Advancing e-mobility – nexAMo research project has been launched!
- The aim of the nexAMo research project is the development of matrix production for next-generation mobility products
- Need for higher flexibility and innovation in automotive production
- Grenzebach is important project partner in automation and intralogistics
Today’s vehicle and supplier industry OEMs, especially “traditional” production, are facing changes that significantly impact on the development and production of vehicle components. Flexibility and innovation are key as markets and supply chains become increasingly volatile, resulting in a trend towards greater product variance and smaller quantities with shorter development times.
This is where the nexAMo research project comes in. NexAMo is a collaborative project developing an interlinked matrix production for the modular, highly flexible and resource-efficient manufacturing of next-generation mobility products.
The overall goal for the project partners is the development of a matrix production system designed for unprecedented flexibility in production. This system includes additive manufacturing technologies, AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and cobots, along with a consistent data structure. Its modular hardware and software concept renders it easily scalable.
The nexAMo project will run for 2.5 years and had its kick-off on 13th February 2024 at the consortium leader ZF in Friedrichshafen, where it shall also be implemented on a demonstrator line. ZF was responsible for the conception and requirements analysis of a matrix production for a mixed machine park (AM and conventional production). Alongside ZF and other companies, Grenzebach joined as an important partner and was responsible for the second work package (Kick-off in April), which included developing the concept design and demonstrators for scalable intralogistics and automated set-up of the different plant systems.
In the following steps, all project partners presented their planned or finished solutions for the interlinked systems. Grenzebach introduced the OL1200S for an automated material flow. The plan is to provide ZF with a demonstration vehicle for testing purposes in advance.
The project concept has the potential to meet the growing requirements of a flexible, adaptable, and resistant production environment.
“Automation is becoming increasingly important for additive manufacturing when it comes to reducing costs and increasing system productivity. The nexAMo project integrates two different printing processes in a matrix production and automatically links them with the downstream process steps to achieve maximum flexibility and equipment utilization.”
