VOSS – Transparency, sustainability, and digital connectivity are increasingly becoming critical success factors for industrial value chains. Through its participation in an innovative pilot project on the Digital Product Passport (DPP), VOSS is setting new standards for tomorrow’s requirements alongside its industry partners. Together with Bosch Rexroth and BENTELER Steel/Tube, a hydraulic pipe assembly was presented for the first time as a digital representation at this year’s Hannover Messe. This use case impressively demonstrated how digital product information can be made seamlessly available throughout the entire value chain, from raw materials to the finished product.
Transparency Throughout the Entire Value Chain: Digital Product Passport to Become Mandatory Starting in 2027
The Digital Product Passport is considered a key component of future European regulations and will be gradually phased in as a mandatory requirement across many industries starting in 2027. The goal is to provide relevant information digitally throughout a product’s entire life cycle: from the origin of raw materials through production to sustainability and recycling information.
As part of the pilot project, the respective components from the participating partners were mapped within an end-to-end digital value chain. While Bosch Rexroth supplied the end product—the “CytroPac” hydraulic power unit for a deep-drawing press—and BENTELER provided the hydraulic tubing, VOSS integrated its connection technology and components into the digital data structure.
Asset Administration Shell as a Technological Foundation
The technological foundation of the project is the so-called Asset Administration Shell (AAS). It functions as a standardized digital twin and enables consistent data exchange between companies, systems, and applications. In the future, comprehensive product information will be made available via digital access, such as through a QR code. This includes, among other things, technical documentation, material information, certificates, carbon footprints, and other product-related data. The digital structure can also be flexibly expanded, thereby providing the foundation for additional market and customer requirements.
Preparing for Future Regulatory Requirements
For VOSS, participating in this project is another step toward a digitally connected industry. “The demands for transparency and traceability in industrial supply chains are constantly increasing. With the Digital Product Passport, we are laying the groundwork to make product information standardized, transparent, and digitally available at all times. Asset Administration Shell makes it possible to provide information that goes far beyond traditional product data—from certificates and technical documentation to sustainability metrics. At the same time, we are laying the groundwork for implementing future regulatory requirements efficiently and in a practical manner,” explains Carsten Zimmermann, Manager of Engineering Services at VOSS Automotive.
Caption/Photo credits: CytroPac © Bosch Rexroth AG