More and more varieties of automotive models are penetrating the market, product lifespans are getting shorter, and energy costs are soaring. Above all, the protracted ramp-up time in auto body assembly are causing problems for manufacturers: They have to adapt production systems to each of the new parts and assemblies, which is highly time-intensive.Fraunhofer researchers are working on reducing the ramp-up times in order to ensure a faster and more efficient production process.
The cooperative research environment “ARENA2036” develops competitive production models for the next generation of automobiles. Whereas today’s automobiles are manufactured in sync with the production line, tomorrow’s manufacturing systems will be decoupled, fully-flexible and highly-integrated.
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, the University of Stuttgart and also representatives from companies, such as Daimler and Bosch, are working on new methods for producing and assembling lightweight vehicle structures as well as evaluating their suitability for use in practice. The environment also serves as a motor for promoting young talent, vocational training and equal opportunities.
The Green Car Body Technologies Innovation Alliance is a technology-related production initiative on the part of automobile manufacturers, suppliers and outfitters, the steel industry and the three Fraunhofer production technology Institutes tasked with researching efficient and sustainable production processes for car bodies.
The work at the "Fraunhofer Project Centre Wolfsburg" concentrates on the three major topics: "Textile manufacturing chain", "Hybrid materials with metallic matrix" and "Components for electric vehicles".
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft