Brief Analysis No. 31: Digital technologies for developing resource-efficient products and services

Via simulation instead of prototypes: Digital technologies simplify the development of products and services in many ways. Simultaneously, companies face the challenge of dealing with the complexity of data management. The following brief analysis "Digital technologies for the development of resource-efficient products and services" points out how companies can save natural resources already in product development through digitisation, "Industrie 4.0" and innovative methods.

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Brief Analysis

Brief Analysis No. 31: Digital technologies for developing resource-efficient products and services

Studies

Ecological and Economic Assessment of Resource Use - Cleaning Technologies in industrial Production

Cleanliness requirements and the associated residual dirt specifications have risen sharply in the area of industrial parts manufacturing in recent years. This is forcing companies to no longer view the cleaning process as a low-priority component of the production chain, but rather as a value-adding processing step. Here, resource efficiency potentials can be tapped, which reduce material and energy and at the same time lead to cost savings.

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Studies

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Ecological and economic Assessment of Resource Use: Additive Manufacturing Processes in industrial Production

Additive processes as a key technology of digitisation are considered to be faster and more cost-effective. Among other things, because less scrap is produced and less waste is generated during manufacturing. Using a specific case study, the study compares the resource consumption of an additive manufacturing process with a conventional manufacturing process.

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Studies

The picture shows a part of an industrial production machine.

Ecological and economic Assessment of Resource Use: Efficient electric motors in industrial production

Electric motors and motor systems play a significant role in energy efficiency. They account for approx. 40 % of worldwide energy consumption and could contribute to a doubling of the electricity consumption by 2030 if no further saving measures are taken. Choosing a high energy efficiency class is not enough to reduce losses and consumption since the power consumption differs greatly in the usually dominating use phase in the end customer’s application (varying load profiles, speeds etc.). The associated ecological and economic effects accordingly depend on several boundary conditions.

Studies

The picture shows blue electric motors in production.

Ecological and economical Assessment of Resource Use: Stationary Energy Storage Systems in industrial Production

Stationary energy storage systems are a necessary component of a future power supply system with high shares of renewable energies. Used in decentralized industrial applications, they help to increase resource efficiency while minimizing the costs of power supply. Storage solutions for the short to medium-term storage of electrical energy are therefore seen as a contribution to the success of the energy transition being driven forward in Germany.

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