The multi-company project MFP 1.2 "Smart Continuous Production of Multi-Layer and Multi Component Webs" is a static and dynamic digital process twin to be developed using timely data transmission for viscous fluid flow of thermoplastic polymer melting, impregnation and solidification to develop continual production of multi-layer sheets and multi-component webs designed to reinforce lightweight structures.

A UD tape facility at the LIT Factory, opens an external URL in a new window at the JKU will be used for experimental verification and process development.

The research is supported by institutes managed by Professor Steinbichler and Professor Major, opens an external URL in a new window

Contact:  Univ. Prof. DI Dr. Gerald Berger-Weber

Duration: 01.10.2019 - 30.09.2023

Company Partners: Covestro, opens an external URL in a new window and Leistritz, opens an external URL in a new window.

This multi-firm project, embedded in the living labs at the LIT Factory, will develop (i) data hub, connectivity and datability, (ii) a static digital process twin, (iii) a dynamic digital process twin and last but not least (iv) an adaptive digital process twin for a production cell of tailored thermoplastic continuous fibre reinforced composites. This production cell consists of (a) a collaborative robot system for the tailored placement of UD tapes, (b) a heated press to consolidate the tape layers to preforms, (c) an infra-red (IR) oven to heat up the preforms prior to thermoforming in the injection mould and (d) an injection moulding machine to functionalize them to the final product. The handling between the subsystems (a) to (d) of the production cell is performed by robot system (e). The objectives of this project are strongly interconnected with MFP 1.4 “Smart Process Optimization and Digitization”. MFP 1.4 models the sub-processes (a) to (d), while in MFP 1.3 these sub-models are used and integrated into digital twins of the whole production cell.

Contact: DI Dr. Klaus Straka and DI Dr. Matei-Constantin Miron

Duration: 01.10.2019 - 30.09.2023

Company Partners: Covestro,, opens an external URL in a new window ENGEL, opens an external URL in a new window, FACC, opens an external URL in a new window, Greiner, opens an external URL in a new window, Renolit, opens an external URL in a new window

This multi-firm project, embedded in the living labs at the LIT Factory, will advance (i) analytical and numerical process models, (ii) optimize process parameters and control strategies and last but not least (iii) improve the overall efficiency and quality of the processes in every single subsystem of a production cell for tailored thermoplastic continuous fibre reinforced composites. This production cell consists of (a) a collaborative robot system for the tailored placement of UD tapes, (b) a heated press to consolidate the tape layers to preforms, (c) an infra-red (IR) oven to heat up the preforms prior to thermoforming in the injection mould and (d) an injection moulding machine to functionalize them to the final product. The handling between the subsystems (a) to (d) of the production cell is performed by robot system (e). The objectives of this project are strongly interconnected with MFP 1.3 “Smart Discontinuous Production of Fiber Reinforced Composite Structures”. Process models and digital twins are developed for each single production subsystems, while in MFP 1.3 these sub-models are used and integrated into digital twins of the whole production cell.

Contact: DI Dr. Klaus Straka

Duration: 01.10.2019 - 30.09.2023

Company Partners: Covestro,, opens an external URL in a new window ENGEL, opens an external URL in a new window, FACC, opens an external URL in a new window, Renolit, opens an external URL in a new window

The project’s main objectives include improving melt quality in terms of thermal homogeneity, reducing thermal-oxidative degradation due to trapped air in the polymer melt, and increasing the plasticizing processes overall energy efficiency. Moreover, novel adaptive and self-optimizing control strategies will bring screw plasticizing units up to the next level and are therefore a part of this project.

Contact: DI Dr. Klaus Straka

Duration: 01.10.2019 - 30.09.2023

Company Partners:  ENGEL, opens an external URL in a new window

The strategic research project focuses on basic developments in sophisticated measurement methods (i) to characterize product quality in a non-destructive manner and (ii) determine process quantities in harsh environment. The former is of great interest for multi-step production cells to reject imperfect intermediate parts as soon as possible and thereby increase efficiency in regard to energy and raw material use. The latter is required in order to collect data to validate and improve the process models used to set up different digital twin manifestations. Moreover, special process measurement systems are required in order to develop control strategies to support temperature distribution in screw plasticizing units.

Contact: Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Gerald Berger-Weber

Duration: 01.10.2019 - 30.09.2023

Company Partners: TU Vienna, opens an external URL in a new window; SCCH - Software Competence Center Hagenberg, opens an external URL in a new window; Kompetenzzentrum Holz, opens an external URL in a new window; RECENDT GmbH, opens an external URL in a new window;

The multi-company MFP 3.1 project, "Data Knowledge and Product Performance Interaction in One-Step Recycling and Re-Compounding," focuses on the post-consumer and reuse of plastics and will

• create strategies and concepts to recycle and reuse machines that have new capabilities,
• process analytical technologies (PAT)
• develop data-driven services in process modeling based on first principles and both numerical and heuristic techniques and intelligent data mining
• Achieve intelligent production of a new generation of recyclates with required consistent quality.

This type of new generation recyclates are data-ready re-compounds that allow processors to
develop the production of end products in a much wider range of applications and within an optimized processing window.

Contact:  Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Gerald Berger-Weber and Assoc. Prof. DI Dr. mont. Jörg Fischer

Duration: 01.10.2019 - 30.09.2023

Company Partners: Borealis, opens an external URL in a new window, ENGEL, opens an external URL in a new window, Erema, opens an external URL in a new window, Greiner, opens an external URL in a new window, Renolit, opens an external URL in a new window

This qualification seminar was designed to give participants insight into recycling plastics. To this end, the seminar was divided up into four different block sessions focusing on framework conditions, supply and process chains, digitalization, and potential qualities in plastics recycling. The content was conveyed in a tangible way as part of hands-on sessions. 

A highlight during the seminar was bringing companies from different areas in the value chain together to network and share ideas. Instructors underpinned theoretical content for the participants by focusing on real-world examples.

Contact: Assoc.Prof.DI Dr. mont. Jörg Fischer, opens an external URL in a new window

Duration: 21.12.2020 - 31.07.2021

Company Partner: DI Karl Josef Johann Schnetzinger, Walter Kunststoffe Liegenschaften GmbH, opens an external URL in a new window, Kruschitz Gesellschaft mbH, opens an external URL in a new window, Semadeni GmbH, opens an external URL in a new window, doing circular gmbh, opens an external URL in a new window, Ambach Entsorgung GmbH, opens an external URL in a new window, Solutions 4 Science Handels GmbH, opens an external URL in a new window, RDG - Plast GmbH, opens an external URL in a new window, Greiner Packaging GmbH, opens an external URL in a new window, agru Kunststofftechnik GmbH, opens an external URL in a new window

Funded program: Forschungskompetenzen für die Wirtschaft, opens an external URL in a new window

Funding source: Bundesministerium für Digitalisierung und Wirtschaftsstandort, opens an external URL in a new window