What does the testbed look like?
The mobile test environment consists of up to seven sustainable wooden boxes from the Chemnitz-based start-up ligenium. On one of them is a fischertechnik model of a production plant, on another a robotic arm operated with the new software platform from Wandelbots. The entire system is networked via a decentralized data room based on a digital Manufacturing-X experimental field developed by the Smart Systems Hub. This enables autonomous interaction without external intervention. At the pop-up testbed, Innovation Night guests can experience the advanced digitalization and automation in industry that Manufacturing-X entails using a concrete example: The plant model and the robot arm share the digital data room, in which both provide process-relevant information. For example, a virtual image of the production system, a so-called digital twin, provides, among other things, status parameters of the conveyor belt. In practical terms, this means that a spare parts supplier, for example, can log into the data room, call up the status information and react proactively. If there are signs of wear on a part of the production system, the service partner can take appropriate action: Trigger maintenance, spare parts deliveries or instructions to the relevant worker. In the testbed, this is symbolized by a movement of the robot arm.
“An industrial ecosystem based on Manufacturing-X has the potential to fundamentally change work in manufacturing and beyond industry boundaries – towards greater efficiency, speed, autonomy and flexibility along the value chain. Just a few years ago, these were still abstract ideas, concepts and isolated prototypes, but our joint testbed now shows practical, networked technologies that can be integrated into the operational business of medium-sized manufacturing companies at any time,” says Till Hertwig, Partner and responsible for Strategy & Platform at N+P Informationssysteme, the partner responsible for the digital twin.
Trust and data are the resources of a networked industry
The fitness trackers, which record data from all model systems in the testbed, come from the Chemnitz-based start-up in.hub, whose founder has a clear vision: “The pop-up testbed fits in well with our own mission, which is why we are happy to be on board as a partner. We want to make the digital transformation as easy as possible for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies: through do-it-yourself plug-and-play. The approach of using in.hub solutions to analyze both our own and other testbed data is an excellent solution, as it helps to make complex relationships between different processes tangible in a simple way,” says Christian GroĂź, one of the managing directors of in.hub.
In addition to open source programs, the autonomous test setup is also made possible by a software solution from the provider SAP. “The future-proof automation and digitalization of industry requires a secure shared identity infrastructure. After all, it is always a matter of weighing up who I give what information from my company to. With the decentralized data room, which is presented here with the testbed, we as partners are jointly creating an entry point for all interested parties,” says Arno WeiĂź, Senior Developer at SAP. Each participant in the shared data room – such as production companies, parts suppliers or service partners – defines autonomously and independently which data is released to whom and for how long. This means that only the information that is relevant to the respective partner and process is passed on. Importantly, the data remains in the respective company and is not stored in the cloud or another central location.
Other partners such as ZEISS, Telekom MMS, iSax and SQL have helped to realize the pop-up testbed of the Smart Systems Hub in line with the idea of co-innovation. The presentation at Innovation Night 2025 will be accompanied by a panel discussion, which the Smart Systems Hub will hold together with experts from its partners. The topic will be the phenomenon of Manufacturing-X and the opportunities it holds for the region and industry. The presentation of the testbed will also be framed by on-site workshops before and after the Innovation Night. This marks the start of a roadshow that is planned with the testbed. “We want to inspire as many entrepreneurs as possible and show them that Manufacturing-X is just about to become a reality. And: smaller production companies can also play a part in this, find solutions and position themselves for the future in a pragmatic way. That’s why we will be taking our pop-up testbed on tour over the next few months and visiting trade fairs and other events,” explains Michael Kaiser from the Smart Systems Hub.
What is Manufacturing-X?
Manufacturing-X stands for the next stage in industrial production. The initiative aims to create a decentralized data space that allows manufacturing companies to organize themselves in a shared data ecosystem. With the help of a standardized, digital infrastructure, companies have the opportunity to exchange information along the entire value chain, work more efficiently and develop innovations. The aim is to create a cross-sector industrial network of automated manufacturing companies, suppliers and service partners. The Smart Systems Hub’s digital Manufacturing-X experimental field is already being used by various projects, such as the Factory-X lighthouse project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. Here, 46 consortium partners are working on an open and cooperative digital ecosystem for factory equipment suppliers and operators. Other projects come from areas such as healthcare, semiconductor manufacturing and robotics. This underlines the Smart Systems Hub’s claim to create an industry-independent environment with the Manufacturing-X experimental field. The mobile pop-up testbed is a concrete point of contact, a source of inspiration and a starting point for companies to quickly get started with Manufacturing-X.
What is behind the idea of co-innovation?
The constantly growing Open Smart Systems Hub community now brings together over 700 partners from industry, the start-up scene and research to drive forward the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. The community uses Manufacturing-X as a technological foundation and develops applications based on it to create new business approaches and efficiently network value chains. Mutual trust, collaboration and the idea of a future industrial ecosystem take precedence over traditional competitive thinking. The Open Smart Systems Hub Community pursues a decentralized and transparent approach. In line with the open source principle, it brings together companies, start-ups, innovation drivers and researchers to tackle technological, legal and economic challenges.
Find out more about Innovation Night 2025 here: www.innovationnight-diefabrik.de
About the Smart Systems Hub
The Smart Systems Hub is one of Europe’s largest innovation centers in the field of industrial automation. It supports companies and organizations in innovation processes and the implementation of new technologies. Supported by a strong network of over 700 partners and with expertise in various key technologies, the Smart Systems Hub develops system solutions in co-innovative projects that are tailored to the individual needs of its partners. In addition to technological know-how, great importance is attached to the right methodology. Agile and creative concepts are used to ensure a successful innovation process – quickly and efficiently.
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Further links
👉 www.smart-systems-hub.de
Photo: pixabay
