Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation
| Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA |
|
|---|---|
| Category: | research Institute |
| Carrier: | Fraunhofer Society |
| Legal form of the carrier: | Registered association |
| Seat of the wearer: | Munich |
| Facility location: | Stuttgart |
| Branch offices: | Vienna, Bayreuth, Mannheim, Reutlingen and Schweinfurt |
| Type of research: | Applied research |
| Subjects: | Engineering |
| Areas of expertise: | Structural science |
| Basic funding: | Federal government (90%), states (10%) |
| Management: | Alexander Sauer , Thomas Bauernhansl |
| Employee: | 593 |
| Homepage: | www.ipa.fraunhofer.de |
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (Fraunhofer IPA) is an institution of the Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research e. V. (FhG) and has its seat in Stuttgart . Its activities can be assigned to applied research and development in the fields of engineering , computer science , natural sciences and structural sciences.
history
The story goes back to a private institute owned by Carl Martin Dolezalek , who founded the Institute for Industrial Manufacturing and Factory Management (IFF) at the University of Stuttgart in 1955 .
In December 1958, at the suggestion of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics , Dolezalek contacted the Fraunhofer Society in Munich in order to make university research more practical and at the same time be able to work more closely with industry. The cooperation with the Munich Society for Applied Research began with administrative assistance on July 1, 1959. This date is regarded as the founding date of the Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. In 1971 the IPA was fully integrated into the Fraunhofer Society and has since been called Fraunhofer- Institute for Production Engineering and Automation IPA.
After Dolezalek's retirement , Hans-Jürgen Warnecke took over the management of the IPA and the IFF in January 1971 . Warnecke expanded the institute in the 1970s into the most important and largest individual institute of the Fraunhofer Society. In the years that followed, individual departments were outsourced to create additional Fraunhofer institutes. The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK emerged in 1978 from the Berlin department of the IPA founded in 1976 .
An increasing number of projects with hardware character led to the establishment of the Fraunhofer technology development group TEG in Stuttgart in 1980 . One year later, in 1981, the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering and Organization IAO emerged from the Department of Industrial Engineering at the IPA .
Warnecke's successor was Rolf Dieter Schraft in 1993 . From 1995 to 2014 there were always two institute directors at the head of the IPA. Schraft held the position from 1993 to 2007, Engelbert Westkämper from 1995 to 2011. Alexander Verl replaced Schraft in 2007 and held the position until 2014. Since then, Thomas Bauernhansl , who took over the management of the institute with Verl in 2011, has been head of Fraunhofer IPA. Alexander Sauer joined the management team at Fraunhofer IPA on January 1, 2020 .
Research and Development
The Fraunhofer IPA researches the areas of production organization (1), surface technology (2), automation (3) and process technology (4). These overarching topics are dealt with by 15 specialist departments. The Fraunhofer IPA ensures its proximity to industry organizationally in a so-called matrix structure with six business areas: automotive (1), mechanical and plant engineering (2), electronics and microsystem technology (3), energy (4), medical and biotechnology (5) and process industry ( 6). The business areas act as contact persons for the industry and process their respective research and development needs in all departments of the Fraunhofer IPA that are necessary for this. This interdisciplinary depth of networking aims to ensure that technological developments are used in various industries and that they benefit from the new developments. 3D printing is used, for example, in medical technology for prostheses, in vehicle or aircraft construction for lightweight construction. The diversity of the research areas as well as its organizational structure underline the heterogeneous research and development spectrum of the Fraunhofer IPA.
The business areas
Automotive
The "Automotive" business area is aimed at the automotive (supplier) industry. It combines the requirements of the industry with the competencies of the individual specialist departments. Research work is carried out, for example, in the areas of lightweight construction and electromobility.
Mechanical and plant engineering
The "Mechanical and Plant Engineering" business area develops individual processes and procedures for machines, plants or components and implements them in terms of production technology. The portfolio also includes designing and optimizing the factory and production organization.
Electronics and microsystem technology
A large number of innovative high-tech products can only be realized thanks to electronic systems and microsystem technology. The “Electronics and Microsystem Technology” business area provides support from the basics to the finished end application in production technology and is not infrequently an enabler for the manufacture of new types of components.
energy
The “Energy” business field implements sustainable production and automation solutions for the topics of storage for electrical energy, energy efficiency, solar energy and wind energy. Since the area bundles the core competencies of the individual specialist departments, innovative and interdisciplinary developments can be provided for the challenges of the energy transition. The focus is on manufacturing companies.
Medical and biotechnology
The "Medical and Biotechnology" business area deals with the three main topics of medical technology, biotech & pharmaceuticals and diagnostics & intervention in the clinic. The focus is on the areas of quality & regulatory affairs, purity in the life science industries, and production and process optimization. The interdisciplinary team has the best prerequisites for developing cross-industry solutions.
