RoboHub Lower Saxony Opens in Garbsen

This joint project between the Region Hannover (Economic and Employment Development), the LUH-affiliated company TEWISS – Technik und Wissen GmbH, the Institute for Assembly Technology at LUH, and Vision Lasertechnik GmbH is funded by the State of Lower Saxony as a digital hub and supports manufacturing companies in the use of robotics in production.

Spotlight on Cobots

The focus is on automating processes using collaborative lightweight robots (cobots). At the “RoboHub Lower Saxony,” specialists and managers from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can gain hands-on experience with this technology and develop initial applications through customized workshops. To this end, a test environment featuring various cobots, gripping systems, and compatible peripherals has been set up in Garbsen. 

Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots are relatively easy to program, require less space, and can often be operated without safety fences. Companies are often still unaware of the specific possibilities this technology offers for optimizing their operation- and component-specific processes. Therefore, the “RoboHub Lower Saxony” will also present initial success stories to provide an incentive for companies to develop their own cobot applications. These examples will be showcased at regular “robotics meetups.” Other events offer insights into current development projects at local research institutions.

Funding from the state and region

The “RoboHub Niedersachsen” is one of the digital hubs funded by the State of Lower Saxony (Ministry of Economics, Labor, Transportation, and Digitalization). The project is receiving 194,636 euros. In addition, the Economic and Employment Development Agency of the Region Hannover provides financial support to “RoboHub Lower Saxony.” Individual company initiatives and collaborative projects in regional businesses are also eligible for funding of up to 10,000 euros each. Furthermore, the agency’s innovation consultants assist interested companies in securing federal or state funding.

Comments on the opening

© Leo Menzel

During the opening ceremony, Stefan Muhle, State Secretary at the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Labor, Transportation, and Digitalization, highlighted the laboratory’s innovative strength. Regional President Steffen Krach and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Blume, Vice President for Research and Transfer at Leibniz University Hannover, also delivered welcoming remarks. “The Region Hannover has been actively promoting robotics solutions for nearly ten years. We want projects like this to generate interest in robotics across genders. We aim to train skilled workers who have their roots here in the Hannover region and, ideally, will stay here,” said Regional President Steffen Krach. The RoboHub consortium leader and Managing Director of TEWISS GmbH, Dr.-Ing. Jan Jocker, explained the technology behind lightweight robots to the guests: “Cobots are particularly flexible and are also suitable for small-batch production. The potential within companies is huge.” 

For more information about “RoboHub Lower Saxony” and contact details for those interested, please visit: www.robohub-nds.de

(Published on May 5, 2022)