DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems (DIH_DiTMaPS)

DIH for digital twins of manufacturing processes and systems is a national non-profit hub founded by the public body University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering that operates with the support of strategic Slovenian partners, all non-for profit organizations.

The main focus of the DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems is to support companies in increasing their competitiveness by improving their business and production processes as well as their products and services in the field of digital technology, especially digital twins. Digital twins are one of the enabling technology in the way of digital manufacturing transformation in Industry 4.0 and value chain processes in general. The digital twin is defined as a virtual representation of a physical product or process that serves to understand and predict the performance characteristics of the physical counterpart. Digital twins are used throughout the product lifecycle to simulate, predict, and optimize the product and production system before investing in physical prototypes and resources.

The DIH is focused to accelerate technology transfer at regional, national and international levels, the joint use of research infrastructures and equipment, the support of smart and sustainable entrepreneurship in the field of intelligent factories and the promotion of human capital growth.

The DIH DiTMaPS supports companies to develop and implement a digital transformation strategy based on research and innovation that can consolidate and expand national competitive advantages. At the same time, the transformation of the national and European manufacturing sector into new intelligent systems will be supported in line with DIH'European Union research and innovation agendas.

The DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems is established within the Laboratory for Handling, Assembly and Pneumatics (LASIM) of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME ) in Ljubljana. The Faculty is a member of the University of Ljubljana (UL) and is the largest educational and research institution with the highest international standards in the field of mechanical engineering in Slovenia and the wider region of Central and South-Eastern Europe. The Laboratory for handling, assembly and pneumatics is part of the Department of Manufacturing, Technologies and Systems of FME, UL. The research and development priorities of the LASIM laboratory are closely related to the DIH's focus: digital twins of logistics systems, smart factories and Industry 4.0. The related theme of the laboratory is smart manufacturing, supported by digital technologies to increase the efficiency of SMEs. The other research areas of the laboratory are: High Performance Computing (HPC), Cloud Computing, Edge Computing, Human Centered Production, AI in Manufacturing, Zero Defect Manufacturing, Distributed Cyber-Physical Systems, Networked Factory, Digital LEAN, etc.

Over the years, LASIM has extended the usage of Discrete Event Simulation to the field of Digital Twins, which are the backbone of Smart factories and I4.0. With the knowledge of cutting-edge technologies and approaches, LASIM has a very strong link with industrial partners through its R&D projects and activities. Here are some industry partners presenting the market leaders from different business sectors: Yaskawa Ristro, Yaskawa Europe Robotics, Knauf Insulation, Kolektor, ECOLAB, Danfoss, Krka, Intersocks, Gorenje, Scania, Goodyear, Hidria, Skaza Smart Plastic, Polycom, RIKO, MTZ, LTH Castings, Iskra Mehanizmi, Agromehanika, etc.