Digital twins: connecting the real and virtual worlds

With the focus on the "data" lifeline in the All Electric Society, we are also placing the importance of the digital twin centre stage and in the spotlight at this point. Digital twins act as digital mirror images of real systems and assets in all sectors. The significance of the "data" lifeline is crucial in the context of the digital twin, as it forms the foundation for communication between these digital units and opens the way to data spaces. This connection makes data an essential part and parcel of the digital infrastructure, enabling efficient and comprehensive networking.

HARTING is both a developer and provider, as well as a user of digital twins. The digital twin is not only at the core of the company's own production, but is also deployed as a pioneering model for customers. By relying on digital twins, customers are able to organise their processes precisely and efficiently - long before a physical product is available. This is part of the customer journey, in which connectors enter the picture at an early juncture in the system design-in phase. With a view to the digital twin, production is no longer viewed as an isolated process, but as part of the overall life cycle of a product – factoring in the circular economy, sustainability and value chains.

At HARTING, the digital twin is defined by the Asset Administration Shell (AAS). Thanks to this structured data modelling it is possible to derive and operate various digital twin formats, which is indispensable in today’s increasingly globalised and standardised industry. The aim is to create flexibility in order to utilise digitalisation across different markets.

When products are selected and defined in the configurator, a digital twin is already generated, and the relevant data is transferred to production. The asset administration shell represents the most comprehensive model for describing a digital twin. HARTING strives to achieve a universal data model that can be exported in various formats in order to be viable for every market and every customer. In addition, the company ranks as one of the pioneers in the provision of these data formats and offers solutions for regulatory requirements and the digital product passport.

The digitalisation of the production process by way of the Digital Twin creates transparency and sustainability, while ensuring cost-efficient and resilient production. This comprehensive integration of the digital twin is the key to future viability and global networking in the All Electric Society – based on a robust data structure.

Customers select various modules and functions online, which are then combined to create a customised product. This configuration creates a digital twin containing all relevant product and process data. This twin is transferred directly to production, where it controls production automatically and accompanies the product throughout its entire life cycle. In this way, processes can be organised more efficiently, while traceability and quality are improved as well as providing information specifically for internal processes or the customer. The model is scalable and is undergoing continuous further development.