Overview
Pegasus was an Integrated engineering project covering Knowledge Based Engineering IT systems, new materials and processes for automotive application. Project results were demonstrated through design and manufacture of a new rear quarter panel and light assembly for the SMART Fortwo passenger car for the Daimler group.
The main goals of the project were to:
- Develop a new Integrated Design and Engineering Environment (IDEE) for SMEs supplying the automotive sector to support the five-day car concept that will facilitate the integration of functions, processes and materials in a single industrial process.
- Integrate knowledge from within the new supply chain concept allowing SMEs to co-operate and provide a quick, high-tech and customisable service directly to OEMs at a lower cost.
- Make use of nano-particles in colouring technology, disassembly on command components and local reinforcements to improve the components performance.
The PEGASUS project was part of a long line of developments within the automotive industry aimed at decreasing lead times, reducing costs and improving flexibility of manufacturing.
One of the key aims of the project was the creation of an IDEE - Integrated Design and Engineering Environment
The concept was to bring together the EU SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises) into a pool, communicating with each other and customers, and acting as a single supplier. The IDEE platform developed within PEGASUS facilitates the integration of functions, processes and Materials into a single industrial process.
The goal was to make supply chains shorter and quicker; to combine multiple operations into single operations and to include suppliers in partnership with customers to cut out, for instance, unnecessary re-invention of processes.
Funding
Results
The work that has been undertaken in Pegasus has made good progress towards achieving all of the originally defined goals and end-uses. In particular, the new methodology for automotive SMEs that has been developed will integrate production processes and the development of materials enabling them to function more cost-effectively and efficiently and so be more competitive.
In addition to this new, software-based methodology, a number of new functional materials have been developed (deboned-on-command adhesives, intrinsically coloured parts, locally reinforced parts, functional foams, and powder coating formulations) which offer technical improvements in terms of performance, environmental (eg. reduction in volatile organic compounds and ease of recycling) and economic advantages (eg. reduction in manufacturing steps and materials consumed).