In a consortium with five partners from industry, the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) at RWTH Aachen University is working on the use of additive manufacturing, topology optimization and gripping simulation in a digital and automated process chain. Using various real-use cases from the automotive industry, recyclable handling technologies are being developed with the aim of achieving climate-neutral production. A digital platform is to be created as an enabler for the automated design of grippers.

Background to the research work: The steadily increasing use of industrial robots in production is also increasing their importance as energy consumers and producers of CO2 emissions. The end effector used, such as grippers, has a significant influence on the energy consumption of a robot. Concepts for lightweight construction and the flexibilization of grippers should not only save energy but also improve the economic efficiency of a system. The topic of lightweight construction can thus serve as an innovation driver for a sustainable and resource-saving economy. In the application, this should save energy and reduce emissions, while the expansion of functionality is also being researched.

As the path to digitalized and sustainable production begins even before the actual product creation process - namely with the flexible and resource-saving provision of the required resources - the development of recyclable, additively manufactured grippers for use in modern, automated production systems is the focus of the "addFlex" research project, as Prof. Dr. Günther Schuh, Chair of Production Systems at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL at RWTH Aachen University, explains. The project kick-off took place at the WZL in mid-July 2022. Together with the partners, initial workshops were held on the topics of requirements analysis of the use cases and CO2 savings potential. In addition to the consortium partners getting to know each other, the kick-off was rounded off with guided tours of the WZL's test areas, the start-up factory and the M.A.R.S. Lab. The project is funded by the Lightweight Construction Technology Transfer Program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).

Partners in the "addFlex" project are the companies Zimmer, Plan Software, TWT, Feinwerktechnik Otto Harrandt, Laser Bearbeitungs- und Beratungszentrum NRW and the Chair of Production Systematics and Chair of Production Metrology and Quality Management at the WZL Machine Tool Laboratory at RWTH Aachen University.