Kick-off event ReLIFE
WZL - Press Release
Kick-off of the BMBF-funded ReziProK joint research project "ReLIFE"
Adaptive Remanufacturing for life cycle optimization of networked capital goods
On Friday, September 20, 2019, the kick-off for the joint research project "ReLIFE - Adaptive Remanufacturing for Life Cycle Optimization of Networked Capital Goods" took place in Aachen, Germany, with representatives of the consortium partners and the networking and transfer project "RessWInn". ReLIFE is one of a total of 25 joint research projects of the funding measure "Resource-efficient recycling management - Innovative product cycles (ReziProk)" of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL of the RWTH Aachen University is the consortium leader in cooperation with the Chair for International Production Engineering and Management (IPEM) of the University of Siegen and Achenbach Buschhütten GmbH & Co. KG are involved in the project.
Project "Adaptive Remanufacturing for increased resource efficiency and long-term productivity"
Based on the performance of capital goods ensured by Adaptive Remanufacturing, innovative business models are developed to ensure long-term productivity. This creates the economic conditions for the successful implementation of the approach in industry.
The ReziProK research projects pursue different approaches to close product cycles by developing resource-saving business models, design concepts and digital technologies and thus contribute to the implementation of a resource-efficient closed-loop economy. Against the background of a globally increasing consumption of resources, ReLIFE pursues the goal of increasing resource efficiency by extending the life cycle of capital goods with the Adaptive Remanufacturing approach. Adaptive Remanufacturing describes an intelligent maintenance strategy based on sensor data for the technical, economic and ecological optimization of the timing and scope of maintenance measures. On the basis of the sensor-monitored wear condition of components, a decision model is used to propose preventive, situation-specific measures.
The project partners of the research project "ReLIFE - Adaptive Remanufacturing for Life Cycle Optimization of Networked Capital Goods" (from left to right: Henning Schlabach (Achenbach Buschhütten GmbH & Co. KG), Katja Wendler, Lea König (both DECHEMA e.V.), Peter Wolfmeyer (N³ Nachhaltigkeitsberatung Dr. Friege & Partner), Thomas Kusche (Achenbach Buschhütten GmbH & Co. KG), Dennis Ohrndorf, Till Saßmannshausen (both IPEM of the University of Siegen) and Carsten Fölling (WZL Machine Tool Laboratory of the RWTH Aachen University)).
For the prototypical application of Adaptive Remanufacturing, a production machine with digitally networked sensor technology will be upgraded to a demonstrator. The decision model to be developed is implemented in a software application. The combination of physical demonstrator and software application enables a comprehensive validation. The resulting business models are developed in parallel and documented in a Business Model Canvas.
The results will be jointly developed by the consortium partners: The WZL will focus on the development of intelligent remanufacturing approaches and the design of the decision model for the application of these measures. The IPEM of the University of Siegen focuses on the development of remanufacturing-based business models and Achenbach Buschhütten GmbH & Co. KG is significantly involved in setting up a demonstrator with integrated sensor technology.
Furthermore, the results of the joint research project are to be used in research, but especially by small and medium-sized enterprises, in order to raise economic potentials by proactive life cycle optimization of their capital goods.
The ReLIFE research project will run from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.
