Smart Lightweight 4.0

PROJECT GOAL 

In addition to Industry 4.0, lightweight construction is a cross-cutting issue that affects many industries. It is an indispensable part of developments in mechanical engineering, vehicle technology, aerospace technology, power engineering, architecture, medical technology and even electronics. In addition to weight reduction and the selection of suitable materials, motives such as energy and resource efficiency as well as the effects on humans and the environment play an ever-increasing role in lightweight research and development. An ideal combination of high material performance and ecological compatibility is offered by natural fiber-reinforced materials. The research team wants to develop future-oriented fiber composites and combine them intelligently with sensors and clever data analysis to efficiently check and analyze their production as well as the ongoing process.

The topics of the project are:

• Lightweight construction with fiber composites for increased efficiency and better sustainability for different applications
• Further development of fiber materials, especially in the direction of renewable raw materials
• Integration of sensors for smart functionality and efficient process control
• Non-destructive materials testing and process analytics technology

PROJECT CONSORTIUM

The project is initiated and conducted by three research institutions of the province of Carinthia: Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH, Silicon Austria Labs GmbH and University of Applied Sciences Carinthia.

This uses the expertise of these research institutions synergistically and generates benefits on several levels. You create a critical mass that goes beyond the sum of the individual activities, conducts research on strategically relevant and also sustainable topics and, in the course of the business development and funding process, forms a fundamental basis for new spin-offs.