Process industry
The "Process Industry" business area deals with production steps that are carried out in direct succession. In contrast to the general cargo industry, flowing instead of solid materials are used here. The focus is on the chemical industry. Sub-areas include surface technology and cleanliness technology. It is important to the IPA scientists to address not only large corporations but also SMEs with the “Process Industry” business area.
The specialist departments
The 15 specialist departments research the areas of production organization, surface technology, automation and process technology.
Sustainable production and quality
The “Sustainable Production and Quality” department investigates how companies can operate sustainably. The focus is on the development and optimization of resource-saving and energy-efficient production processes, products or technologies. Industrial and research projects address the entire product life cycle, but also specific product life phases.
Industrial energy systems
This department deals with the identification of efficiency and flexibility potentials in production facilities and develops tailor-made concepts for operational energy management systems.
Factory planning and production management
The services of the “Factory Planning and Production Management” department range from the planning of factory premises to the strategic alignment of production and its optimization during ongoing operations to the value-based design of products and the associated manufacturing and assembly processes.
Corporate strategy and development
The core task of this department, which was founded in January 2019, is to take a holistic view of companies. In addition to the development of strategic programs, for example for digital company transformation, the focus is on the methodical further development of the topics of innovative business models, business ecosystems and smart organization.
DigITools - digital tools in production
The research and development focus of the DigITools competence center is on IT architectures, data and application services and implementation methods for digital production. She supports companies in the development and integration of digital tools into production. In addition to consulting and developing solutions for all aspects of computer and communication infrastructures, the services also include digitization and integration solutions such as the Manufacturing Service Bus (MSB) for system and data integration.
Robot and assistance systems
The “Robot and Assistance Systems” department designs robot and automation solutions for industrial applications and for the service sector. Key technologies are developed and implemented in innovative industrial robots, service robots and intelligent machines. The service portfolio includes market and feasibility studies, kinematic simulation, prototype development and optimization.
Pure and micro production
The “Pure and Micro Production” department deals with manufacturing issues relating to miniaturized and contamination-critical production processes. The field of work extends from the conception phase through implementation to the commissioning of systems or entire production lines. This includes research and development services in the areas of purity technology, precision assembly and application technology, digital printing technology as well as design and control.
Image and signal processing
The "Image and Signal Processing" department deals with the technological fields of image processing, digital signal analysis, additive manufacturing and test systems. The scientists carry out basic methodological research and implement application and system solutions. Possible areas of application are in the areas of measurement and testing technology, quality assurance and forecasting, generative manufacturing and printing technology and automation.
Biomechatronic systems
The “Biomechatronic Systems” department designs technical solutions for recording, controlling and generating movements for medical and ergonomic applications. An interdisciplinary team generates new solutions in international cooperation and close links with industry. In the area of ergonomics, individual concepts for actively and passively driven exoskeletons to relieve the body are developed.
Laboratory automation and bioproduction technology
The "Laboratory Automation and Bioproduction Technology" department specializes in the development of automation solutions for devices and systems in the laboratory environment. This includes high-throughput processes in large-scale screenings or reproducible, quality-assured and economical processes in the life sciences. Developments are accompanied as an innovative complete solution from the concept to the validated process.
Coating system and painting technology
Starting with the development of paint raw materials and paints through paint application to the development, planning and simulation of production-oriented coating processes and systems and their implementation, this institute's range of services is unique in Europe.
Electroplating
In order to use galvanic processes, the materials must have precise properties as well as a certain geometry. In addition, reliable and reproducible application technologies are required. The "Electroplating" department works on this topic from the development of new coating materials and the associated process chains to damage analysis and the implementation of industrial plant technology.
Functional materials
The “Functional Materials” department operates in the process engineering segment for new materials and designs production technology solutions for material innovations. All process and market-relevant aspects along the entire value chain are researched. One of the most important goals of the task area is to significantly shorten product development times.
Additive manufacturing
The scientists in this department develop, combine and optimize additive manufacturing processes. In doing so, they concentrate on plastics and new materials that cannot yet be processed. The focus is always on developing new applications and improving existing ones with the help of additive manufacturing.
Lightweight technologies
The developments in the “Lightweight Technologies” department aim to increase energy and resource efficiency in companies with the help of lightweight materials and lightweight construction concepts. In addition to a positive cost development, the innovations help to improve the technological properties of machines and systems as well as consumer, durable and capital goods.
Branch offices
Bayreuth project group
The Fraunhofer project group on process innovation at the University of Bayreuth has been working mainly for companies in the eastern Bavarian region since 2006. The starting point is the realization that process innovation has resulted in measurable productivity improvements in companies. In addition to large companies, the service portfolio of the Bayreuth project group is also aimed at small and medium-sized companies.
Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH, Vienna
Fraunhofer Austria Research was founded in 2004 as a branch of the Fraunhofer IPA. Today the institution is an independent research organization with a regional focus on Austria and the countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Project group PAMB, Mannheim
The project group at the Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg was set up by the state of Baden-Württemberg and the Fraunhofer Society in spring 2011 in order to develop automation potential in medicine and biotechnology. It is the first known institution with this focus that researches in the field of automation and offers development services directly in a clinical-university environment. The head of the project group, Jan Stallkamp , holds the chair for automation in medicine and biotechnology at the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University.
Reutlingen Center Industry 4.0
The Reutlinger Zentrum Industrie 4.0 (RZI 4.0) is a research and transfer center for medium-sized companies in Baden-Württemberg when it comes to the development and implementation of Industrie 4.0 concepts and digitization. The research and development environment "Werk150" serves as an exemplary production company. With a virtual three-dimensional development environment, additive manufacturing processes, modular assembly systems, innovative conveyor technology, collaborative robots and visual assistance systems as well as state-of-the-art information and communication technologies, scientific and industrial tasks can be solved and tested. This makes it possible to set up feasible and realistic Industry 4.0 concepts in the form of demonstrators, to test them and then to apply them in companies. The RZI 4.0 is run in cooperation with the ESB Business School at Reutlingen University and financed by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics, Labor and Housing .
i-factory Schweinfurt
The i-factory ( i in English for information technology ) in Schweinfurt is a digital factory currently being planned (2020) as a research and transfer center for large-scale industry and medium-sized companies in the Schweinfurt region. In 2019, the Fraunhofer IPA prepared a requirements analysis and a concept for the Industry 4.0 application center. The i-factory is being built on the i-Campus Schweinfurt of the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (FHWS), whose Schweinfurt department specializes in MINT subjects . The new branch of the Fraunhofer IPA has already been provisionally set up in an existing building on the i-Campus . The i-factory should become a showcase for Industry 4.0, make the topic understandable, enable the training and further education of specialists and employees in a real environment, give companies practical and innovative support in digitization processes , network companies with each other but also with research institutions and start-ups with reference to Industry 4.0. Ten companies have already shown specific interest. As part of the i-factory concept, the FHWS is also establishing the nationwide first degree in Roboting on the i-Campus .
Cooperations
The Fraunhofer IPA is a leading member of the Fraunhofer Group for Production. Several Fraunhofer institutes have joined forces to form this group with the aim of jointly conducting production-oriented research and development. Under the strategic model of "integrative production", the association works on the topics of "product development" (1), "development of manufacturing technologies, systems and production processes" (2), "organization of production" (3) and "goods distribution and return" (4) .
In the university area, there are two collaborations with the University of Stuttgart , with the Institute for Industrial Manufacturing and Factory Operation (IFF) and the Institute for Control Technology for Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units (ISW), which cover the basic research needs of the Fraunhofer IPA and through the double function of the institute director (at the same time Head of the university institute).
In addition, the Fraunhofer IPA is a cooperation partner in several international project and competence centers, which German companies abroad as well as national companies on site are available as contacts. These include the Fraunhofer Project Center for Production Management and Information Technology (PMI) in Budapest, Hungary and the Fraunhofer Office for Process Engineering of Functional Materials and Robotics OPER in Osaka, Japan. The Fraunhofer IPA has entered into a cooperation with Jiaotong University in Shanghai, China, the aim of which is to implement projects in the research areas of digital transformation and artificial intelligence together with industrial partners in the so-called “Project Center for Smart Manufacturing” .
The institute is also a member of the Fraunhofer Vision Alliance , an amalgamation of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft institutions on the subject of image processing and machine vision .
Infrastructure
593 scientific employees are employed at the institute, who belong to a wide variety of engineering disciplines. There are also 318 research assistants and 43 employees at the IFF.
The operating budget without investments by Fraunhofer IPA was 72 million euros in the 2019 financial year, of which 29 million euros were business income. Thomas Bauernhansl has been head of Fraunhofer IPA since September 2011 . Bauernhansl is also a professor and director of the IFF at the University of Stuttgart. Alexander Sauer joined the management team at Fraunhofer IPA on January 1, 2020.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ SW1.NEWS: City of the Future: i-factory for Schweinfurt as the engine of future economic development, February 28, 2019. Accessed May 31, 2020 .
- ^ Economy in Main Franconia. Journal of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Würzburg-Schweinfurt: The "i-Dreiklang" of the FHWS , March 2014, p. 28 f.
- ↑ mainpost.de: The i-Factory should go into operation in 2020 - with Fraunhofer, July 2, 2019. Accessed on May 31, 2020 .
- ↑ Jörg-Dieter Walz, Fred Nemitz, Birgit Spaeth, Ramona Hönl, Hannes Weik: Annual Report 2017 . Ed .: Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research e. V., Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. Stuttgart 2018, p. 11 .
- ↑ Data and facts - Fraunhofer IPA. Retrieved August 2, 2018 .
Coordinates: 48 ° 44 '27.56 " N , 9 ° 5' 48.89" O