c-factory (Networked Production)/Product Development/Plastics Technology

Location

This map shows the location of the c-factory, the Product Development Laboratory and the Plastics Technology Laboratory. From the main or south entrance, the c-factory is on the right or left of the wide, long corridor that runs through Building 4. You can reach the corridor by turning left from the main entrance and turning right after the two doors on the right or by turning left from the south entrance after the door on the left. The c-factory is located behind two doors at fourth position.
Location plan of the c-factory (Networked Production)/Product Development/Plastics Technology

Room 4.E.26

Phone: +49 9721 940-9926

Laboratory management

Name E-Mail Details
Prof. Dr. Sonja Hofauer
Contact Information

Prof. Dr. Sonja Hofauer

Technical University of Applied Sciences
Würzburg-Schweinfurt
FM
Room 4.E.64
Ignaz-Schön-Straße 11
97421 Schweinfurt

Phone +49 9721 940-8829
E-Mail sonja.hofauer[at]thws.de

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Prof. Dr. Daniel Jung
Contact Information

Prof. Dr. Daniel Jung

Technical University of Applied Sciences
Würzburg-Schweinfurt
FM
Room 4.E.65
Ignaz-Schön-Straße 11
97421 Schweinfurt

Phone +49 9721 940-8776
E-Mail daniel.jung[at]thws.de

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The laboratory

This video shows and explains in short steps the production of a model car in the c-factory. The first step shows how the vehicle can be configured by the customer via a website. The individual production steps of the vehicle are then shown: The milling of the chassis with robotised transfer of the raw material and the finished chassis, injection moulding of the driver's cab with subsequent marking with a QR code, 3D printing of the individual loading areas and the assembly of the vehicle components with the support of augmented reality technology. Towards the end of the video, you can see how the finished vehicle is checked for quality and function using two database-supported testing machines. The functional test is carried out on an inclined plane. With the QR code on the driver's cab, all steps can be tracked via internet.

The interlinking of production and state-of-the-art information and communication technology enables customised products according to individual customer requirements. Our use case is the first model project to implement Industry 4.0 dimensions in a hands-on scenario at the THWS. This project involves a small model pick-up truck that can be configured in almost any way and is then produced using various manufacturing processes. The individual machines are controlled by a transponder that enables the individual configurations to be assigned from the cloud. The recorded process data is stored in this cloud, which can later be retrieved via the QR code on the cab roof of the pickup.

Graphical representation of the seven Industry 4.0 categories in a spider web form. These categories are: Networking, Internet of Things, Flexible Production, Human-Robot Collaboration, Additive Manufacturing, Big Data and Augmented Reality.
Graphical representation of the seven Industry 4.0 categories (German)

Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 is described as the intelligent networking of people, machines and processes. However, networking is only one of many aspects. The Internet of Things not only enables information to be exchanged, but also communication between them.
The trend is towards the individualisation of products. This is ensured by flexible production. In the future, human-robot collaboration will enable tasks to be carried out jointly. Additive manufacturing enables parts to be produced not only individually, but also in geometric shapes that were previously impossible to create. Augmented reality brings the real world together with the virtual world, e.g. to simulate new products in a familiar environment. Big data deals with the management and interpretation of the data generated in each of these aspects.

The foundation stone of the c-factory was laid as part of a student project. The open architecture of the machines and the open data, database and CAD structures invite you to try them out.
Visit us and discuss the networking of machines, interfaces and systems with us!

More information

c-factory project web site (German)