JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #117 - November/December 2017 - 12

NEWS investments

Technology, DLR SG Institute
of Test and Simulation for Gas
Turbines. 33 tech-companies
or useful organizations like associations, cluster management
headquarters or developing projects with more than 300 employees are already working
within our Technology Centre
building. Especially pleasing is
the commercial establishment
of two first big building projects
("Q 40" and "Weitblick 1.7")
which will provide local supply. Functions like additional office space, conference facilities,
modern restaurants, food supply, hotel, kindergarden and fitness studio will make living and
working in the park really attractive.

A. T.: Establishment in the
Augsburg Innovation Park opens
many doors for businesses. The
Augsburg Innovation Park is
part of a multitude of regional
and national networks, such as:
Environmental Cluster Bavaria,
Competency Environmental
Centre KUMAS, Business
Incubator for Environmental
Technologies UTG, Bavarian
Mechatronics & Automation
Cluster, Carbon Composites
e.V., IT Network and Incubator
aitiRaum e.V. Furthermore, numerous world market and technology leaders are located in
the region of Augsburg, among
them: KUKA (robotics and automation), MAN (big diesel engines, turbomachinery), RENK
(special gearboxes, drive technology and test systems), Airbus
Helicopters, MT Aerospace,
Premium AEROTEC, SGL
Group, Fujitsu, GE Intelligent
Solutions, NCR and Siemens.
Just recently Faurecia announced that it is joining the
leading cluster MAI Carbon

of the Incorporated Society of
Carbon Composites based at
the Augsburg Innovation Park
in order to develop manufacturing processes capable of reaching automotive cycle times for
mass production of composite
parts for electro mobility.
The proximity of German premium OEMs and internationally recognized partners such
as the ITA Institute of Textile
Engineering Augsburg, the
Fraunhofer Institute IGCV,
the German Aerospace Centre
(DLR) or the University of
Augsburg is a unique opportunity for Faurecia to take the
lead in the mass production of
structural and semi-structural composite parts for the automotive industry. Also KUKA
and Fujitsu entered into a strategic alliance at the TZA. In 2016
they started research and development of a prototype for human-machine interaction. A
lightweight robot will assist in
the production of mainboards.
After the work in a test laboratory in the TZA they will continue with series production
at Fujitsu Augsburg - Europe's
most sophisticated computer factory. Both KUKA and
Fujitsu produce and develop at
the Augsburg location. KUKA
has developed into a worldwide
innovation leader in Industry
4.0 (IoT) in recent years. And
in June the aero structures supplier Premium AEROTEC has
expanded its production facilities for the long-haul aircraft
A350 XWB at its Augsburg
site. For this, the company extended the existing production
hangar located directly next to
the football arena (and close to
the Augsburg Innovation Park).
Now the company has put its
new, cutting-edge production

plants for CFC door frame
components into operation. In
terms of aerospace, Augsburg
has been linked to lightweight
construction for over 100 years.
What is the place
of composites in this device?

W. H.: Composites are one
of our four strategic technology sectors and in the last two
years we are recognizing, that
this technology is one of the
strongest growing sectors. And
we see very intensive collaborations with other sectors we are
addressing in our park in the area of automation, IoT, IT and
robotic process automation.
There are good chances for improvements in many products.
So we try to support this movement.
Are there particular incentives to
attract different structures, companies, technical centers...?

W. H.: Shure, we are trying to

open channels to financial incentives, for example to special
technology supporting funds.
But, sorry, there is no direct financial park incentive like some
suffering or low developed regions have to offer. Our benefit
is attractiveness of our region,
all the professionals, all the institutes and universities, the

The lightweight robot LBR iiwa
supports in the production of
mainboards. It works hand in hand
together with humans, without any
protective fence (© KUKA)

companies, the moderate living conditions and the superior living quality. And we do not
leave an international customer alone.
What are your mid-term goals
and what role should composites play in park development?

W. H.: Our goal is to create a

vital biotope for future technologies to speed up innovation in production companies.
Composites will be a very useful tool for more resource efficiency and power in many products and production machinery.
At the moment we see good
chances to develop these materials from special use to a wider range application. The key
to that positive development is
a geographic concentration of
synergetic complement of technologies.

Press conference in Augsburg. Christophe Schmitt, Executive Vice-President
of Faurecia Clean Mobility declares: «We are very proud to join the German
Carbon Network with a clear objective to make composite parts for mass
production vehicles in the early 2020s. Faurecia has the ambition to become
the leading player in sustainable mobility. We are doing this by expanding
our innovation ecosystem including academic, governmental and industrial
partners as well as start-ups.» (© Faurecia)

jec composites magazine / N°117 November - December 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #117 - November/December 2017