27.02.2023

Press release

Connected mobility

Bosch drives forward the development of 6G

Stuttgart, Germany – Worldwide, research and development work on the future 6G mobile communications standard is picking up pace. Companies and states are investing massively in this technology. Bosch is leading the way and is actively involved in projects, alliances, and initiatives at both the national and international level to lay important foundations for 6G technology. “6G will be much more than just an infrastructure for connectivity; it will greatly increase the efficiency of autonomous driving cars, smart cities, and connected industries. That’s why 6G is a strategically important field of technology,” says Dr. Andreas Müller, who bundles and manages 6G activities at Bosch. The company currently has some 40 associates working on 6G technology. Over the next two years, that number is likely to double,” Müller says. Bosch is currently investing several millions of euros in research and development for 6G. 6G will be much more than just an infrastructure for connectivity; it will greatly increase the efficiency of autonomous driving cars, smart cities, and connected industries. That’s why 6G is a strategically important field of technology...says Dr. Andreas Müller, who bundles and manages 6G activities at Bosch. Bosch and Nokia expand their research alliance to include 6G At the Mobile World Congress 2023 in Barcelona, Bosch and Nokia have now announced that they will expand the alliance they entered into in 2017 to develop industrial IoT solutions in the area of 5G so that it also addresses the new 6G technology. The two companies are conducting joint research on the next generation of networks and investigating how to use future 6G networks for both communications and sensors. Comprehensive Bosch commitment at national and international level Bosch is currently contributing its expertise and experience to five publicly funded projects. In this context, the 6G-ICAS4Mobility , KOMSENS-6G , and 6G-BRAINS projects focus primarily on integrating communication and sensor-based environment recognition. Bosch leads the consortium for the first project . In addition to addressing relevant scenarios for road traffic, insights gained from the project will serve, in particular, as technical foundations for applications in the connected drones domain as well as in Industry 4.0 (e.g. for driverless transport systems). Meanwhile, the 6G-ANNA and 6G-SHINE projects focus on new connectivity structures. These are intended to enhance the efficiency of future E/E architectures in vehicles or robot cells. Bosch is also taking an active and leading role in early discussions and activities relating to future mobile communications standards within various industry alliances. In the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) , for instance, leading companies from the automotive and telecommunications industries are working together to develop solutions for the mobility of the future. The 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5GACIA) brings together industrial companies to focus on connectivity for machinery and equipment. Networks with a sixth sense through integration of sensor technology Among other things, the next generation of mobile communications will integrate new functionalities similar to radar sensors. With 6G, it will be possible to detect the position of objects in the network’s coverage area – without these objects having to be equipped with a radio module. 6G will enable extremely high data rates of up to one terabit per second, with very low latency in the order of some 100 microseconds – which is four times faster than a lightning strike. With the help of digital twins, this will for instance make it possible to monitor and simulate real-world manufacturing processes in a virtual world with no temporal and spatial restrictions. Experts predict that the first 6G standard will be completed by 2028. In recent months, Germany and Europe have launched a large number of 6G projects with the goal of strengthening their technological sovereignty. The German government, through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is providing some 700 million euros over the next three years to fund 6G activities. In addition, the EU budget has earmarked a further almost 900 million euros until 2027. Japan and the United States have also launched corresponding investment programs totaling around 4.5 billion dollars.

