Current issue: Sustainability

As a modern consulting company, ÖKOTEC combines forward thinking with a long and proven track record. Since 1999, it has been synonymous with intelligent solutions in the field of energy efficiency.

If machines and systems are to function reliably in the long-term, they need intelligent monitoring and maintenance. In the age of digitalization, AI-driven smart maintenance is the name of the game. In conversation with FUTUR, Christoph Plüss, CTO of the UNITED GRINDING Group, and Claudio Geisert, research engineer in maintenance and overhaul at Fraunhofer IPK, talk about the advantages of smart maintenance and how industry can make the best use of them.

Alumni Column by Prof. Dr. Alexander Mattes, Kiel University of Applied Sciences

Interview with Dr. Ansgar Kriwet, FESTO SE & CO. KG

The Lab for Energy Efficiency makes solutions hands-on and tangible.

For many of today’s companies, energy efficient manufacturing is a compelling sales argument. At Fraunhofer IPK, we are developing a broad spectrum of solutions that ensure transparency in showing that each stage of the product life cycle uses the necessary minimum of energy.

The balance sheet-oriented company report is old news. Today, company reports are reviews and outlooks rolled into one. Their preparation becomes a strategic tool.

To guarantee the eco-friendliness of welded products, their environmental impact must be accounted for along their whole lifecycle in a transparent manner.

The »ecoMaker« research project has scientists from the Institute of Machine Tools and Factory Management IWF at the TU Berlin join forces with partner labs to examine the sustainability of open workshops.

In the circular economy, raw materials are being recovered and prepared for future production processes.