The special display is based on the idea of a cooking show. A group of experts from all parts of the lightweight construction supply chain will work with visitors on designing, developing and optimizing lightweight components. Each workshop begins with aesthetic and sustainable design and engineering. Following optimization, a first functional prototype of the component is made. Key focus areas of the showcase include mobility/transport, urbanization and robotics.

The fundamental questions addressed by the demonstration: With the goal of accelerating development work on innovative lightweight projects, who needs to interface with whom? And how can we best create the right network channels in a spirit of partnership and human collaboration?

"Our Emotional Engineering project puts the spotlight on the actual creative process involved in lightweight design and development and the networks necessary to facilitate it," said Dr. Jörg Wellnitz, who is the chair of the lightweight design faculty at Ingolstadt Technical University and Adjunct Professor at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. "Our aim is to give trade visitors fresh inspiration and ideas for their own in-house lightweight design innovation processes." Partners of the showcase include companies like csi entwicklungstechnik GmbH (automotive, surface modeling, chassis, vehicle interior and exterior design, consulting), EOS GmbH (industrial additive manufacturing), Institut für Technik & Design GmbH (industrial design), hme Ulm GmbH (consulting engineers specializing in technical calculations and simulation-based product development), Grasse Zur GmbH (composites testing) and the Landshut Lightweight Construction Cluster (multidisciplinary incubator of innovation and new ideas).

The moderated workshops cover the initial creative process (Design Thinking), construction, optimization, manufacturing and lightweight design innovation. They are complemented by a series of keynote talks by high-caliber lightweight design and lightweight construction practitioners. Among the keynote speakers will be Lutz Fügener (Professor of Transportation Design at Pforzheim University), Dr. Gerhard Hirzinger (DLR Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics) and Dr. Franz-Josef Villmer (HS Lemgo, Product Development & Rapid Prototyping).

"Our showcase has a very strong ‘hands on’ focus," explained Wellnitz. "It will give our visitors insights into innovative development and optimization processes for different lightweight parts – from the initial idea and concept development stage through to additive prototype production and material testing – right here at our demonstration stand."