27.02.2023

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Connected mobility

Bosch drives forward the development of 6G

23.11.2021

Press release

Industry 4.0

Automotive industry to give manufacturing a facelift

Stuttgart, Germany – Faster, more flexible, and more efficient: these characteristics are the automotive industry’s main demands when it comes to developing its own production systems. To achieve this, today’s manufacturing operations need to be put on a new technological footing. This is exactly what the participants in the SDM4FZI research project (Software-Defined Manufacturing for the Vehicle and Supplier Industry) have set out to do. Led by Bosch, the University of Stuttgart, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), a total of thirty companies will define the foundations for software-defined manufacturing over the next three years. Their goal is to design software that can flexibly plan, manage, and modify everything from individual components to entire factories. In the automotive industry, this will pave the way for more variants and faster model and product changes. It will also improve competitiveness. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is funding the research project to the tune of some 35 million euros.Rigid systems hold vehicle production back Today, it often takes months, and sometimes years, for the technical elements of the manufacturing chain for a new model to be put in place, from supplier to final assembly. Together with the considerable economic cost involved, this stymies rapid market launches. The root cause of this is that many machines are designed and built specifically for one single new product. The software is usually inextricably coupled to particular machinery and products and is not transferable to other processes. SDM4FZI now aims to create a uniform framework for factories that will enable new products to be manufactured in existing operating environments without major retooling times. “By linking various Industry 4.0 approaches, we are getting one step closer to adaptable manufacturing,” says the Bosch project manager Matthias Meier. “An ecosystem for software-defined manufacturing allows us to bring the benefits of cloud technology to production. Software makes it possible to use automation technology and IT systems for individual, specific applications without having to build the hardware from scratch.” Uniform framework enables flexible manufacturing The project partners are developing prototypes for machinery and production lines that are largely defined by software. Such prototypes are based on digital twins, which make it possible to plan, build, and test production systems virtually. This conserves resources and saves on energy and costs. During production, moreover, it also makes the individual manufacturing stages more versatile, so they can be adapted more quickly to new market conditions. Thanks to the digital twins, companies can prepare and implement improvements, and also use AI to analyze them, without having to interrupt the production process. The main focus of the research alliance’s project is on making automation technology, machinery, and systems more flexible in order to boost efficiency in the production of supplier components and vehicles. New opportunities for the vehicle industry By pooling expertise from automation, mechanical engineering, IT, and the automotive industry, the consortium aims to create a common understanding of the requirements and to develop interoperable solutions. “The large number of project partners demonstrates how substantial a role software plays in the manufacturing of tomorrow,” says Michael Neubauer, chief technology officer for ISW at the University of Stuttgart. “We are working on pioneering approaches that will improve German companies’ competitiveness.” For example, the project partners are drafting a guide for the selection and use of suitable technologies, as well as standards for building software-defined factories. Further information on the project List of project partners

23.11.2021

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Industry 4.0

Digital Twin

Reproduction for press purposes free of charge with credit “Picture: Bosch”. Digital Twins make it possible to plan, build, and test production systems –before and during ongoing operation.

23.11.2021

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Industry 4.0

Software in manufacturing

Reproduction for press purposes free of charge with credit “Picture: Bosch” Software plays a substantial role in the factory of the future. It helps to manufacture in a flexible and resource-saving way.

