Industrial technology developments in data integration and energy efficiency

Recent developments in industrial technology highlight the importance of data integration and energy modeling for operational efficiency. Tim Srock, CEO of Lobster, emphasizes that seamless data exchange between companies, suppliers, and logistics partners is essential for creating resilient, AI-capable supply chains. He notes that while AI promises automated processes, its effectiveness is limited by heterogeneous system landscapes and the need for a clean data foundation.

In the manufacturing sector, the Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Machine Tools (IFW) Hannover is researching methods to optimize energy consumption in machine tools. As part of the ‘Factory-X’ project—supported by a consortium including Siemens and SAP—researchers are developing mathematical models to predict energy usage at the component level. This approach aims to eliminate the need for continuous sensor monitoring on individual components by using models implemented on edge devices to estimate consumption based on existing load patterns.