Science for Machine Tools

Research and development on a global scale

The future-oriented "Factory-X" project is pursuing the development and design of a collaborative data room for the joint utilization of data across the entire production and supply chain.

Within this framework, DMG MORI promotes and accelerates its development projects in a globally finely tuned bundle of measures and activities. The active cooperation with the International Academy for Production Technology (CIRP) is just one of many examples of this. The focus here is on partnership-based cooperation with leading technical universities and research institutes.

Representative examples are the pioneering partnerships with the universities in Kyōto or Keiō in Japan or the many joint projects with Leibniz Universität Hannover, RWTH Aachen and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft. Also noteworthy is the extensive collaboration and cooperation with the National University Corporation Nara Women's University for more diversity in engineering.

Recycling process for titanium alloy chips

DMG MORI uses its collaboration with universities to pursue sustainability goals and reduce the CO2 footprint of CNC manufacturing, among other things. For example, a recent study investigated the development of a closed recycling process for chips made from the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V, which is widely used in aerospace and medical technology. The aim of the project is to reduce the considerable environmental impact and energy consumption of the material. It is important to note: Titanium production is very energy-intensive, and sometimes during the machining of titanium backs up to 95 percent of the material is turned into chips, which often can only be further processed into inferior products to date.

The joint project between DMG MORI and the IFW in Hanover aims to produce high-quality titanium powder for additive manufacturing from the chips. This is to be achieved by optimizing machining processes and recycling methods to minimize chemical impurities. According to the authors of the study, this approach could significantly reduce the need for new titanium production, cut energy consumption by up to 77% and create a more sustainable, efficient cycle for the production of titanium components.

A collaborative data ecosystem with Factory-X

The future project "Factory-X" within the "Manufacturing-X" initiative is far more global and long-term. The mission is to develop and design a collaborative data space for the joint utilization of data across the entire production and supply chain. DMG MORI has taken the lead here on the part of the metal-cutting machine tool industry to promote the future of the industrial data economy from the perspective of CNC manufacturing and to shape it together with associations, research organizations, industrial partners and user companies. The Factory-X lighthouse project therefore plays a central role within the overall complex. By June 2026, a digital platform explicitly for data exchange in the manufacturing industry is to be set up with around 50 partners from industry, research and associations. The main objectives of Factory-X are:

• Creation of a digital Factory X ecosystem taking into account existing standards
• Manufacturer-independent data consistency for engineering, device information and condition monitoring
• Contributing to sustainability through carbon footprint and energy management, as well as digital solutions to support a circular economy
• Provision of digital solutions for "as-a-service" business models (e.g. marketplace/pay-per-part, remote control/monitoring)
• Traceability of materials, data and products along the entire supply chain
• Update and change management for devices in the field

Interested parties can find comprehensive information on Manufacturing-X and Factory-X via the Industry 4.0 platform, at participating associations such as ZVEI or VDMA and at www.Factory-X.org.