Combined innovative strength impresses trade visitors

At the MicroStep Europe Technology Day, the numerous interested trade visitors had ample opportunity to find out about technologies in the areas of cutting, bending, surface processing, CNC software, lifting devices, air purification, media supply and much more. The IndustryFusion Foundation also received a great response for its solutions.

 

This year, MicroStep Europe once again opened the doors of its technology and logistics center for a very special event: the Technology Day 2025. An impressive range of state-of-the-art technologies awaited visitors to the 3,700 m² CompetenceCenter, which opened in 2023: live demonstrations of all four cutting technologies, advanced automation solutions and innovative bending and deburring machines, all under one roof. These included a number of system solutions that are already IndustryFusion Ready: For example, the two fiber laser systems MSE SmartFL and MSE CubeFL from MicroStep Europa, the deburring and grinding machine SMD 335 DER from Lissmac, the Q4500 plasma power source from Kjellberg Finsterwalde and various extraction systems from Teka. This means that these systems can be fully networked on the basis of the IndustryFusion-X open-source networking solution, enabling not only maximum transparency with regard to the production process, but also completely new business models. "For example, very specific offers can already be made in the area of equipment-as-a-service based on our open source networking solution," explains Fabio Oettl, Managing Director of the IndustryFusion Foundation. Specifically, for example, a fiber laser cutting system in an entry-level configuration can be rented for as little as EUR 23.58 per hour - payment depends on actual usage. "This means that if the system is fully utilized, I pay a little more than I would with a standard leasing contract. However, if the system is underutilized, I pay significantly less than I would with a fixed lease - so the costs automatically adjust to the business situation," explains Fabio Oettl.

 

Enthusiasm for great progress

 

Igor Mikulina, President of the IndustryFusion Foundation, was also enthusiastic about the great progress being made on the road to Industry 4.0. At the MicroStep Europe Technology Day, numerous member companies of the foundation presented their very specific digital solutions, among other things: From Lissmac, Teka, Kjellberg and Kemper to ProFirst, goCAD, Eckelmann Group, Monitor ERP, soprasteria and Kemppi. "With our combined innovative strength, we are strengthening European competitiveness, especially among SMEs, and boldly driving forward the digitalization of manufacturing. Pioneering solutions are emerging, particularly in the areas of cloud manufacturing, AI and equipment-as-a-service," says Igor Mikulina. Mikulina expressed special thanks to IONOS: The technology giant also flew the flag at the event and has been supporting the foundation for some time with extensive cloud resources, among other things. And the signing of a Gold Membership by Eckelmann, which has also been actively involved in the Foundation's goals for years, was a particular source of joy at the Technology Day.

 

"An even deeper insight into the great progress of our initiative will be provided at the Industrial AI Open Source Summit 2025 as part of the SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025 trade fair in Essen, which will take place on Monday, September 15," explains Igor Mikulina, President of the IndustryFusion Foundation.

 

At the IndustryFusion Foundation stand, everything revolved around the benefits and potential of the IndustryFusion open source networking solution. In his presentation, CEO Fabio Oettl also explained what it means that the MSE SmartFL and the MSE CubeFL are the first "IndustryFusion ready" systems - and what added value this offers for the networked production of the future.

 

Dr. Marco Münchhof, CEO of the Eckelmann Group, concluded a Gold Membership in the IndustryFusion Foundation for his company during the Technology Day.