The Felss “Future Efficiency” innovation day.

The third Felss innovation day took place in Königsbach-Stein on October 11. The automotive industry has been in a state of constant change for years. Besides new drive concepts, digitization, and networking, this has an impact on many other exciting themes. What do these changes mean? The ambition of helping design the future efficiently! What does efficiency mean in the context of the transformation described? And how can the automotive and supplier industry actively come to grips with these changes? The Felss Group took up these and other questions at the “Future Efficiency” innovation day. The lectures of various experts from the automotive and supplier industry offered exciting insights. Among the high-quality speakers at this year’s innovation day were Prof. Matthias Putz, Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU), who spoke about Industry 4.0 and the related challenges for the automotive and supplier industry. Holger Richter from Schlegel und Partner GmbH spoke in his lecture about “challenges not only for automotive market researchers.” He made clear that, on the whole, it is flexibility and speed that are required to keep up in the industry and to also be able to adequately react to changes in times of uncertainty. Werner Maass, member of the management of the VDI Zentrum Ressourceneffizienz GmbH, presented various approaches for energy and material efficiency in mechanical and systems engineering and pointed out a wide range of funding possibilities for industrial operations through the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Industry (BMWi). Kevin Kritzer and Stefan Bott from Robert Bosch GmbH also reported on their experiences with the current challenges in the logistics segment. In the last lecture, Torsten-André Kunz, Head of Process Development of Felss Rotaform GmbH, spoke about existing challenges and opportunities at Felss. The day was concluded with a moderated panel discussion. The supporting program offered not only insights into current research and developments but also an opportunity for open and controversial discussions. One major theme was “Efficiency of Tomorrow,” for which the Felss Group presented its own innovations. For example, Felss Service gave a live demonstration on how machine malfunctions might be corrected via remote diagnosis in the future with the help of digital glasses with a camera – so-called smart glasses. The often complicated deployment of a Felss Service employee could often be avoided through the use of these special glasses. The Felss Group also presented the Felss Edge Device to visitors – another highly innovative product – and thus offered them the opportunity to experience Industry 4.0 live. This innovation enables the digital and smart networking of machines. All important machine, production, and component data can be recorded and saved in a high performance manner with this device. The processing power and intelligence of the Felss Edge Device enables real-time analyses, data filtering, and knowledge generation at the data source. This reduces the data volume for transfer to IoT platforms considerably. In addition to Felss Service and the Felss Edge Device, guests also had the chance to experience a live demonstration of the Tube⁺ process by a Felss employee. The Felss Rotaform works also presented their range of services, from the idea to the component in large series. Visitors were able also to become more familiar with the exhibited Aximus machine. The globally active Felss company group has produced machines for metal processing for the automotive industry and other sectors for many years and offers the most sophisticated component production. The company is not only advancing the linking of forming technology with Industry 4.0 but also continually improving existing processes. Dealing with trends and innovations is an integral element of the corporate culture and working method for Felss. That is reason enough to continue with this culture together with customers, partners, and industry experts at the Felss innovation day.