The hot forming process of steel requires temperatures of up to 1300°C. Usually, the invested energy is lost to the environment by the subsequent cooling of the forged parts to room temperature. Thermoelectric systems are able to recover this wasted heat by converting the heat into electrical energy and feeding it into the power grid. The proposed thermoelectric system covers an absorption surface of half a square meter, and it is equipped with 50 Bismuth-Telluride based thermoelectric generators, five cold plates, and five inverters. Measurements were performed under production conditions of the industrial environment of the forging process. The heat distribution and temperature profiles are measured and modeled based on the prevailing production conditions and geometric boundary conditions. Under quasi-stationary conditions, the thermoelectric system absorbs a heat radiation of 14.8 kW and feeds electrical power of 388 W into the power grid. The discussed model predicts the measured values with slight deviations.

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Forging tools must be able to withstand very strong mechanical, thermal, tribological, and chemical stresses. The extent to which a tool can withstand these stresses depends on the material used and its pre-treatment as well as the heat and surface treatment, i.e. the load capacity. The ratio of stress to load capacity determines how high the tool life of a forging tool is. This paper deals with the variations in the tool life of forging tools using the example of a specific industrial stage sequence and production conditions. Due to a large number of influencing variables that have an effect on the tool during the entire tool life history, the focus of this work is placed on influencing variables of the forming process. Based on real production parameters of a forging company, which are recorded during a period for the investigation, the process data are analyzed about an influence on the tool life. The investigation focuses on four influencing variables, namely the subjective assessment of the end of the tool life, the interaction between the forming stages, production interruptions, and the cooling and lubrication of the forming tools. For the parameters that are not yet recorded during the trials, promising available measurement methods are identified and tested under laboratory conditions. One example of this is the recording of the actual spray quantities that are sprayed onto the tool surface before the forming process. The results of the investigations show that the tool life fluctuations can be reduced by about 16% and as a consequence, the average tool life can be increased by about 13%.

Digitale Geschäftsmodelle wie Pay-per-Use werden für komplexe Produkte, Prozesse und Dienstleistungen in der Produktionstechnik bislang kaum angewendet. Ein Grund dafür liegt in einem Informationsdefizit auf Leasinggeberseite, insbesondere von notwendigen und sensiblen Produktionsdaten der Maschinennutzer. Dies wirkt hemmend auf eine wissensbasierte Preisbildung und führt zu Geschäftsrisiken. Dieser Beitrag stellt einen neuen Informationspfad mittels eines digitalen Notars vor, also einer technischen Lösung für eine sichere, zustandsabhängige Preisbildung, um dieses Defizit aufzulösen.   So far, digital business models such as pay per use have rarely been used for complex products, processes, and services in production technology. One reason for this is a lack of information on the lessor side, especially about the necessary and sensitive production data of the machine operators. This inhibits knowledge-based pricing and results in business risks. This paper presents a new information path by means of a digital notary – a technical solution for secure, condition-based pricing – to resolve this deficit.

Innerhalb des BMBF-Forschungsprojektes „Zustandsbewertung und Prozessassistenz für nutzungsdauerbasierte Geschäftsmodelle zur Flexibilitätssteigerung in der Produktion (ZuPro2Flex)“ werden Möglichkeiten analysiert, wie sich für unterschiedliche Akteure im produktionstechnischen Umfeld digitale, nutzungsdauerbasierte Geschäftsmodelle anwenden lassen. Dabei werden zentrale Fragestellungen zu Geschäftssicherheit und Transparenz durch einen sogenannten digitalen Notar – eine technische Lösung für eine sichere, zustandsabhängige Preisbildung – adressiert.