The network

The network’s core expertise lies in the fields of metalworking, electric / electronic / mechatronic technologies, surface treatment and coatings. The region is dominated by global players and small and mediumsized enterprises cooperating as suppliers and system specialists. The variety of competitive skills opens up new opportunities for regional and inter-regional networks and cooperation in joint projects in the areas of production, training and education, procurement, sales and marketing, and logistics.

Main activities

The economic region known as the "Bergisches Städtedreieck" (Bergisch tri-city area) is renowned for the traditional industries of its three principal cities: toolmaking (Remscheid), cutlery (Solingen) and textiles (Wuppertal). The present success of the Automotive Field of Competence can be largely attributed to this wealth of expertise, which has allowed the region to undergo the structural transformation that still gives it its prominence. The broad skills base that exists today, extending from raw materials processing to professional marketing, would in theory allow the region to develop its own, locally built brand of vehicles. Indispensable in this context are product-based R&D activities conducted in close cooperation with local and nationwide university institutes.
To support the dialogue within the supply chain, entrepreneurial evenings have become a solid platform for regional cooperation and knowledge transfer since 2003. This was also the starting point of an automotive network promoting young engineering talent through self-initiated projects like the "Bergisch Automotive Education Prize" awarded on a yearly basis.

The technological focus

The Bergisch tri-city area is an established focal point of the automotive supply industry. The 280 firms that make up the Automotive Field of Competence currently represent a workforce of 16,000 employees, spread throughout the economic region. Numerous “big players” and market leaders of different sizes conduct their international business from this location: Delphi, Brose and DuPont Performance Coatings in Wuppertal, CRH in Solingen, AVL Schrick developing the latest generation of combustion engines and Volkner producing luxury campers.

This region excels in its range of production and services, which are unique in Germany. The amount of vertical and horizontal integration enabled by collaboration within the region is high.

Rapid implementation of the latest advances in technology among supplier companies through collaborative R&D projects helps the network meet market requirements. In this respect, the Bergische Universität Wuppertal generates synergies, offering the only German institute for safety engineering, along with valuable technical faculties. Current projects in the Automotive Field of Competence focus on technologies to reduce fuel consumption and active and passive safety systems, to name but a few examples.

Highlights

Active Safety Car designed to improve road safety

The Active Safety Car research project is aimed at improving road safety and fuel efficiency. It is part of the Automotive North Rhine-Westphalia programme in Germany. Delphi, a leading supplier for the automotive industry, has been selected to lead the project with the help of researchers from the Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Ceteq, Riedel Communications & Co. KG, Maschinenbau-Kooperation-Wuppertal and Wirtschaftsförderung Wuppertal.

Launched in January 2009, the Active Safety Car project team is developing an active safety system that allows information about potential hazards to be shared and exchanged between vehicles.

Project objectives include developing camera-based pedestrian recognition and high bandwidth car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication, establishing a warning suite that alerts drivers to situations that could lead to an accident, and designing an embedded processing technology application.

For more information, see www.active-safety-car.de .