Succeeding with integrative production technologies

Competitive production engineering is particularly important for high-wage countries like Germany. Working within the Cluster, scientists and researchers from Aachen contribute in various ways to ensuring that manufacturing, and thus jobs, remain in these countries. Products that address markets with a large number of customers are particularly relevant in economic terms. In particular, the researchers examine aspects of individualising, virtualising, hybridisation and self-optimising the production process. The Cluster enables companies from Germany and Europe to recognise where they have to create competence in order to succeed in a high-wage location. The aim is to enable small and mediumsized enterprises, in particular, to act much more efficiently and to conserve resources. The participating institutions include: * Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) * Chair of Machine Tools at the WZL * Chair of Production Engineering at the WZL * Chair of Manufacturing Technology at the WZL * Chair of Metrology and Quality Management at the WZL * Chair of Assembly Technology at the WZL * Institute for Scientific Computing (SC) * Center for Computing and Communication of RWTH Aachen (RZ) * Department of Ferrous Metallurgy (IEHK) * Surface Engineering Institute (IOT) * Institute for Production Technology (IPT) * Foundry Institute (GI) * ACCESS e.V. * Institute for Textil Technology (ITA) * Chair of rubber Technology (LFK) * Centre for Learning and Knowledge Management (Institute) / Chair of Computer Science in Mechanical Engineering (ZLW/IMA) * Institute of Cybernetics and Engineering Education e.V. (Ifu) * Institute of Metal Forming (IBF) * Chair of Laser Technology (LLT) * Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) * Chair of Technology of Optical Systems (TOS) * Lectureship and Research Field of Nonlinear Dynamics of Laser Processing (NLD) * Institute of Plastics Processing e.V. (IKV) * Welding and Joining Institute (ISF) * Chair and Institute of Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics (IAW) * Research Institute for Operations Management (FIR) * Chair for Computational Analysis of Technical Systems (CATS) * Industry Partners: BMW, Phoenix Contact, RKW, Kugler, Freudenberg, Evonik Röhm, Grohno Guss, BRAUN Aesculap, Concept Laser, Carl-Zeiss AG, DALLI-WERKE, TRUMPF, EADS, Daimler AG, Siemens AG Automation and Drives, Vorwerk Elektrowerke, CEROBEAR, OKE Group GmbH, Döllken Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen GmbH, SIGMA Engineering GmbH, Otto Junker Edelstahlgießerei GmbH, Europipe GmbH, Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech GmbH, Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH, MAGMA, ESI, Georgsmarienhütte, Deutsche Edelstahlwerke. Dirostahl, Johann Hay GmbH & Co KG, ALD, Winergy, ThyssenKrupp Steel AG Division Industrie Profit Center Grobblech, Schott AG, EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems, Festo, Dörries Scharmann Technologie GmbH, Chiron Werke GmbH, Lean Management Institut, VW Werkzeugbau Braunschweig, Alfred H. Schütte Vertriebsgesellschaft GmbH