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Commercial validation of iPROCELL: a novel modular assembly practice

Project description

Revolutionising electric vehicle manufacturing

A solution to address the challenges faced by the electric vehicle (EV) production market, the EU funded iPROCELL project has emerged as a game-changer. Unlike manual manufacturing and full production line assembly, which are both costly and inefficient, iPROCELL will introduce a world-first innovation that involves a fully automated final assembly cell. The design results in a footprint that is 12 times smaller than traditional production lines. Also, the incorporation of state-of-the-art gripper technology enables cost-effective assembly of small batches. The implications of iPROCELL extend far beyond the EV market. The prototype received significant interest from industries such as furniture and domestic appliances. In the upcoming Phase 2 of the project, the focus will be on finalising existing technology before launching it to the market.

Objective

iPROCELL has been developed to meet an identified need to improve for economies of scale within the electric vehicle (EV) production market. The new market we are developing is a world first, sitting between manual manufacturing and full production line assembly. Neither existing solutions are cost effective with the current levels of EVs being produced.

Our solution is a fully automated final assembly cell, with 3 autonomous robots situated around a central industry build location. Our main innovation is our method of assembly, the 3 robots work symbiotically to assemble modules into finished products. This design provides a footprint that is 12 times smaller than traditional production lines. We have incorporated our state of the art gripper technology for fully adaptable programmable robotic heads that can accommodate 12 different design options, allowing assembly of small batches in a cost effective manner. Our modular format allows fully flexible manufacturing, appealing to the increasing customer demand for evermore customised products.

The high flexibility required to accommodate small series customised products alongside the commercial need to run a cost effective practice is challenging a number of manufacturing industries. When demonstrating the prototype at the Hannover Messe 2015, we received significant interest from a number of industries beyond the EV market including furniture and domestic appliances construction opening further opportunities for us to capitalise on.

Forecasted to have a global worth of €184 bn by 2020, the automation solutions industry is growing. During this Phase 2 project we intend to finalised our existing technology ahead of market launch, in order to achieve this we need to: refine the subsystems and software; develop gripper and sensor systems; obtain the relevant standards; build a demonstrator unit and trial in a commercial setting. This will enable us to launch iPROCELL to market in 2020.

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017

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Coordinator

IBG-AUTOMATION GMBH
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 951 500,89
Address
OSEMUNDSTRASSE 20
58809 NEUENRADE
Germany

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Arnsberg Märkischer Kreis
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 741 604,50

Participants (2)

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