Aachen becomes a center of excellence for optics production
Plastic optics manufactured at the Fraunhofer IPT Photo: Fraunhofer IPT
Aachen has a long tradition as a center for the production of high-precision optical components and systems. The researchers at the Fraunhofer IPT have therefore set themselves the goal of establishing a joint digitally and physically networked research infrastructure with their partners in the companies in order to investigate different manufacturing processes and process chains.
Digitalization and networking in optical manufacturing
One of the primary goals of the ACOP is to promote the digitalization and networking of processes for the production of high-precision optical components. The Aachen researchers are scrutinizing both the manufacturing processes for glass and plastic components and the technologies used.
By digitally linking the individual steps of the process chain – from simulation to replication and assembly of the optics to quality inspection using high-precision measurement technology – they can draw conclusions about improvements. In this way, production can be made faster and more cost-effective.
It is envisaged that appropriate IT technologies, data structures and interfaces will help to use information across processes, improve process understanding and thereby reduce lengthy iterations and errors. The researchers are focusing on developments in industry 4.0 such as the digital twin, data analytics methods and cloud-based services, which are still relatively untapped in the optical industry.
Well-known partners from various industries are on board
During the construction of the new optics center, the Fraunhofer IPT will initially cooperate with eleven companies from North Rhine-Westphalia. Aachen in particular is strongly represented. More than half of the partners come from the region: In addition to internationally established companies such as Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. and Limo Lissotschenko Mikrooptik GmbH, the Fraunhofer IPT has reached out to local
companies such as Innolite GmbH and Son-x GmbH and integrated them. The consortium is broadly based: Industries from automotive to medical technology are represented. The consortium is open to other interested companies, says Tobias Müller from the Fraunhofer IPT, who organizes and controls the development of the ACOP.
The first step towards the start of the cooperation is an opening event hosted by ACOP on December 2, 2019, to which representatives from politics and the media are invited in addition to the participating companies and partners of the Aachen optical research institutes.
Industry and Media representatives who would like to participate in the kick-off event can obtain accreditation from Helen Kolb (optics@ipt.fraunhofer.de) at the Fraunhofer IPT until November 15, 2019.
The Aachen Center for Optics Production, ACOP, is being set up as part of the “EverPro” project, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Dipl.-Ing. Tobias Müller
Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technologie IPT
Steinbachstr. 17
52074 Aachen
Telefon +49 241 8904-493
tobias.mueller@ipt.fraunhofer.de
https://www.ipt.fraunhofer.de/en/Press/Pressreleases/20191001-aachen-becomes-a-c…
Media Contact
All latest news from the category: Machine Engineering
Machine engineering is one of Germany’s key industries. The importance of this segment has led to the creation of new university degree programs in fields such as production and logistics, process engineering, vehicle/automotive engineering, production engineering and aerospace engineering among others.
innovations-report offers informative reports and articles covering technologies such as automation, motion, power train, energy, conveyor, plastics, lightweight construction, logistics/warehousing, measurement systems, machine tools and control engineering.
Newest articles
First-of-its-kind study uses remote sensing to monitor plastic debris in rivers and lakes
Remote sensing creates a cost-effective solution to monitoring plastic pollution. A first-of-its-kind study from researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities shows how remote sensing can help monitor and…
Laser-based artificial neuron mimics nerve cell functions at lightning speed
With a processing speed a billion times faster than nature, chip-based laser neuron could help advance AI tasks such as pattern recognition and sequence prediction. Researchers have developed a laser-based…
Optimising the processing of plastic waste
Just one look in the yellow bin reveals a colourful jumble of different types of plastic. However, the purer and more uniform plastic waste is, the easier it is to…