25.06.2018

Factsheet

Business/economy

Bosch in Brazil

About Hermann Scholl: Hermann Scholl has been the honorary chairman of the Bosch Group since mid-2012. Prior to that, he was chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH until 2003 and, until 2012, chairman of the supervisory board of Robert Bosch GmbH and managing partner of Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG since mid-1995. Further informationQuotes: “ It has been some 25 years since I worked very closely with Bosch Brazil in my role as chairman of the board of management at Bosch. I am delighted that the German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce still takes such a positive view of that time. This award is an honor for me. ” “ Bosch can look back on a long and successful history in Brazil. ” “ Brazil is a wonderful country with many impressive highlights. I remember the people as very endearing, open, and pragmatic. ” Bosch looks back on a long and successful history in Brazil Tradition: Bosch opened its first branch office in Brazil in 1910. The local subsidiary Robert Bosch Ltda. was established in 1954. The headquarters of Bosch Brazil, which remain responsible for the entire Latin America region to this day, were built just a few years later in Campinas, near São Paolo. Bosch has thus been active in Brazil for more than 100 years. All four business sectors operate there today. Local presence: In Brazil, the company focuses on localization. In Campinas, Bosch manufactures mobility solutions such as vehicle retrofitting components, powertrain systems, driver assistance systems, and power tools. The plant in Curitiba produces diesel injection systems. Aratu makes spark plugs, and Pomerode is home to a plant for hydraulic systems. Since 2010, the Bosch service center in Joinville has been providing service solutions for South America. Sales: A successful business year in 2017: sales rose to 4.9 billion reais (1.4 billion euros), with exports accounting for 28 percent in total. Bosch’s business in Brazil accounted for 80 percent of total sales in Latin America. The Mobility Solutions business sector in particular saw positive developments in 2017 due to growth in vehicle production in Brazil and Argentina. Investment: In 2017, Bosch invested some 53 million euros in Brazil. Headcount: Bosch employs some 8,300 associates in Brazil at 14 locations. Dual education model at Bosch in Brazil: In 1960, Bosch became one of the first companies to set up a dual education system in Campinas and Curitiba. Using this model, which is well-established in Germany, we train professionals such as mechatronics engineers according to German standards. To date, a total of over 1,400 young people have accordingly completed their occupational training. Bosch has also opened a center in Campinas that conveys and enhances knowledge throughout the spectrum of industrial occupations to facilitate efficient training. In addition, Bosch Brazil supports the promotion of talent and occupational training programs in the country. Local innovation: Strong localization is an important part of the Bosch strategy worldwide. The electronic control system for the flex-fuel engine is a good example of this. In 2003, Bosch developed a unique local solution for Brazil with this innovation, which allows drivers to choose flexibly between gasoline and ethanol at the pump. As a vehicle fuel, ethanol continues to have tremendous economic significance for Brazil. The flex-fuel engine is still used in most of the vehicles manufactured in Brazil. Smart solutions for Brazil: Demand for connected products is also growing in Latin America. In Brazil, Bosch is developing connected solutions for mining, logistics, and Industry 4.0. For the field of smart farming, Bosch offers a sensor system that reports animals’ weights to farmers and increases productivity on farms in Brazil. Corporate social responsibility: In Campinas, Bosch established the Centro Medico hospital in 1973. Originally set up to improve medical care for Bosch associates, the hospital was spun off into a foundation in 2004, ultimately opening it up to the general public. Instituto Bosch, which makes project funding of up to 3.5 million reais available every year, was also established in 2004. The school and vocational training projects it funds help to improve career opportunities for some 7,700 children and young people. The Primavera aid organization, established and financed by Bosch associates, operates worldwide and also receives donations from Brazilian associates. In Brazil, Primavera supports projects that are spearheaded by NGOs and schools, allowing it to reach an additional 2,000 children nationwide.

25.06.2018

Presentations

Business/economy

Germany, high-tech hub: Semiconductors pave the way for better quality of life.

Check against delivery.Ladies and gentlemen, It’s been only roughly a year since we jointly announced the decision to build a new plant for 300 mm wafers. Now here we are, following a complex planning process, laying the foundation stone for Bosch’s chip factory of the future. With it, we are laying the foundation for improving people’s quality of life, the foundation for more safety on the road – and the foundation for a technology crucial to the internet of things and the mobility of the future. Semiconductors are a core component of all electrical systems. Semiconductors are also turning data into a coveted raw material of the future – none of the cars made today would be able to drive without them. They enable automated and efficient driving, and provide the best passenger protection – such as when they are called on to deploy airbags. With the areas of application for semiconductors becoming larger and larger, we are expanding our manufacturing capacity. As a location, we have opted for Germany. With this plant, we are entering into 300 mm wafer production for the first time, in a drive to achieve further significant economies of scale and to bolster our competitiveness. We see Dresden, the capital of Saxony, as a driver of microelectronics in Europe – and thus as the first choice worldwide for our billion-euro investment. I firmly believe high-tech is something Germany does well. By working closely with semiconductor companies, researchers, and universities, we aim to strengthen both our innovative strength and the competitiveness of this high-tech industry – in Germany and throughout Europe. Ladies and gentlemen, every day in our wafer fab, we will use highly automated manufacturing processes to create the future in the shape of semiconductors. But we will be doing more than that: we’ll also be creating prospects for the future in the shape of highly attractive jobs. Our high-tech factory will employ up to 700 people. We are looking for creative minds – people who can bring their expertise to bear on the construction of this state-of-the-art Bosch wafer fab. We are counting heavily on finding specialists here in the region as well as international specialists and experts. Our new construction project is also the biggest single investment in Bosch history. We are putting roughly one billion euros into our new location, and are pleased that the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy plans to support its construction and commissioning. And in addition to the federal government, the state of Saxony and the city of Dresden have also pledged their support. So at this point, I wish to express my thanks to you, Minister Altmaier, and you, Minister-President Kretschmer. It is also thanks to you and your predecessors that things have moved so fast, and we find ourselves here today, ready to lay the symbolic foundation stone together – for better quality of life, for the semiconductor industry in Dresden, and for the competitiveness of Germany as a high-tech location.

