Division Supply Chain Services at Fraunhofer IIS
Fluid 4.0 brings together component manufacturers, machine and plant manufacturers, users and service providers from the fluid power industry for the first time in order to digitalise processes with data and technology to enable circular economy strategies and technologies. A cross-industry and cross-manufacturer data space is being set up for this purpose. Building on this data space, asset administration administration are being developed in four industry-relevant use cases and implemented in specific demonstrators. The aim is firstly to demonstrate the benefits of the technologies in the implementation of circular economy strategies and secondly to transfer the knowledge built up in the project and make it available to a broad audience.
Fluid 4.0 also aims to further promote the implementation of a smart circular economy in the fluid power industry by using digitalisation, data spaces, data and technologies to enable circular value creation and thus act in a sustainable and resource-saving manner.
Cross-industry and cross-manufacturer data space as the basis for greater efficiency and circularity
A central aspect of the project is the cross-industry and cross-manufacturer exchange of data, which serves as the basis for better product lifecycle management. The collection of product and process data throughout the entire life cycle is essential in order to for example optimise products and achieve sustainability goals. In the fluid power industry there is a lack of concepts for comprehensive, machine-readable data provision and the corresponding data exchange. The project is therefore working on establishing a overarching data space that intelligently links the existing infrastructure at component level. Interaction models and automation work flows can be used to establish circular and sustainable business models and processes.
Test applications with selected asset administration
As exemplary test applications for this data space, Fluid 4.0 is developing asset administration for system management in industry-relevant use cases, including corresponding demonstrators, for the following four defined applications:
- Development of machine controls
- Energy monitoring of fluid power systems
- Cross-sector CO2 balancing
- Circular Economy
Circular Economy in Focus
The experts at Fraunhofer IIS are focussing on the circular economy use case, where they are working together with other project partners on initiatives to implement so-called R strategies (e.g. reuse, repair or remanufacturing) in order to enable the circular use of fluid power products. Existing concepts for expanding the digital product passport are taken into account. The aim is to develop relevant decision criteria for circular solutions and increase the degree of standardisation. The results from the circular economy use case are to be utilised in future research and industrial projects as well as in teaching in order to promote the circular economy in the fluid power industry.
