Digital Innovation Hubs

DIH Profile

DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems (DIH_DiTMaPS)

Hub Information

Hub Name
DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems (DIH_DiTMaPS)
Local Name
DIH za digitalne dvojčke logističnih sistemov in proizvodnih procesov in sistemov (DIH_DiTMaPS)
Evolutionary Stage
Fully operational
Geographical Scope
International

Description

DIH for digital twins of manufacturing processes and systems is a national non-profit hub founded by the public body University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering that operates with the support of strategic Slovenian partners, all non-for profit organizations.

The main focus of the DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems is to support companies in increasing their competitiveness by improving their business and production processes as well as their products and services in the field of digital technology, especially digital twins. Digital twins are one of the enabling technology in the way of digital manufacturing transformation in Industry 4.0 and value chain processes in general. The digital twin is defined as a virtual representation of a physical product or process that serves to understand and predict the performance characteristics of the physical counterpart. Digital twins are used throughout the product lifecycle to simulate, predict, and optimize the product and production system before investing in physical prototypes and resources.

The DIH is focused to accelerate technology transfer at regional, national and international levels, the joint use of research infrastructures and equipment, the support of smart and sustainable entrepreneurship in the field of intelligent factories and the promotion of human capital growth.

The DIH DiTMaPS supports companies to develop and implement a digital transformation strategy based on research and innovation that can consolidate and expand national competitive advantages. At the same time, the transformation of the national and European manufacturing sector into new intelligent systems will be supported in line with DIH'European Union research and innovation agendas.

The DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems is established within the Laboratory for Handling, Assembly and Pneumatics (LASIM) of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME ) in Ljubljana. The Faculty is a member of the University of Ljubljana (UL) and is the largest educational and research institution with the highest international standards in the field of mechanical engineering in Slovenia and the wider region of Central and South-Eastern Europe. The Laboratory for handling, assembly and pneumatics is part of the Department of Manufacturing, Technologies and Systems of FME, UL. The research and development priorities of the LASIM laboratory are closely related to the DIH's focus: digital twins of logistics systems, smart factories and Industry 4.0. The related theme of the laboratory is smart manufacturing, supported by digital technologies to increase the efficiency of SMEs. The other research areas of the laboratory are: High Performance Computing (HPC), Cloud Computing, Edge Computing, Human Centered Production, AI in Manufacturing, Zero Defect Manufacturing, Distributed Cyber-Physical Systems, Networked Factory, Digital LEAN, etc.

Over the years, LASIM has extended the usage of Discrete Event Simulation to the field of Digital Twins, which are the backbone of Smart factories and I4.0. With the knowledge of cutting-edge technologies and approaches, LASIM has a very strong link with industrial partners through its R&D projects and activities. Here are some industry partners presenting the market leaders from different business sectors: Yaskawa Ristro, Yaskawa Europe Robotics, Knauf Insulation, Kolektor, ECOLAB, Danfoss, Krka, Intersocks, Gorenje, Scania, Goodyear, Hidria, Skaza Smart Plastic, Polycom, RIKO, MTZ, LTH Castings, Iskra Mehanizmi, Agromehanika, etc.

DIH za digitalne dvojčke logističnih sistemov in proizvodnih sistemov in procesov je nacinonalno neprofitno stičišče financirano s strani Univerze v Ljubljani, Fakultete za strojništvo, v sodelovanju s strateškimi Slovenskimi partnerji, vsi neprofitne organizacije.

Ciljna usmeritev DIHa za digitalne dvojčke proizvodnih procesov in sistemov je podpirati podjetja pri povečanju njihove konkurenčnosti z izboljšanjem njihovih poslovnih in proizvodnih procesov, pa tudi njihovih izdelkov in storitev na področju digitalne tehnologije, zlasti digitalnih dvojčkov. Digitalni dvojčki so ena od omogočitvenih tehnologij, ki omogočajo digitalno preslikavo proizvodnje v strategiji Industrija 4.0 in na splošno procesov v verigi vrednosti. Digitalni dvojček je opredeljen kot virtualni prikaz fizičnega izdelka ali procesa, ki služi za razumevanje in napovedovanje lastnosti delovanja fizičnega dela. Digitalni dvojčki se uporabljajo v celotnem življenjskem ciklu izdelka za simulacijo, napovedovanje in optimizacijo izdelka in proizvodnega sistema, preden se investira v fizične prototipe in sredstva.