25.06.2018

Factsheet

Business/economy

Laying the foundation stone for 300 mm wafer fab in Dresden

General information Total investment approx. 1 billion euros Site approx. 100,000 m2 (about 14 soccer fields) Total floor space approx. 72,000 m² of production area and office space Construction timeline Groundbreaking in spring 2018 installation of machinery mid-/end 2019 pilot production to start at end of 2021 Associates in the completed plant Up to 700 Qualified professionals needed Experts from the semiconductor industry, such as process, production, and maintenance engineers, mathematicians, software engineers, as well as professionals with degrees in physics, chemistry, and microsystems technologies Manufacturing technologye Highly automated wafer production (300 mm silicon substrate wafers with structures up to 65 nm in width – 1 nm equals one millionth of a millimeter) Connected manufacturing Every second, the machines will transmit one gigabit of production data. The volume of data produced is equivalent to more than 42 million written sheets of paper, weighing 22 metric tons.Details on the building Total building volume 600 000 m³ Concrete approx. 66,500 m³ (about 8,300 concrete mixer trucks) Steel approx. 16,400 metric tons (about 30 A380 passenger jets) Earth moved/excavated approx. 90,000 m³ (some 7,500 truckloads) Bored piles for the foundation approx. 860 Floor slabs 100 cm thick Length of piping and ductwork approx. 80 km Length of electrical cabling approx. 380 km (from Dresden to Berlin and back)Internet For job seekers www.bosch-career.de/jobs Site for the Dresden location https://www.bosch.de/en/ourcompany/bosch-in-germany/dresden Bosch semiconductors www.bosch-semiconductors.com

25.06.2018

Factsheet

Business/economy

Semiconductor production at Bosch

Current portfolio Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), semiconductors, and mass-flow sensors for vehicle ECUs; acceleration, yaw-rate, and pressure sensors for vehicle ECUs and consumer applications; surround and geomagnetic sensors and projectors for consumer applications Manufacturing locations Reutlingen, Germany (150 mm and 200 mm technology) Patents Bosch holds more than 1,000 patents and patent applications relating to MEMS and semiconductor technology. Market Bosch manufactures semiconductors and MEMS sensors for its own use. A large portion of the portfolio is also offered in the open market. History For more than 45 years, Bosch has been developing and manufacturing microelectronic components and systems; it developed the microfabrication technique for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) nearly 25 years ago, and is now the world market leader in this field.

25.06.2018

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch lays foundation stone for factory of the future

