INFO – Interdisciplinary research on energy optimisation in manufacturing companies

For decades, productivity was the central goal of industrial manufacturing. However, with the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and EU Directive 2006/32/EC, a new paradigm came to the fore: the sustainable improvement of energy efficiency. Since then, reducing CO₂ emissions and energy consumption in production has become increasingly important.

INFO is establishing an interdisciplinary field of research that combines expertise from energy technology, mechanical engineering, automation and manufacturing technology. The aim is to develop integrated approaches for the energy-efficient optimisation of production processes and hall infrastructures – from the micro to the macro level.

Why INFO?

• Building on existing optimisation strategies for machining (tool wear, operating resources, material use)
• Development of a holistic simulation model for energy assessment and process optimisation
• Combination of scientific modelling and industrial feasibility
• Application in real production environments through close cooperation with industry partners.

Project

INFO is divided into five consecutive project phases:

analysis, modelling, coupled modelling, optimisation and implementation. These phases systematically cover four levels of analysis: process, machine, production system and building.

Key components:

• Actual analysis at industrial partners to collect real operating data
• Simulation and modelling for each level using specific software tools
• Coupling of models for integrated representation of energy and resource flows
• Derivation and evaluation of optimisation measures (target state)
• Implementation in the test field and at industrial partners

A special feature of the project is its cross-level approach: input values from the lower level serve as input values for the next higher level. This creates a consistent overall system that maps all key influencing factors.

The result is an integrated simulation of two real production halls, which culminates in a master plan (blueprint) for an optimised hall model. This model links the three dimensions of energy, buildings and manufacturing in a comprehensive, practical solution.

Vision

INFO stands for a new standard in energy-optimised production. The combination of scientifically sound modelling and industrial application creates a transferable tool for manufacturing companies. The simulation environment enables fact-based decisions along the value chain, thereby supporting the decarbonisation of industrial processes and the development of resilient, energy-efficient production sites.