On September 10, SmartFactory-KL invited guests to gain insights into the latest developments and the future of networked production under the motto "Industry 4.0 in application". Host Prof. Martin Ruskowski, CEO of SmartFactory-KL, welcomed the almost 80 guests with his keynote speech.

He was joined by Dr. Martin Nummrich, Head of Department at the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of Deutsche Messe, who addressed the audience. Hummrich emphasized the lighthouse function of SmartFactory-KL, which is all the more important in economically weaker times. Kaiserslautern is an important location for Germany's industrial future and SmartFactory-KL plays a central role in this. Köckler also emphasized the many years of cooperation and described the SFKL as a driving force and anchor in Industrie 4.0 Hall 8 at the Hannover Messe.

Industry 4.0 and technologies of tomorrow

After the opening speeches, the guests split into two tours to experience practical demonstrations of future technologies. The "Industry 4.0 in application" tour showed how advanced systems are already changing production today. The demonstration of 5G-controlled robotics and the digital twin in intralogistics was impressive, illustrating how networking and automation will become even more intertwined in the future. The "Vision 2030 - Technologies for tomorrow" tour focused on medium to long-term developments in the industry. One highlight here was the so-called "SFKL-Nodeset", a solution offered by SmartFactory-KL that enables production companies to easily integrate networked systems and digital services. The applications on show are therefore not stand-alone, but are networked with each other and even mutually dependent - in the spirit of networked "shared production", which is already a pre-competitive reality in Kaiserslautern.

The Innovation Day ended with a networking lunch, where representatives from companies, science, politics and the press took the opportunity to network and discuss future collaborations. "This day offers a unique opportunity to bring our members and partners together in one place. This is where the ideas and partnerships that shape the technological future are born," summarized Ruskowski.

The participants left with new impressions, exciting contacts and promising ideas. "Once again, we have seen how important this day is, because it reflects exactly what we stand for: Technical innovations that are already arriving on the store floor, that are tangible and understandable. But above all, working together, getting to know each other and networking is particularly important to us," said Ruskowski at the end.