DIH se osredotoča na pospešitev vpeljave tehnologij na regionalni, nacionalni in mednarodni ravni, skupno uporabo raziskavalne infrastrukture in opremo, nudi podporo pametnemu in trajnostnemu podjetništvu na področju inteligentnih tovarn in spodbuja rast človeškega kapitala.

DIH podjetjem pomaga in podpira njihov razvoj in izvajanje strategije digitalne preobrazbe, ki temelji na raziskavah in inovacijah, ki lahko utrdijo in razširijo nacionalne konkurenčne prednosti. Hkrati se podpira preobrazba nacionalnega in evropskega proizvodnega sektorja v nove inteligentne sisteme v skladu z agendami raziskav in inovacij pri DIH'European Union.

DIH za digitalne dvojčke proizvodnih procesov in sistemov je vzpostavljen v okviru Laboratorija za strego, montažo in pnevmatiko (LASIM), ki deluje znotraj Fakultete za strojništvo (FS) v Ljubljani. Fakulteta je članica Univerze v Ljubljani (UL) in je največja izobraževalna in raziskovalna ustanova z najvišjimi mednarodnimi standardi na področju strojništva v Sloveniji in širši regiji srednje in jugovzhodne Evrope. Laboratorij za strego, montažo in pnevmatiko je del Katedre za izdelovalne tehnologije in sisteme na FS, UL. Prednostne usmeritve raziskav in razvoja laboratorija LASIM so tesno povezane s prioritetami DIHov: digitalni dvojčki logističnih sistemov, pametne tovarne in Industrija 4.0. Povezana tematike laboratorija pa so pametna proizvodnja, podprta z digitalnimi tehnologijami za povečanje učinkovitosti MSPjev. Ostala raziskovalna področja laboratorija so: visokozmogljivo računalništvo (HPC), računalništvo v oblaku, računalništvo na robu, proizvodnja orintirana na človeka, umetna inteligenca (AI) v proizvodnji, proizvodnja brez napak, distribuirani kibernetski fizikalni sistemi, omrežna tovarna, digitalni LEAN itd.

S svjim delovanjem je laboratorij LASIM nadgradil uporabo diskretne simulacije dogodkov na področje digitalnih dvojčkov, ki so temelj pametnih tovarn in I4.0. LASIM ima preko poznavanja vrhunskih tehnologij in pristopov zelo močne povezave z industrijskimi partnerji preko raziskovalno razvojnih projektov in aktivnosti. Navedenih je nekaj industrijskih partnerjev, ki predstavljajo vodilne na trgu v različnih poslovnih sektorjih: Yaskawa Ristro, Yaskawa Europe Robotics, Knauf Insulation, Kolektor, ECOLAB, Danfoss, Krka, Intersocks, Gorenje, Scania, Goodyear, Hidria, Skaza Smart Plastic, Polycom, RIKO, MTZ, LTH Castings, Iskra Mehanizmi, Agromehanika in drugi.

Contact Data

Coordinator (University)
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
https://www.fs.uni-lj.si/en/
Year Established
2020
Location
Askerceva 6, 1000, Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Website
http://dih-ditmaps.si
Contact information
Marko Šimic
marko.simic@fs.uni-lj.si
+386 1 4771 727
Contact information
Niko Herakovič
niko.herakovic@fs.uni-lj.si
+386 1 4771 726

Organisation

Organizational form
(part of) Public organization (part of RTO, or university)
Turnover
0-250.000
Number of employees
10-25

Technologies

  • Sensory systems
  • Cyber physical systems
  • Robotics
  • Internet of things
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Mobility & Location based technologies
  • Interaction technologies
  • Advanced, or high performance computing
  • Big data, data analytics, data handling
  • Virtual, augmented and extended reality
  • Simulation, modelling and digital twins
  • Cloud computing
  • Additive manufacturing

DIH for digital twins in manufacturing processes is well aligned with Slovenian smart specialization strategy (S4), which is an operational plan facilitating the shift to high-productivity economy:

  • through boosting innovation potential,
  • by fostering structural transformation and industrial diversification, and
  • by supporting growth of new and fast growing companies.