Stuttgart and Dresden, Germany – The foundation stone laid today in Dresden is a key milestone in the construction of the Bosch Group’s state-of-the-art wafer fab. Construction is scheduled to be completed in late 2019, when installation of the production machinery will start. “Today we are laying the foundation stone for the wafer fab of the future, and with it the foundation for improving people’s quality of life and their safety on the road,” said Dr. Dirk Hoheisel, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, at the formal ceremony in Dresden. “Semiconductors are the key technology for the internet of things and the mobility of the future. When installed in cars’ control units, for example, they enable automated, efficient driving and the best possible passenger protection.” In his address, Peter Altmaier, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, underlined the central importance of this Bosch investment: “We are today taking an important step toward securing the future competitiveness of Germany as an industrial location. The research community in Germany and Europe is an excellent one, but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. In the field of microelectronics, we also need engineering skills and know-how, and especially industrial-scale manufacture and application, in Germany and Europe. Today’s ceremony is an important step on this route.” As a supplier of technology and services, Bosch is investing roughly one billion euros in its new location in the Saxony state capital. The first associates are due to start work in the new plant in early 2020. Today we are laying the foundation stone for the wafer fab of the future, and with it the foundation for improving people’s quality of life and their safety on the road....Dr. Dirk Hoheisel After Reutlingen, the Dresden plant is the Bosch Group’s second wafer fab in Germany. With it, the company aims to expand its manufacturing capacity, and thus to boost its competitive edge in global markets. Semiconductors are finding their way into more and more applications relating to the internet of things and mobility solutions. According to the market research company Gartner, semiconductor sales around the world rose by some 22 percent in 2017 alone. Otto Graf, who will manage the new plant, said: “Construction is proceeding right on schedule. “During the construction phase, we will move some 7,500 truckloads of earth, lay about 80 kilometers of piping and ductwork, and mix more than 65,000 cubic meters of concrete – 8,000 concrete mixers-worth.” Following a rollout phase, pilot manufacturing operations are expected to start at the end of 2021. The plot of land – measuring some 100,000 square meters, or roughly 14 soccer fields – will also be home to a nearly 72,000 square-meter multistory building housing offices and production space. Up to 700 associates will be involved in the highly automated chip manufacturing process, working to plan, manage, and monitor production. This also includes modifying the production processes and evaluating the data from Dresden in Bosch’s global manufacturing network. Saxony as a business location: driving Europe’s microelectronics industry “Bosch’s decision is an important milestone. The construction of the new wafer fab here in Dresden will create many other attractive jobs, strengthen Saxony’s reputation as a location for technology and business, and is good for Germany and Europe as well. This project will play a decisive part in securing a leading role for European industry as a whole in the technologies of the future,” said Michael Kretschmer, the Minister-President of the state of Saxony. “This investment in such a major project is a sign of confidence in Saxony, in its people, in the research and industrial network that has become established here, and in its innovativeness.” In its search for a new location, Bosch considered several cities around the world. In Hoheisel’s words, “Dresden is an excellent microelectronics cluster.” He added that the city’s infrastructure is excellent: everything is easily accessible, and the transportation connections are good. The cluster also includes automotive suppliers and service providers, as well as universities offering technological expertise. As Hoheisel pointed out: “We want to work closely with semiconductor companies and universities to increase semiconductor technology’s competitive edge – not only in Germany, but across Europe.” We are today taking an important step toward securing the future competitiveness of Germany as an industrial location....Peter Altmaier, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Semiconductors: key technology for the internet of things Manufacturing semiconductor chips always starts with a silicon disc, or wafer. The bigger the wafer’s diameter, the more chips that can be made per manufacturing cycle. This is one reason why the new Bosch factory will focus on the production of 300 mm wafers: Compared with conventional 150 and 200 mm wafer fabs, 300 mm wafer technology offers greater economies of scale. Semiconductors are extremely small integrated circuits with structures measured in fractions of a micrometer. Manufacturing them requires a highly automated and complex process consisting of several hundred individual steps over several weeks. It takes place in clean-room conditions, as even the tiniest particles in the ambient air can damage the delicate circuits. Connected manufacturing: 22 metric tons of data a day for higher quality Wafer production is one of the forerunners of connected manufacturing. The Dresden plant is expected to generate production data equivalent to 500 text pages per second – written out on paper, that would be more than 42 million pages a day, weighing 22 metric tons. This is why artificial intelligence will play a special part in chip manufacturing in the factory: the highly automated production facilities analyze their own data in order to optimize their processes. As a result, the quality of the chips rises while production costs go down. Furthermore, planning and process engineers can access this production data at any time to accelerate the development of new wafer products or minimize tolerances early on in the manufacturing process. “We need creative minds for our connected and automated manufacturing operations – particularly experts in wafer technology, like process engineers, mathematicians, or software developers,” Graf said. Many new associates have already been hired for the Dresden plant, he added, and there has been no drop in the number of applications. Leading semiconductor manufacturer with 45 years of experience For more than 45 years, Bosch has been making semiconductor chips in various forms, above all as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). At its wafer fab in Reutlingen, Germany, Bosch currently manufactures ASICs, power semiconductors, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Bosch ASICs have been used in vehicles since 1970. They are customized to individual applications, and essential for functions such as engine management or airbag deployment. In 2016, every car rolling off the production lines worldwide had on average more than nine Bosch chips on board.

