing companies are uncertain about which specific information technology solutions are suitable for their production environment and what benefits they actually obtain. The "International Center for Networked, Adaptive Production ICNAP", a consortium of three Fraunhofer Institutes in Aachen, is now providing a digital service portal for interested companies, offering them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the benefits of a digital toolbox for networked, adaptive production. As of now, services such as an NC data analysis or an assistance system for the targeted selection of machine learning algorithms can be tested free of charge.