Projects at a glance – Research and Development for Industry

In the “DIAMETER” project, we at Fraunhofer IPT are developing hybrid manufacturing systems in metal processing to foster a circular economy. By integrating additive manufacturing with milling technology, we achieve enhanced material efficiency, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and supporting local production. This approach not only increases design flexibility but also enhances the sustainability of products.

The “RauPE - Robust automated production of therapeutically applicable extracellular vesicles” project aims to develop an expansion platform based on a membrane stirrer bioreactor for the cost-effective production of stem cell based therapies in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The “FL4AI” project aims to automatically measure tool wear in the cutting industry directly in the machine. The ideal time for a tool change is to be determined using a high-resolution camera system and artificial intelligence (AI) in order to reduce costs and quality defects. To do this, the AI model is trained decentrally using federated learning to ensure that the companies maintain data sovereignty.

The project “Cyber Security for Flexible and Interconnected Industry (CSII)” aims to support industrial companies – in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – in complying with the NIS2 directive, the EU Machinery Directive or the CRA by developing an IT/OT test laboratory at the 5G-Industry Campus Europe in Aachen.

Production quality and control are increasingly being supported by AI systems in companies. To ensure that the benefits of AI can also be used in highly regulated markets such as the pharmaceutical industry, the “Qua²ntum” research project aims to enable the use of AI systems for quality assurance through a quality management system.

In the “FL.IN.NRW” project, we are developing a federated learning platform that enables companies to use the advantages of AI for their quality control in cutting while at the same time ensuring the data protection of their sensitive production data.

In the “H2-StrukTank” research project, researchers are developing a new tape winding process for long, thin pressure tanks. The special geometry of the pressure tank is intended for use in aircraft and fulfills a dual function: In addition to storing hydrogen, the pressure tank is used as a load-bearing element in the aircraft wing. To test the manufacturing process for the new pressure tanks, the research team is building a winding machine at the Fraunhofer IPT.

In the research project "LEDA – Extending the service life of railway wheels through wire-based metal deposition," the Fraunhofer IPT is developing an innovative process chain for the repair of railway wheels together with project partners. Since it uses additive manufacturing technologies selectively, this process chain is significantly more economically and ecologically efficient than conventional methods.

The goal of the joint project "HyAMAPU" is to develop a process chain for the efficient production of a "plug and play" combustion chamber for the retrofitting of existing auxiliary power units (APU) for 100% hydrogen combustion. The additive Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process is used to manufacture the MMX combustor.