The WZL Department of Automation and Control is your partner for the development of components and systems for the intelligent automation of manufacturing systems.

Core competencies:
We provide expertise in drive technologies, sensor applications, motion control systems, interactive man-machine communication, virtual manufacturing systems, advanced PC-based control for automated manufacturing, applied robotics, and intelligent IT solutions for manufacturing plants.

Research vision:
Our vision is the development of self-optimising, autonomous systems for manufacturing and logistics that are easy to set-up and to operate. Therefore, we strive for enhancing the cognition capabilities of machinery by developing required key technologies and approaches.

Our mission:
To provide powerful, easy-to-engineer and easy-to-use applications for the automation of production.

Fields of research:

• Open control systems and communications platforms for distributed control systems
• NC programming & CAM CNC coupling
• Information retrieval for production facilities
• Geometrical chain for tool path generation
• Robotics and Handling Technologies
• Drive Systems and Components
• Process Monitoring and Condition Monitoring
• PLC & Motion Control Technologies
• Advanced Control and IT-Solutions for Automated Systems in Manufacturing and Logistics
• Device Integration Technologies and Development of Graphical User Interfaces

• Research Group NC Technology
• Research Group Drives, Controls & Diagnosis
• Research Group Information Technology and Information Management

• Brecher, C.; Klocke, F.; Arntz, K.; Bäumler, S.; Breitbach, T.; Do-Khac, D.; Emonts, M.; Heinen, D.; Herfs, W.; Hermani, J.; Janssen, A.; Karlberger, A.; Rosen, C.
  Shortening Process Chains by Process Integration into Machine Tools
  in: Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries, Hrsg.: Brecher, C., Springer Verlag Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-642-21066-2, S. 591-628
• Brecher, C.; Karlberger, A.; Herfs, W.
  Synchronisation of Distributed Configuration Tools using Feature Models
  in: Enabling Manufacturing Competitiveness and Economic Sustainability - Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Changeable, Agile, Reconfigurable and Virtual production (CARV2011), Montreal, Canada, 2-5 October 2011, Hrsg.: ElMaraghy, H., Springer Verlag Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-642-23859-8, S. 339-345
• Brecher, C.; Lohse, W.
  User-assisted evaluation of tool path quality for complex milling processes
  in: wt Werkstattstechnik online 100 (2010), 7-8, ISSN 1436-4980 (Elektronische Ausgabe), S. 559-564
• Brecher, C.; Klocke, F.; Lohse, W.; Cabral, G.; Rasim, M.; Minoufekr, M.; Triebs, J.; Fey, M.; Wegner, H.; Bergs, T.; Glasmacher, L.; Herfs, W.; Bäumler, S.
  Integrative Simulation von Werkzeugmaschine und Fertigungstechnologie.
  in: Integrative Produktionstechnik für Hochlohnländer, Hrsg.: Brecher, C.VDI-Buch, 1. Aufl. , Springer Verlag Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-642-20692-4, S. 400-450
• Brecher, C.; Heyers, C.; Kraus, J.; Triebs, J.
  Wie Werkzeugmaschinen auf Sparsamkeit getrimmt werden
  in: Maschinenmarkt 117 (2011), 47, ISSN 0341-5775, S. 32-35
• Brecher, C.; Klocke, F.; Breitbach, T.; Do-Khac, D.; Heinen, D.; Karlberger, A.; Rosen, C.
  A hybrid machining center for enabling new die manufacturing and repair concepts
  in: Production Engineering - Research and Development 5 (2011), 4, ISSN 0944-6524 , S. 405-413
• Brecher, C.; Lohse, W.; Amthor, K.; Beck, E.
  Virtuelle Antriebe für Werkzeugmaschinen und Anlagen
  Anwendung
  in: Virtuelle Techniken im industriellen Umfeld - Das AVILUS-Projekt - Technologien und Anwendungen, Hrsg.: Schreiber, W.; Zimmermann, P., Springer Verlag Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-642-20635-1, S. 246-251
• Brecher, C.; Özdemir, D.; Herfs, W.
  Durchgängige Antriebsprojektierung und Simulation
  Veranstaltung: "Automation 2011". Baden-Baden, 29.06.2011., 2011

Our industrial services

• Market studies addressing issues on control, automation and drive technologies
• Benchmarking of control and drive systems
• Analysis of tasks in manufacturing, assembly and handling for automation potentials
• Concepts for robot-supported automation tasks
• Independent consulting for the selection of suitable system providers for automation solutions
• Assistance for the introduction and realisation of automation projects in manufacturing, assembly and handling
• Modularisation and systematisation of PLC-based engineering
• Development of control-integrated application for SINUMERIK 840D (NCK-OEM development)
  More information (in German)
• Simulation of mechatronic systems
• Design, realisation and benchmarking of IT-systems for shop floor and FMS control