idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The Open Hybrid LabFactory (OHLF) in Wolfsburg has reached a significant milestone: In early March, the research campus, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), entered its third funding phase. At OHLF, Volkswagen, Braunschweig University of Technology, the Fraunhofer Society, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, and 35 other partners pool their expertise under one roof. This unique collaboration fosters the development of innovative projects aimed at establishing practical and efficient solutions for a sustainable circular economy in the automotive industry.
The focus is on advancing new technologies that conserve resources, optimize recycling processes, and improve material reuse.
Following a rigorous evaluation of its research and future strategy by a high-profile expert panel, OHLF has been awarded funding of ten million euros by the BMBF over a five-year period. The allocation of these funds is tied to three major research projects and is part of the initiative "Research Campus – Public-Private Partnership for Innovation," launched in 2011. This initiative aims to promote cutting-edge research at the intersection of science and industry within a shared research infrastructure. In addition to OHLF, eight other such specialized research facilities exist across Germany.
The continuation of funding is a strong acknowledgment of the outstanding work accomplished at OHLF in recent years. "It enables us to further develop the research campus strategically and to provide new momentum for the future of mobility," explains Prof. Dr. Klaus Dilger, Chairman of the Board of OHLF e. V.
Three New Research Projects for the Circular Economy in the Upcoming Funding Phase:
Project “SaReSa“:
Researchers are developing methods and technologies to enable the efficient and sustainable recovery of end-of-life products, such as decommissioned vehicles. The material composition is identified automatically, while the potential for reuse or repurposing is assessed in parallel. Through digital, intelligent disassembly planning, industrial robots can quickly and flexibly adapt to the specific end-of-life product and its condition. This allows for the recovery of a wide range of valuable materials during disassembly. The applied intelligent disassembly process ensures the original quality and purity of the re-covered materials. Within the project, researchers focus on digital methods and tools to support disassem-bly planning, as well as on evaluating its ecological and economic efficiency.
Project “CirProTech“:
The primary objective of the project is the technological development and implementation of sustainable, closed-loop reuse processes for plastic components and carbon fiber-reinforced materials (CFRP). Researchers are focusing on two key application areas: recycling plastics for the pro-duction of new automotive components and repurposing CFRP structures for use in the aerospace industry. One of the greatest challenges is ensuring the availability of sufficient quantities of high-quality recycled material. In many cases, these materials have been fused, bonded, or compressed with other substances during manufacturing, making a pure separation nearly impossible. The newly developed processes will examine each step - from material analysis, sorting, and processing to reintegration into production. By transitioning to manufacturing processes that enable material reuse, the consumption of raw materials such as carbon and petroleum, as well as energy, can be significantly reduced. What is currently considered industrial waste could soon become a valuable resource within a circular economy. This shift will allow companies to improve their environmental footprint over the long term while unlocking new economic opportunities through sustainable practices.
Project “conCErt“:
This project focuses on developing a best-practice model for collaboration and knowledge exchange within public-private partnerships in the circular economy. OHLF itself is structured within such a model, providing a real-world framework for both practical research and the application of project findings. Key topics include meeting structures, diversity and gender equality, as well as leadership development. The insights gained will enable researchers to develop measures and guidelines that enhance the effectiveness of collaboration within public-private partnerships. All proposed measures will undergo work and organizational psychology evaluations to ensure their impact. At the conclusion of the project, the finalized guidelines will be shared across regional and national networks to support broader implementation.
https://www.ist.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/2025/circular-economy-for-the-futur...
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