To achieve high-productivity economy, nine priority domains with corresponding focus areas and technologies are defined. Thus, 9 Strategic research and innovation partnerships (SRIP) were established (https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/regions/SI).

  1. Smart Cities and Communities
  2. Smart buildings and homes
  3. (S)Industry 4.0 - Smart Factories
  4. Health / Medicine
  5. Networks for the Transition to Circular Economy
  6. Sustainable Food Production
  7. Sustainable Tourism and Creative Cultural and Heritage based Services
  8. Development of Materials as Products
  9. Smart Mobility

DIH for digital twins of manufacturing processes and systems is directed in the focus area Strategic Research and Innovation Partnership (SRIP) of the Factories of the Future with the strategy to create an open and friendly environment for the development of innovations that will be breakthrough and prospective and will go beyond the national framework.

Industry 4.0 - integrated solutions enabling companies to build competent value-chains including production optimisation, (distributed) production management and control, quality assurance, regulation and data processing; intra-logistics, optimisation and automation of production processes: smart machines and equipment, mechatronic systems, actuators and smart sensors, virtual technological production systems, remote monitoring and management, modularity of products and solutions, and new intelligent materials.

Market and Services

Sectors

  • Transport and logistics
  • Education
  • Manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco
  • Manufacture of textiles and textile products
  • Manufacture of leather and leather products
  • Manufacture of wood and wood products
  • Manufacture of rubber and plastic products
  • Manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products
  • Manufacture of machinery and equipment
  • Manufacture of electrical and optical equipment
  • Manufacture of transport equipment

TRL Focus

  • TRL2 - Technology concept and/or application formulated
  • TRL3 - Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept
  • TRL4 - Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment
  • TRL5 - Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment
  • TRL6 - System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment
  • TRL7 - System prototype demonstration in an operational environment

Services provided

  • Awareness creation
  • Ecosystem building, scouting, brokerage, networking
  • Collaborative Research
  • Concept validation and prototyping
  • Testing and validation
  • Digital Maturity Assessment
  • Incubator/accelerator support
  • Access to Funding and Investor Readiness Services
  • Mentoring
  • Education and skills development

Service Examples

Digital twin of smart factory (developed for Yaskawa Europe Robotics)

Client profile: SMEs willing to digitize the processes and optimize production towards a smart factory

Client needs: digitizing the production processes, optimizing the processes by implementing the digital LEAN, real-time optimization of the production processes.

Provided solution: Designing the new smart factory in terms of i3 approach - integration, innovation, intelligence and digitizing the entire manufacturing process. Knowledge and innovations related to I4.0, Smart factories and the introduction of LEAN and digital LEAN as well as a digital twin of the production process have been successfully implemented in a real industrial environment. In this way, the optimal layout of the smart factory was achieved as well as the real-time optimization of the process by using the digital twin technology.

More details: https://www.yaskawa.si/

Digital twin for internal logistics and warehouses

Client profile: SMEs

Client needs: digitizing the internal logistics, digitizing the warehouses, optimization of logistics in real-time, reduction of storage capacity, elimination of the bottlenecks,

Provided solution: Solution mainly focuses on digitizing the internal logistic processes in combination with warehouses. Here the digital twin of logistic processes specific to individual SMEs is developed in order to define the optimal layout and logistic ways, number and capacity of intermediate storages, capacity and location of warehouses. The digital twin approach of logistics and warehouses is used in the development phase as well as to optimize the existing traditional processes.

