According to its own statement, the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Chemnitz taps potential, develops solutions, improves technology and drives innovation in science and contract research. The focus is on components and methods, technologies and processes, complex machine systems - ultimately the entire factory. As the leading institute for resource-efficient production within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, IWU's main focus is on the development of efficiency technologies and intelligent production systems for the manufacture of car body and powertrain components as well as the optimisation of the associated forming and machining production processes, with particular emphasis on the consideration of the entire process chain.

The Reference Factory.H2, a new production system and a unique value-added community developed by Fraunhofer on the subject of hydrogen, is also to be seen in this context and will be presented to the international trade public at HANNOVER MESSE 2023. According to IWU, the reference factory is characterised by a technology construction kit that contains various building blocks required for the production of hydrogen systems (electrolyser and fuel cell). It offers specially coordinated services to intensify technological developments and thus enables rapid, targeted access to the new business field of hydrogen or the production of the necessary components. In addition, the Reference Factory.H2 opens up a wide range of opportunities for its partners to develop technologically and to present and offer their own products, systems and services on the virtual platform in the overall context of hydrogen system production. In this way, a unique value-added community is to be created with the Reference Factory.H2, practically a symbiosis of Fraunhofer competences and infrastructures as well as very concrete industrial solutions.

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