Production at the Leading Edge of Technology: Proceedings of the 15th Congress of the German Academic Association for Production Technology (WGP), Hannover, September 2025

This open access book contains all contributions to the congress, in which both detailed scientific investigations and technological innovations in the process chains of machining and forming are discussed as well as comprehensive, far-sighted overall views on the planning and control of production processes. These approaches are supplemented by more interdisciplinary cross-sectional topics such as robotics, control engineering, automation, materials technology, additive manufacturing and human-centered production. It is particularly striking that the main approaches presented aim to improve efficiency in production using data-driven methods such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. However, the use of measurement results to improve simulations is also frequently addressed. The book proceedings show that transformations can only succeed through the realization of both detailed technical improvements in production technologies and optimized production organization.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ludger Overmeyer studied electrical engineering at the University of Hanover and then worked as a research assistant at the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH). After obtaining his doctorate in engineering, he worked as a manager in the field of research and development in mechanical and plant engineering for the semiconductor industry. Since 2002, he has headed the ITA at Leibniz University Hannover. In 2007, he took on the role of managing partner of IPH.  

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd-Arno Behrens studied Mechanical Engineering at the Leibniz University of Hannover (LUH) and received his doctorate at the same university in 2003. Since 2004, he has been the head of the Institute for Forming Technologies and Machines (IFUM) at the LUH and a board member of the Hannover Centre for Production Technology (PZH). In 2005, he became a member of the editorial committee for 'Production Engineering, Research and Development' (WGP), and in 2017, Prof. Behrens was awarded the Otto-von-Guericke Prize by the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF).