Targeting Material and Resource-efficient Technologies

AMARETO: 5,5 million euros for a joint research project of the three Saxon Universities of Technology and the Fraunhofer IWU

The Saxon Ministry of Science and the Arts (SMWK) funds the project “Sächsische Allianz für MAterial- und RessourcenEffiziente TechnOlogien – AMARETO” with the aid of the EU structural fond EFRE with an amount of 5,5 million euros from 2017 until 2020. Saxon´s Minister for Higher Education, Research and the Arts, Dr. Eva-Maria Stange presented the funding commitments to the respective project managers of the Chemnitz University of Technology, the Technische Universität Dresden, the Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU) on January 30, 2017, in Dresden. The funds are a four-year start-up funding for the joint research plans, additionally completed and strengthened with acquisitions of third-party funds and integration of the industry.

The independent research activities of the three Saxon universities and of the Fraunhofer Institute IWU in the fields of material research, process design, and production technology are by means of this alliance lifted to a higher level. Main focus of the project is the development of intelligent connections between efficient material design, load-suitable material system and component design and optimized production technologies for the mechanical engineering, automotive and aerospace industry. Aided by continuous data models and joint interfaces, the cooperation includes already in the material development the favored product properties and resource-friendly manufacturing processes. The national cooperation of the research partners seeks to achieve a reduction in the production time – starting from the material selection up to serial production. In times of product individualization in the international competition it is especially important to increase the effectivity by optimization of new products and processes.

Researchers of the TU Dresden develop multi-component materials and potential production technologies (Smart Design). The colleagues at the TU Freiberg work on metal and hard materials that are part of the multi-component materials or necessary for the production technologies (Smart Material). And the researchers of the Chemnitz University of Technology and the Fraunhofer IWU develop data-driven production processes based on visualization and simulations (Smart Production).

Minister Stange: “The researchers of the different universities and institutes set national and international standards in the development of new materials and their respective production technologies. It is great that these experts join forces and push forward in their interdisciplinary and collaborative research.” This is the case with AMARETO.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Putz from the Institute for Machine Tools and Production Processes at the Chemnitz University of Technology and institute director of the Fraunhofer IWU explains: “In Chemnitz the researchers of the Chemnitz University of Technology and of the Fraunhofer Institute develop a self-optimizing, intelligent production technology with the goal to increase the process stability and quality despite growing flexibility. Furthermore, a simulation base that works across all locations and subjects is erected in cooperation with the researchers in Dresden and Freiberg. It is supported by novel visualization and simulation techniques such as the Virtual-Reality-Technology and allows the transfer of simulation results of different disciplines. All relevant process and simulation data is connected in the new research exchange as a general model that exists parallel to the real component and is also accessible as a virtual twin. “

“The at the TU Dresden pursued continuous digitalization of complex development processes in the high-technology-sector by means of latest simulation methods and chains as well as the Know-How-Transfer are key elements in the strengthening of regional small and medium-sized-businesses for the participation in the complete value chain”, says Prof. Dr. Maik Gude from the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology at the TU Dresden.

Prof. Dr. David Rafja from the Institute of Materials Science at the TU Freiberg adds:” An efficient development of materials for complex products is often connected to many and often contradictory demands on the material properties. The materials have to have on the one hand favored final properties for the respective application, on the other hand, they have to be recyclable and workable. Finding answers to such a question complex is only possible with a direct and intensive exchange between specialists of complementary economic and technology fields. The AMARETO project is an ideal platform for social exchange. The close cooperation of the three locations is a requirement for a targeted, resource-efficient and fast development of innovative products especially in small-scale-series. In the course of the project the researchers from Chemnitz , Dresden and Freiberg will clarify which data is necessary and relevant for general models and simulations and in which way they have to be transferred.”

(Source: Press release SMWK)

Matthias Fejes
07.02.2017

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