German research teams showcase high‑precision manufacturing breakthroughs

Fraunhofer IFAM in Stade, together with Siemens AG and autonox Robotics GmbH, demonstrated a new Machine Tool Robot (MTR) at the EMO 2025 trade fair in Hannover. The robot uses a flexible milling kinematic on a linear axis to machine steel, aluminium and carbon‑fiber composites with industrial‑robot speed and machine‑tool precision, closing the gap between classic industrial robots and CNC machines.

Researchers at the University of Augsburg, led by Prof. Dr‑Ing. Nils Meyer, introduced an AI‑enhanced simulation tool for injection‑moulded parts. By merging physical flow models with machine‑learning, the software reduces design‑phase simulations from hours to seconds – up to a hundred‑fold speed‑up – while retaining high accuracy. Meyer said, “A tool that can evaluate many options within seconds can save companies valuable time, computing resources, money and energy.” The system requires only a few hundred training samples and will continue to improve by learning from production data.