07.06.2018

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch scores big in Japan with clever technology

Tokyo – The Bosch Group is scoring big in Japan thanks to its innovative and intelligent solutions for the local market as well as for the global Japanese automotive industry. “Bosch has made impressive progress in Japan. We are working with Japanese automakers to drive forward the automation, electrification, and connectivity of mobility. In addition, we are increasingly focusing on IoT solutions, such as smart agriculture,” says Klaus Meder, the president of Bosch Japan. Last year, the leading supplier of technology and services recorded sales of 2.3 billion euros in Japan, an increase of roughly 10 percent over the previous year. Bosch Japan also made a good start to 2018, mainly due to strong growth for the Mobility Solutions business sector, which generates a significant share of the company’s sales in Japan. In 2017, the company grew twice as fast in this area as the local market. The Industrial Technology business sector also performed well. Bosch has been operating in Japan since 1911 and currently employs some 6,600 people in the country.Business with Japanese automakers sees double-digit growth In 2017, Bosch’s global sales to Japanese automakers rose year-on-year by around 11 percent, which makes it the sixth year in a row these have posted double-digit growth. Looking ahead, Bosch expects this trend to continue over the medium term. Bosch not only supplies Japanese automakers locally, but also works closely with them around the globe. In the ASEAN region, for example, Japanese automakers enjoy a market share of around 90 percent. Accordingly, the region is a focus of investment for the Bosch Group. For instance, at the end of 2017, the company opened its second plant for mobility solutions in Thailand, representing a total investment of 80 million euros. The new smart factory in Hemaraj manufactures components including injection valves, interconnect technology, and knock sensors. The site also houses a research and development center at which around 60 associates work on the further refinement of gasoline injection systems. Bosch is also expanding its manufacturing operations in Vietnam. Since 2008, the company has been producing push belts for continuously variable automatic transmissions in Dong Nai, which is located about 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City. Bosch is currently investing around 60 million euros to convert this plant into a smart factory and increase its production capacity. By the end of 2018, total investment in the site will have exceed 320 million euros since 2011. Expanding IoT business: smart farming solutions In addition to its mobility solutions business, Bosch is also focusing on developing connected solutions in Japan, for which it is drawing on the country's high degree of innovative strength. Last year, for example, saw the launch of Plantec, a smart system for optimizing tomato cultivation in Japanese greenhouses. The solution is tailored to the local market, as greenhouse cultivation is particularly widespread in the country. Plantec uses sensors to measure humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide levels, and sunlight. These environmental parameters are crucial for plant growth and data on them is collected and sent via a gateway to a cloud server. There, a system analyzes the data and takes into account additional important agricultural parameters as well as the weather forecast. The results of the analysis are displayed in an app. The system can analyze the risk of infection and use artificial intelligence to plan the use of pesticides in advance. It can thus help farmers minimize crop loss. Work on this project is being carried out in conjunction with the Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence (BCAI). At the end of 2018, the company plans to expand this service to strawberry and cucumber cultivation. Bosch's goal is to supply around 10 percent of Japan's greenhouses by 2020.

24.04.2018

Image

Connected mobility

Wafer production in the Bosch semiconductor fab

Reproduction for press purposes free of charge with credit “Picture: Bosch” Associate checks semiconductor equipment and plans the next steps.