Towards efficient, interconnected and flexible value chains - examples and innovations from research on production technologies

The trend for individualization of products and the rising possibilities of digital networking sets stronger demands for flexible technologies and dynamically adaptable process chains. The article presents the E³-production as holistic approach to meet these requirements for efficient and flexible industrial production. Furthermore, on the examples of press hardening and electromagnetic forming it is demonstrated which potential the technologies hold to efficiently realize tailored properties for customized parts. In addition, it is illustrated how production efficiency can be increased by using innovative process combinations such as StaBiFü and the process chain "Hollow gearshaft".