Ten years of innovation made in Lemgo: SmartFactoryOWL as a high-tech transfer center for SMEs
What began as a vision in 2011 is now one of the most efficient Industry 4.0 research factories in Germany: SmartFactoryOWL on the Innovation Campus Lemgo is celebrating its tenth anniversary. As a joint facility of Fraunhofer IOSB-INA and the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences (TH OWL), it has developed into a nationally recognized real-world laboratory that brings innovations directly to the hall floor. In keeping with its anniversary, OpenFactoryDay on May 9 offers the opportunity to explore this bridge between research and practice at first hand.
The research and transfer factory initiated by Professor Dr. Jürgen Jasperneite in 2011 was realized thanks to the commitment of the “Lippische Unternehmer eGbR” and officially opened in April 2016. Since then, the center has established itself as a central interface between science and the regional economy, attracting numerous trade visitors from Germany and abroad to Lemgo every year.
Enabling chain: Bringing research directly to the shop floor
SmartFactoryOWL sees itself as a comprehensive companion for industry. “We cover the entire enablement chain – from the initial information and demonstration of new technologies to the targeted training of skilled workers through to concrete implementation in companies,” explains Jasperneite. This makes the facility the central point of contact for companies that not only want to plan technological change in theory, but also implement it in their own machine room.
The transformation to an energy-optimized factory – the so-called smart e-factory – has received particularly intensive support in recent years. “Ultimately, all processes are driven by energy. At SmartFactoryOWL, we have given this a broad scope of application through energy transparency and optimization, self-generation of energy and future topics such as direct current grids,” says Professor Dr. Holger Borcherding, Director of the Institute of Energy Research.
Innovation to combat skills shortages: cognitive and humanoid robotics
Cognitive robotics is a brand new technological focus area for Fraunhofer at SmartFactoryOWL. The aim is to make robot systems easier to operate and more flexible to use for SMEs – a direct contribution to solving the shortage of skilled workers. This also includes the new service offerings for testing humanoid robots: companies can evaluate in Lemgo how these systems can support them in practice before making large investments.
“Test before Invest”: Risk-free innovation for the industry
Under the motto “Test before Invest”, SmartFactoryOWL offers a real laboratory for manufacturing companies. Here, new technologies – from sensor technology and cyber security to artificial intelligence and cognitive robotics – are tested under real production conditions. “SmartFactoryOWL has established itself as a brand throughout Germany and internationally,” summarizes Jasperneite.
Unique ecosystem for research and careers
The facility is a key building block in the “Smart Automation” ecosystem on the Innovation Campus Lemgo. Together with the Fraunhofer Institute, the TH OWL and Germany’s first Science-to-Business Center CIIT – where more than 300 people from research and industry work together under one roof – it forms a powerhouse for innovation in the field of automation.
Professor Dr. Jürgen Krahl, President of TH OWL: “SmartFactoryOWL is an outstanding example of how cutting-edge research and academic education go hand in hand. It is a magnet for talent and ensures that our students are already working on the solutions of tomorrow during their studies – a decisive competitive advantage for securing skilled workers in our region.”
OpenFactoryDay on May 9
On May 9, SmartFactoryOWL invites all interested parties to experience this ecosystem and the latest innovations in digital transformation live at OpenFactoryDay. Incidentally, TH OWL’s Open Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Innovation Campus Lemgo and the Kreativ Campus Detmold, so it’s well worth a visit.
Image: Fraunhofer IOSB-INA
Smart driver for the economy: For ten years, research results in the field of intelligent automation have been put into practice at the SmartFactoryOWL in Lemgo.
Image: Fraunhofer IOSB-INA
Manufacturer-independent and open to all technologies: On 2,000 square meters, the research factory offers numerous applications ranging from industrial networks to robotics, artificial intelligence and cyber security.
See our history under: 10 years