A Self-Optimizing Hydraulic System Approach for Agile Metal Forming

Authors

Denis Jankovič
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2657-3008
Marko Šimic
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2474-1765
Tomaž Pepelnjak
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4199-852X
Niko Herakovič
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2939-2891

Synopsis

This research presents a novel concept of a smart hydraulic press system, enhanced with an expert system and a multi-objective optimization loop, aimed at flexible metal forming in agile manufacturing. Unlike traditional forming systems designed for mass production, the proposed solution enables adaptive, multi-phase control for producing a variety of products. By integrating AI-driven data analytics and real-time adaptive control, the system supports predictive decision-making, anomaly detection, and self-optimization of the forming process. The expert system utilizes historical datasets and machine learning models to minimize response error and adapt to process variations. Experimental validation demonstrates over 95% improvement in hydraulic system performance. The study also highlights the potential for further enhancement through an additional control loop focusing on product dimensional accuracy based on material properties and tool geometry. This approach aligns with Industry 4.0 and 5.0 goals for flexible, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing.

Author Biographies

Denis Jankovič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail: denis.jankovic@fs.uni-lj.si

Marko Šimic, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail: marko.simic@fs.uni-lj.si

Tomaž Pepelnjak, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail:  tomaz.pepelnjak@fs.uni-lj.si

Niko Herakovič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail: niko.herakovic@fs.uni-lj.si

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Published

September 16, 2025

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Jankovič, D., Šimic, M., Pepelnjak, T., & Herakovič, N. (2025). A Self-Optimizing Hydraulic System Approach for Agile Metal Forming. In D. Lovrec & V. Tič (Eds.), & (Ed.), International Conference Fluid Power 2025: Conference Proceedings (Vols. 2025, pp. 19-30). University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.fs.7.2025.3