In times of a shortage of skilled engineers, it is more important than ever to prepare young talents for the challenges of industry. This is precisely where Werk150 comes in, as Reutlingen University’s own campus learning and research environment, offering pioneering solutions for the next generation of industrial engineering education.
Founded in 2013, Werk150 has developed into a state-of-the-art and proven research and learning environment. Discover their story.
Thanks to the passionate commitment of Prof. Dr. Vera Hummel and her team, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from Dassault Systèmes and modern digital and physical components have been successfully combined to create a holistic Industry 4.0 ecosystem in a light-flooded factory hall with 800 square meters of shop floor.
This high-tech learning factory combines science and practice and ideally prepares students for the future of Industry 4.0 and 5.0. Together, with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, we are creating an innovative environment in which digital twins, smart production systems and pioneering manufacturing technologies become reality.
At the end of 2024, Dassault Systèmes honored the Learning Factory as an ‘3DEXPERIENCE Education Center of Excellence’ and thus recognized the exceptional achievements of Werk150 in the application and integration of state-of-the-art technologies, in particular the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
The 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Centers of Excellence are physical facilities operated by selected Dassault Systèmes partners where industry-relevant 3DEXPERIENCE knowledge and expertise are combined with their own expertise to provide education or training programs to learners.
What does this mean for students & companies?
✅ Practical training with state-of-the-art technology
✅ Close collaboration with industry partners
✅ Efficient development of sustainable solutions through simulation
How do students benefit from technological support?
By integrating the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, students at Werk150 gain access to a cloud-based environment that covers the entire product development and creation process. A self-execution system (SES) controls production and interacts with the SAP/4 HANA ERP system.
The production infrastructure includes various 3D printers, a CNC milling machine and a laser cutter. At the center is the flexible FlexConveyor conveyor system, which, together with a versatile assembly system, collaborative robots and driverless transport systems, forms an Industry 4.0 and 5.0-reflecting shop floor. In addition, Werk150 has one of the first functioning independent 5G indoor networks in Germany.
Key skills such as simulation knowledge, data analysis, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation management are taught through the development of the digital twin. Students learn to simulate complex systems, analyze data and make well-founded decisions.
What are the advantages of cooperating companies?
Werk150 is proving to be an important source of inspiration for German SMEs, especially for the numerous ‘hidden champions.’ These companies benefit from low-risk, low-threshold access to cutting-edge technologies and state-of-the-art infrastructures that would normally be out of their reach.
The effectiveness of the digital twin in practice is demonstrated by a recent example: a medium-sized mechanical engineering company recently utilized Werk150’s possibilities to test new production techniques. By using the digital twin, potential weak points in the production line could be identified before actual production began, resulting in a 20 percent saving in development costs.
The close integration of industry and academia at Werk150 creates a fruitful innovation cycle. Companies not only benefit from well-trained graduates but also gain access to the latest research findings and technologies, which are often years away from market maturity.
Final thoughts
Werk150 thus realizes the vision of a modern learning and research factory that serves as an innovation platform for students, researchers and companies alike and actively promotes the development of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0.
Werk150 is part of the newly founded faculty NXT Sustainability and Technology, which offers a unique opportunity to create a future-oriented higher education program by combining technical and social aspects. Its interdisciplinary orientation and focus on sustainability and innovation will not only enrich education but also make a sustainable contribution to society. The numerous collaborations strengthen the academic basis and enable more comprehensive research and teaching approaches.