Advanced Manufacturing
The Mechatronics Cluster (MC) pursues the Vision of introducing the metal and mechanical engineering industries to those trends that will shape the production of the future. This applies to the use of digital tools as well as new production processes, for example from the field of additive manufacturing.
After founding the ecoplus Mechatronics Cluster in Lower Austria in 2010, many measures that were taken dealt with new production methods and their automation. However, the more the decade progressed, the more mechatronics was confronted with what is now referred to as “digital transformation”. What does it mean to implement such approaches in concrete production processes in the industry? And what are the consequences for the organization of such a company or its business model? Can “Virtual & Augmented Reality” methods bring benefits to a medium-sized company? And do additive manufacturing processes (“3D printing”) question previously valid design paradigms? In order to answer such questions, the ecoplus Mechatronics Cluster bundles knowledge about the major technological and organizational trends and examines them for concrete economic advantages for the partner companies.
Numerous building blocks were developed:
- Various cooperation projects deal with new processes such as machine hammering and automated grinding.
- In the “Dynatool” project, cutting tools were equipped with sensors and the data collected was used for improved control of the process.
- In the “Next Reality” project, solutions from the areas of “Virtual Reality” and “Augmented Reality” were implemented in concrete industrial applications.
- In the “Enterprise 4.0” project, the transformation potential of digitization in terms of the organizational structure and business model was identified and a group of industrial companies were supported in the resulting change processes.
- A particular focus in recent years has been on additive manufacturing processes. The Mechatronics and Plastics Clusters began exploring the new design possibilities of 3D printing together.
- The Mechatronics Cluster then focused on the additive processing of metallic materials and, together with research partners, introduced the relevant processes into the Lower Austrian corporate landscape.
- As part of “AM4Industry”, a cooperation project of the Mechatronics Cluster, numerous companies were given the opportunity to try out additive manufacturing processes for specific applications.
- In the “Ad-Proc-Add” project that was based on this, the entire associated process chain was examined in detail: from the selection of the material and suitable printing processes to methods of finishing the workpiece surface.
The Mechatronics Cluster network in these areas is far-reaching: in the field of machining and additive manufacturing technologies it includes the IFT (Institute for Manufacturing Technology at the Vienna University of Technology), FOTEC GmbH (research subsidiary of the Wiener Neustadt University of Applied Sciences), the technology providers RHP and Rena Technologies as well as numerous international partners. In the field of digitization, the Mechatronics Cluster works regularly with the IMC FH Krems, the Institute of Management Science at TU Wien, FH St. Pölten and the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Many previous visions from the digital world have now been implemented in the operational practice of manufacturing companies. Some promises, on the other hand, have fizzled out because they could not provide the expected benefit. Distinguishing between the one and the other and being able to manage the transformation processes associated with new technological approaches remains an ongoing challenge for mechatronics.
Examples:
Impact-sXR Next Reality Project