Smart Systems

Saxony Economic Development Corporation: Robotics industry meets in Chemnitz

November 19, 2024. 120 representatives from user companies, suppliers and system integrators as well as from science and multipliers exchanged views on current topics and trends in the industry at the 4th Robotics SACHSEN! project workshop on November 14.

Photo: Saxony Economic Development Corporation

The aim of the Robotics SACHSEN!

The aim of the Robotics SACHSEN! initiative, which is supported by WFS, VEMASinnovativ, Fraunhofer IWU, ICM e.V., the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau and RobotValley UG, is to develop robotics for SMEs in Saxony from a wide range of sectors and by involving Saxon suppliers.

There were various events over the course of the year where participants were able to learn about good and innovative examples of robotics solutions. One example was the visit to LSA GmbH Leischnig Schaltschrankbau Automatisierungstechnik in Wolkenstein in May. There, the 30 or so participants were given a comprehensive insight into current automation and robotics applications.

Robotics applications and possible uses in focus

The 4th project workshop then focused on discussing current developments and providing information about implemented use cases and opportunities for practical testing. With this in mind, the event had the following main themes:

Experience robotics – Good Practice Lounge
Introduce robotics – Build your robotics solution – an interactive path from idea to implementation
Discover robotics – Marketplace for practical challenges and solutions in an open space
Networking robotics – Robotics SACHSEN ecosystem!

In the Good Practice Lounge, participants were able to view practical examples from SMP Modell- und Prototypenbau, Oederaner Stanz- und Umformtechnik GmbH, Zerspanungstechnik Mario Schmieder and Hiersemann Prozessautomation. The companies presented their approach to the automation of milling processes in an authentic way, and it couldn’t have been more different – from do-it-yourself to used robots to implementation with a system integrator, everything was represented.

In the workshops, the planning process was simulated in an interactive planning game developed by the WHZ for this project workshop. In the new “Marketplace Open Space” workshop format, problems and proposed solutions from the auditorium were addressed, which will be dealt with in greater depth in three follow-up workshops (December to January).

The focus of the project workshop was clearly on the topic of application. This was not only addressed from a technical perspective, as in the presentation by Professor Julia Zähr from Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, who provided information on the topic of “Participatory development of robotic solutions for small companies – experiences with welding automation and deburring robotics”. The question of the role of humans in robotics, which Dr. Norbert Huchler from the Institut für Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung e. V. München shed light on, was also of great interest, as was the market-driven implementation in the corresponding business models.

Save the date: Project Workshop 2025

If you weren’t there this year, it’s worth making a note of the date for 2025. The industry will meet again on 13.11.2025 – then in the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz.

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