Leoni Innovation Collaboration Center Accelerates Automotive Wiring Technology

Leoni Transforms Kitzingen Innovation Facility

The Leoni AG Innovation Collaboration Center (ICC) at the company’s headquarters in Kitzingen, Germany, is designed to accelerate the development and industrialization of automotive wiring system technologies. The facility was transformed from the Innovation Industrialization Center (IIC) into the ICC to strengthen collaboration between technology development and manufacturing activities. Its operating model brings relevant technical and industrial expertise together so that new solutions can be developed, tested, validated, and prepared for transfer into serial production more efficiently.

More Than 3,000 Square Meters for Technology Development

The ICC offers more than 3,000 square meters of space for offices, workshops, and development activities, with dedicated capabilities for technology prototyping, automation, validation, and demonstrations. Experts from product development, industrial engineering, production, advanced manufacturing, and research work together at the center. By combining these functions within one facility, the center supports closer cooperation throughout technology development. The approach is intended to reduce development time while facilitating the transfer of technologies from development activities into serial production.

Smart Manufacturing Cell Advances Toward Production

The center supports the development and validation of new technologies under real production conditions, allowing manufacturing solutions to be evaluated in an environment that reflects industrial requirements. A recent example is the Smart Manufacturing Cell (SMC) project, which resulted in an automated solution for taping and clip assembly. The solution has been approved for serial production and is being prepared for industrial ramp-up. This demonstrates how technology developed and validated at the ICC can progress from an initial project toward implementation in serial manufacturing operations.

Flat Wiring and Flexible Manufacturing Development

Beyond automation, the ICC is developing flat wiring technologies and flexible manufacturing concepts designed to address evolving market demands and future vehicle architectures. These activities focus on adapting wiring system technologies and manufacturing approaches to changing requirements within the automotive industry. The center is also exploring potential applications of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing. Together, these development areas extend the ICC’s activities across wiring technologies, production concepts, and emerging digital manufacturing capabilities.

Linking Innovation With Serial Production

The ICC combines technology development, industrial engineering, prototyping, validation, and manufacturing expertise within a collaborative environment. This structure is intended to create a more direct connection between innovation activities and serial production requirements. By enabling technologies to be developed and assessed under real production conditions, the center can support the transition of viable solutions toward industrial application. Its cross-functional setup also allows specialists from different areas to collaborate during development, supporting the objective of reducing the time required to move new automotive wiring and manufacturing technologies into production.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Leoni Innovation Collaboration Center?
The Leoni Innovation Collaboration Center is a more than 3,000-square-meter facility at Leoni’s headquarters in Kitzingen, Germany, focused on developing, prototyping, validating, and demonstrating automotive wiring system technologies and manufacturing solutions. It brings together experts from product development, industrial engineering, production, advanced manufacturing, and research. The center supports technology development under real production conditions and helps facilitate the transfer of validated solutions into serial production. Its activities include the Smart Manufacturing Cell project, flat wiring technologies, flexible manufacturing concepts, digitalization, and exploration of artificial intelligence applications in manufacturing.