Center for Frugal Products and Manufacturing Systems

The research conducted at the Center for Frugal Products and Manufacturing Systems (ZFP) focuses on enabling and supporting companies in implementing simple, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions — so-called “frugal innovations.”
In addition to services and consumer goods, the center particularly emphasizes the capital goods sector, including machinery, equipment, and components. The ZFP offers its expertise to interested companies through consulting, training, and support in solution development. In collaborative projects with ZFP partners, companies can access a dedicated development environment for frugal innovations, featuring demonstrators and comprehensive case studies. The ZFP works in close cooperation with the S-TEC centers and other renowned research institutions in Germany and abroad.

Partner of the Center

The research work at the center is aimed at enabling and supporting companies in the implementation of FI from the service and consumer goods sector and especially in the capital goods sector of machines, plants and components. The center provides interested companies with its competencies for consulting and prototype development. In addition, companies can access a development environment for frugal innovations in joint projects with partners of the center. The center itself cooperates closely with the S-TEC centers and other renowned research institutions.

Main research topics at Center for Frugal Products and Manufacturing Systems

• Establishing frugal innovation strategies and a frugal mindset
• Strategic positioning of products in market segments and levels
• Digital detection of product use
• Conception of novel services and products
• Potential identification for existing products to further develop into frugal solutions
• Conception of simple, robust and cost-effective (entry-level) products and production systems
• Design and implementation of modularisation strategies
• Development of user-friendly and localised human-machine interfaces
• End-to-end engineering for the entire lifecycle and provision of the toolchain
• Training of frugal capabilities via an exhibit display and practical training modules
• Knowledge transfer through the development of frugal solutions and use-cases

Collaboration at Center for Frugal Products and Manufacturing Systems

The ZFP supports and undertakes development undertakings tailored to the individual needs of your company. We pursue close cooperation in order to maximise your benefit. One simple entry into cooperation is possible via Exploring Projects free of charge. Through this, we analyse your current starting position and develop initial solution concepts for your innovation endeavour.

If you are interested, please contact our contacts.