Science meets industrial processes

To ensure quality in the manufacturing process, the plastics processing industry uses a trick - the  so-called digital twin, which is being researched and taught at the University of Kassel. The "Digital Twin of Injection Molding (DIM)" project is now being funded by the state of Hesse with around 500,000 euros. Digital Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus praises: "The project is entirely in line with the innovation strategy "Strengthen strengths!" of the state of Hesse and contributes significantly to improving the digital transformation in Hessian SMEs.

The transfer measures will further expand the networking of the University of Kassel with the manufacturing industry in the field of industry  4.0, which will also strengthen the regional development of Kassel as a business location." DIM is a knowledge and technology transfer project at the sites of the Department of Plastics Engineering and Measurement and Control Technology at the University of Kassel. Half of the funding for the three-year project comes from the EU's ERDF funding program and 40  percent from the Distr@l funding program of the state of Hesse. The aim of the project at the University of Kassel is to strengthen the competitive position of small and medium-sized enterprises by enabling them to create digital twins of their production facilities. The models are to be used to calculate and adjust disturbances or influences on material parameters, such as injection speed or changing temperatures. Working with Digital Twins also makes it possible to reduce  waste in the production process and to use recyclates and biopolymers.

In addition to reducing energy and raw materials, the project thus also contributes to achieving climate targets by making production more CO2 neutral. The project managers and heads of the Measurement and Control Technology and  Plastics Technology departments,  Prof.  Dr.-Ing.  Andreas  Kroll  and  Prof.  Dr.-Ing.  Hans-Peter Heim, are delighted about the approved funding.   "Through the interdisciplinary joint project of the two departments, machine learning methods  in particular will be processed and transferred, and an injection molding machine demonstrator will be set up. We are grateful for the funding with Distr@l and EFRE funds, which will establish a new strategic collaboration," said Kroll. In addition to helping to increase the level of automation, the funding  from the state of Hesse also provides financial support for the transfer of knowledge and technology resulting from the research, as well as for the development of a digital education program related to injection molding processes.

"We want creative ideas to become solutions that can help make everyday life easier and better," emphasizes Digital Minister Sinemus.  The fact that small and medium-sized companies in particular want to embrace the digital transformation is also shown by  the  great  response  to  the  Distr@l support program.  "To date, more than 450 inquiries and almost 260  concepts  have already been received. Approved so far 39 projects with a total funding volume of over 10  million euros.  Currently  21 further projects with an approval volume of over 6 million euros are in the application process."

With the Distr@l funding program, the state of Hesse addresses applied research and development projects in the digital field. The target groups eligible to apply range from small and medium-sized enterprises to start-ups and  to  universities and research institutions. Funding is provided for individual and collaborative projects that significantly raise the state of the art in digital technology. The funding program is explicitly designed to be open to all topics and focuses on digital  application-related projects.

Press release of the Hessian Minister for Digital Strategy and Development. For more information, visit www.digitales.hessen.de.