digital twins

I4S 3/2026: Immersive Technologies in Production

I4S 3/2026: Immersive Technologies in Production

VR, AR, MR, XR: Catalysts for the next industrial revolution?
Immersive technologies are fundamentally transforming manufacturing. VR, AR, MR, and XR merge physical and digital worlds into interactive work environments. In Industry 4.0, they enable more intuitive access to planning, production, maintenance, and training. This issue of Industry 4.0 Science shows how immersive technologies are becoming a central building block of resilient, flexible, and innovative production systems.
Open-Source Implementation of the Industrial Metaverse

Open-Source Implementation of the Industrial Metaverse

Case study and best practices
Henning Strauß ORCID Icon, Tim Johannsen
The digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector is hampered by vendor lock-in, high cloud costs, and stringent data sovereignty requirements when implementing Industrial Metaverse solutions. Although the Industrial Metaverse is quickly becoming a key concept in Industry 5.0, SMEs are often at a disadvantage when using proprietary solutions. This paper demonstrates how Industrial Metaverse applications can be realized by combining proven communication standards with open web technologies, thereby reducing barriers. This makes immersive applications for training, maintenance, and monitoring feasible even in SMEs. Using an open-source-based prototype as a best-practice implementation, the paper illustrates how the Industrial Metaverse can be made technologically and economically accessible to SMEs.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | Edition 3 | Pages 68-73
Green Digital Twins in the Product Life Cycle

Green Digital Twins in the Product Life Cycle
Reducing emissions from industrial processes is crucial for global cli-mate protection goals. Many countries have set ambitious targets, such as Germany's goal to reduce industrial emissions by 20% before 2030. To achieve these goals, innovative technologies for sustainable industrial production are needed. Digital technologies offer opportunities to analyze energy and resource consumption, leading to data-driven improvements that contribute to climate protection. The demand for traceability solutions, including product carbon footprints and digital product passports, has increased due to EU regulations. Digital technologies have emerged as powerful enablers to meet this demand. Green Digital Twins, which optimize energy efficiency, minimize carbon emissions, and reduce environmental impact, provide a technological solution for sustainable transformation. While digital twins have gained traction in the industrial environment through standardization and demonstration activities, the ...
Industry 4.0 Science | 2023 | | DOI 10.30844/wgab_2023_10