Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology
Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology

Body shop / Assembly / Disassembly

Assembly technology and robotics at Fraunhofer IWU

In the field of assembly technology, we are countering the increasing number of variants with innovative and economical techniques and technologies. A core concern of our research is therefore development of production systems with a high degree of flexibility and autonomy. With the new E³ Research Factory for Resource-Efficient Production, we are able to map key production units in car body production and analyze solutions, including those for the automotive industry of tomorrow, in their entirety and test them under realistic production conditions.

Our range of services includes

  • Sensitive robotics for complex assembly tasks
  • Systems for human-robot cooperation
  • Knowledge-based process control based on artificial intelligence
  • Flexible handling, fixture and joining technology
  • Application-specific and cost-optimized robot systems
  • Software for the intelligent automation of planning and development tasks and their optimization
  • Bionic lightweight construction of joining systems

Flexible and adaptable assembly systems for Industry 4.0

  • Cyber-physical systems based on the understanding of Industry 4.0
  • System solutions for systems as well as handling, fixture and joining technology
  • Application-specific and cost-optimized robot systems
  • Bionic lightweight construction

Robotics

  • Sensitive robotics and handling technology for complex assembly tasks
  • Human-machine cooperation
  • Situational in-process control and modular methods for application-specific human-robot system solutions

Artificial intelligence

  • Mastering complexity: planning, automation and optimization of design and process control on the basis of knowledge-based learning systems
  • Evaluation of operating resources and processes