Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA

Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA offers a technology-based approach for Frugal Innovations. It is focusing on product development and production technology for machinery, plant and equipment manufacturing. There are two general ways of using technology. On the one hand to develop frugal products, particularly production systems, called frugal production systems. On the other hand to produce frugal products with high-end production systems by using industry 4.0 and high automation. Some characteristics of frugal production systems are focusing on a clearly defined cost-sensitive customer group, targeted development of machine functionalities which meet the needs, robust with low maintenance, user-friendly and easy-to-use, lower price and a clear differentiation to high-end solutions, good performance and quality compared to low-cost competition. To meet these targets, Fraunhofer IPA has some research activities in this area. It develops frugal mechanical, mechatronic, control and software components and will build up a Center for Frugal Products and Production Systems. The knowledge transfer into mechanical engineering companies will be executed by workshops and conferences. A strong methodological and systematical process (ProFrugal) will assist implementing frugal production systems.