8. Trend Outlook: Technical Approaches and Technological Trends

Date: 27 January 2026
Location: Online event (Microsoft Teams)

About the event

On January 27, 2026, experts from research and development will present current trends, technological advances and new approaches for the wiring harness industry The event offers concise insights into ongoing work and future-oriented technologies.

For those who were unable to attend live, documented recordings and presentations of the talks are available. The full agenda for January 27th and all documentation can be found further down this page.

Agenda and presentations

15:00 am | Welcome and opening
Robert Süß-Wolf, Transformation Hub Cable Harness

15:10 am | Reliability analyses of differential assemblies consisting of electrical connectors with populated cables

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Blauth, Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences (TH OWL)

This presentation demonstrates how the service life of electrical connectors can be assessed under mechanical and thermal stress. It will cover key aging mechanisms, current research on tribological effects, accelerated testing methods, and statistical techniques such as Weibull analysis for deriving reliable characteristic values.

15:45 am | MONA: Modular machine tool platform

Maximilian Nistler, Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units (ISW), University of Stuttgart

The MONA platform combines modules for 3D printing, milling, and laser-based processes in a reconfigurable system. It serves as a research environment for mechatronic issues, including multi-axis path planning and increasing the accuracy of modern drive systems.

16:30 p.m. | Re-Thinking Harness Manufacturing: Spray coatings as an efficient way to robot-friendly encapsulation

Niklas Piechulek, FAPS – Chair of Manufacturing Automation and Production Systems, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg

Today, cable harnesses are mostly encased manually or robotically using banding – processes that are complex, variant-dependent, and only partially automatable. Spray coating offers a robot-compatible approach with significantly reduced process complexity and reproducible quality. This presentation places the technology within the current manufacturing landscape and highlights its key advantages and challenges.

17:00 PM | End of the event

Documentation of the event: Trend outlook on January 27, 2026

The virtual trend outlook on January 27, 2026, offered in-depth insights into current research and development work in wiring harness and manufacturing technology.

Three technical presentations introduced new methods for evaluating the reliability of electrical connectors, flexible manufacturing concepts, and automated, robot-compatible encapsulation processes.

The content was aimed at professionals in development, production, and automation. All presentations and video recordings are available and can be accessed at any time.

Lectures and recordings:

Reliability analyses of differential assemblies consisting of electrical connectors with populated cables | Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Blauth, Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences (TH OWL)
MONA: Modular machine tool platform | Maximilian Nistler, Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units (ISW), University of Stuttgart
Re-Thinking Harness Manufacturing: Spray coatings as an efficient way to robot-friendly encapsulation | Niklas Piechulek, FAPS – Chair of Manufacturing Automation and Production Systems, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg