Fraunhofer Group for Production
Lead project for individualized mass production
To date, digital printing and laser processes have rarely been used in mass production to individualize products. However, this combination could be used to customize series products in a resource-saving and cost-efficient manner, right down to one-offs. The new Fraunhofer lighthouse project "Go Beyond 4.0" is tackling this challenge.
Producing small batches and one-offs under mass production conditions requires new manufacturing strategies. There is a great need for research and development in this area. To this end, six Fraunhofer Institutes have joined forces in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project "Go Beyond 4.0" under the leadership of the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS. It combines traditional manufacturing methods with future technologies and digital production processes.
The researchers are developing new strategies and process innovations based on three market-relevant application areas in the manufacturing domains of automotive engineering, aviation and lighting technology. For example, material-applying (printing) and material-removing (laser) digital modules are to be integrated into existing process chains as required.
Fraunhofer solution approach
Innovative integration of the digital production technologies printing and laser processes into existing, increasingly networked mass production environments.
Output of the project
Demonstration of mass production of customized products up to batch size 1 in three manufacturing domains
- automotive
- aviation
- lighting
using one example/demonstrator each: Smart Door, Smart Wing and Smart Luminaire.
Important cross-sectional topics
- Zero-defect production and inline quality assurance
- General product reliability concept
- General concept of assembly and connection technology for the integration of microsystem technology and electronics