Integrated processes and automation in production to boost productivity

Kitzingen, Germany – Leoni AG has opened an innovation industrialistion centre (IIC) in the Bavarian town of Kitzingen as part of the move to address future mobility.

The ‘think thank’ will enable researchers, engineers and production specialists at Leoni to be closely linked in an effort to create “the wiring system of the future” for the automotive industry, Leoni announced 26 Sept.

“Our mobility is transforming towards alternative drive systems and autonomous driving,” said the German wiring systems supplier.

“It is a matter of controlling ever more functions and data – in ever less space and with ever less weight,” it added.

In response to the challenge, Leoni said its developers are working on smaller-scale but intelligently connected wiring systems in vehicles instead of the usual one central cable harness.

“We call this approach the zonal architecture,” said Walter Glueck, CTO of Leoni’s Wiring Systems Division (WSD).

The system enables Leoni to connect the growing number of sensors and applications in the car in "a fail-safe manner", while setting up standardised and more productive production processes.

“We will synchronise product and process development in our IIC,” explained Leoni’s COO Ingo Spengler.

Developing “zonal wiring system architectures” will involve more efficient production processes compared with conventional wiring systems, helped by automated production processes and collaborative robots (cobots).

“This testing facility permits fully automated production of smaller-scale cable harnesses,” said Spengler, noting that the new unit will enable “sustained savings” through standardised production processes and shortened ramp-up times.

Spanning 3,000 square metres, the ICC will connect research, development and production teams from all Leoni facilities worldwide.

The centre will also make it possible to involve suppliers, customers and universities in projects.