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17.07.2025
Digitalization poses major challenges for start-ups and the medium-sized textile industry in particular. In the SmarMoTEX project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU) is developing innovative solutions for digital transformation in the textile industry.
A central element is material flow simulation, which can be used to virtually map production processes, identify bottlenecks and optimize workflows - without disrupting real operations. Systems, their interlinking, malfunction behavior, order data and shift schedules are all taken into account. This allows various production strategies to be tested, such as switching from push to pull production.
In addition, existing machines were retrofitted with modern sensor technology to record process data such as forces, temperatures or feed rates. This real-time data flows into higher-level systems such as the MES (Manufacturing Execution System). Semi-automatically generated 3D models are used to create digital twins that support assistance systems for maintenance, training and optimization.
The simulation facilitates planning and control, allows product volumes and variants to be tracked and improves the ability to respond to market changes and customer requirements.