More details: https://www.riko.si/en/references/project?id=3532

Digital twin for logistics in production handling and assembly system

Client profile: SMEs

Client needs: digitizing the logistics in the production system, optimization of logistics in real-time, reduction of intermediate storage capacities, identification and elimination of the bottlenecks

Provided solution: Solution mainly focuses on digitizing the production processes including logistics. In the proposed digital twin the entire production and logistic process for the individual SME including intermediate storages are developed. The digital twin enables the identification of bottlenecks and observation of the stocks in intermediate storages. With more “what-if” scenarios the critical bottlenecks should be eliminated and the production process should be balanced. Furthermore, the optimal intermediate storage capacities are proposed. The digital twin approach for logistics in the production system should be used in the development phase for a planned production system as well as to improve the existing production processes.

More details: https://www.riko.si/en/references/project?id=3532

Smart manual assembly

Client profile: SMEs with wastes in manual assembly processes

Client needs: Identification of (time) waste of manual assembly process, identification of unacceptable working condition for workers and support to achieve a suitable working environment according to ergonomics, health and EU standards

Provided solution: Help SMEs to identify the waste of the manual assembly process and to upgrade it into a smart manual assembly process with the implementation of digital twin technology and product management strategies (LPM, LASIM product management). The implementation of smart technologies in a manual assembly workstation does not yet make the workplace suitable for the highly productive work of an individual worker. When designing a workplace, it is necessary to take into account the constitution and abilities of the individual worker, the properties of the products and the complexity of the assembly process. By implementing a smart algorithm and digital twin technology into the smart manual assembly process, an increase in productivity, ergonomic suitability and thus a higher added value per employee could be achieved.

More details: http://web.fs.uni-lj.si/lasim/index.php?page=home

Material traceability using the digital twin

Client profile: SMEs with material traceability problems and challenges in production processes

Client needs: Identification of the material, products type suitable for traceability, identification and definition of the most suitable traceability method for specific production and products, development of digital traceability of products using digital twin

Provided solution: Products that are too small or unsuitable for the installation of RFID or barcode, and products where the customer does not allow the installation of RFID, the traceability of the product must be done differently. Industry 4.0 requires 100% product traceability. One option is to track the product digitally using a digital twin. For this purpose, the digital twin works according to the principle of the ""event-driven"" digital twin. This means that the products are triggered by a digital twin. The product moves along the production line and triggers the digital twin. It sends information regarding its location to the digital twin.

In this way, we can guarantee 100% traceability of the product from the start of production to the use of the product or from the start of production to the installation of the semi-finished product into the assembly. This type of traceability is very suitable for the automotive industry, as many components are small and unsuitable for RFID installation.

More details: http://web.fs.uni-lj.si/lasim/index.php?page=home

LASIM Demonstration and training center for KET of I 4.0

Client profile: SMEs

Client needs: testing of different key-enabling technologies of I4.0, development of new internal logistics, developing the strategy and crucial steps for building a smart factory, transferring the traditional production into advanced production, integration of decentralized production systems, developing the network of distributed systems, designing cyber-physical systems towards digital twins, implementation of Hollon-node approach in production.

Provided solution: The main infrastructure for implementation of industrial workshops presents the demo center of the smart factory located in UL FME, which was developed and built in cooperation with Slovenian company Kolektor. The main purpose of the demo center is to investigate and analyze the latest technologies related to the I4.0 that include smart modeling, real-time simulation and optimization as well as digital twin development. In this way, the industrial partners and other participants of the workshops can learn and gain knowledge first in the demo center and further transfer it into the real industrial environment at SME.

More details: http://web.fs.uni-lj.si/lasim/index.php?page=home

Funding

  • European Regional Development Fund
  • National basic research funding
  • National specific innovation funding
  • Regional funding
  • Partner resources
  • Memberships

Customers

Number of customers annually
6-10
Type of customers
  • SMEs (<250 employees)
  • MidCaps (between €2-10 billion turnover)
  • Research organisations

    • Partners

    Last updated: 16/11/20 12:20