Kelvion: Customised product configurator thanks to FIRE
In order to fulfil complex customer requirements, Kelvion developed the myAFC product configurator together with adesso.
In the B2B sector, individualisation is no longer a differentiator – it's an expectation. Customers want solutions that fit precisely: technically, functionally, and economically. And they want them now.
For the manufacturing industry, this means more variants, more complex dependencies, and greater time pressure – all while constantly monitoring delivery times, costs, and margins. A balancing act that cannot be achieved with individual measures. A CPQ system here, an engineering tool there, with Excel and manual handovers in between: what is well-intentioned ends up in silos, media breaks, and unnecessary friction.
This is precisely where adesso FIRE comes in.
FIRE is not a monolithic system, nor just another configurator within the corporate IT zoo. FIRE is an open, modular software framework that takes a holistic approach to variant and complexity management, from initial customer contact through engineering, all the way to production, operation, and service.
The core of the idea: Batch size 1 with series logic.
Our goal is the end-to-end digitalisation and automation of core industrial processes: development, marketing, sales, engineering, planning, production, commissioning, and services. Integrated low-code tools and a service-oriented architecture enable lightweight integration with existing solutions from SAP, Salesforce, Siemens Teamcenter, Microsoft, and legacy systems.
Integrative configuration with 3D Make variations visible, tangible and verifiable – long before drawings are created.
Profitable even with batch size 1 Individualisation as a scalable business model – not a cost risk.
Automated order processing From configuration release to manufacturing without manual handovers.
Modelling of rule knowledge Variant logic transparent, versionable and maintainable by business departments.
Seamless system integration A consistent Configuration ID connects all systems throughout the entire product lifecycle.
Disruption through AI technologies Intelligent automation where it creates real added value.
The FIRE Framework now comprises six independent, freely combinable packages. Each package solves a specific functional task – together, they form a continuous digital bridge across variant management and the entire product lifecycle.
In projects with many variants, many errors don't arise in engineering, but earlier: in expectations. FIRE Visual makes configurations visible, tangible, and verifiable – long before drawings or bills of materials are created.
Products, systems or layouts are displayed as interactive 3D scenes directly in the browser. Equipment variants, dimensions and geometries react in real-time to configuration decisions. The visualisation is not a standalone frontend, but directly linked to the variant logic: What appears in 3D is technically permissible – what is technically impermissible cannot be visualised at all.
This way, FIRE Visual becomes the central reference point for sales, customers, and engineering – significantly reducing queries, iterations, and incorrect decisions.
FIRE Cockpit bundles all customer- and project-related information in one place. Requirements are captured in a structured manner, variants are configured, quotes are created, and projects are managed – for all stakeholders: from sales and partners to internal specialist departments.
Guided selling mechanisms reliably navigate complex decision-making processes. Role and permission concepts ensure that each user group sees precisely the information they require. Versioning and status networks create transparency regarding the current state of an offer or project.
Technically, the cockpit follows a consistent MACH architecture: API-first, Cloud-native, Headless – integrable, standalone, or embedded within existing portal, commerce, CRM, ERP, or PLM solutions.
The real complexity of multi-variant products lies not on the surface, but in the objects, features, and rules behind them: structures, dependencies, exclusions, calculations, and technical and economic constraints. The FIRE Engine consolidates precisely this logic.
It centrally maps product and system variants – transparently, versionable, and testable. It supports all common scenarios: from classic modular kits to ATO and CTO, as well as project-specific CTO+ and ETO solutions. Modelling is done using low-code approaches, allowing business departments to actively maintain the variant logic themselves.
At the same time, the FIRE Engine does not force the radical replacement of existing systems: Existing configurators and rule sets – including Excel spreadsheets – can be integrated and orchestrated.
In many companies, the digital chain ends with the quote (or offer). After that, a manual handover process to order engineering and order processing begins – with a high level of coordination effort and a corresponding risk of errors. FIRE Automate closes this gap.
Once a configuration is released, the package takes over the orchestration of all downstream processes: planning, detailed design, costing, work preparation, manufacturing, quality, and service. Processes are modelled in standards such as BPMN and executed via modern workflow engines – from automated standard workflows to project-heavy ETO processes with approvals and change loops.
The result: a continuous, transparent process flow with clear statuses, measurably faster throughput times, and significantly fewer manual tasks.
The more complex the system landscape, the more important a clean integration layer becomes. FIRE Connect performs precisely this role.
The package ensures that configurations remain uniquely identifiable across processes and systems. A central Configuration ID accompanies each variant throughout its entire lifecycle – regardless of which system it is currently being processed in. Furthermore, FIRE Connect abstracts different configuration engines, synchronises states, and provides integration services for Commerce, CRM, ERP, PLM, MES and other systems.
This means that configuration is not understood as an isolated offering process, but as a continuous control object across marketing, sales, engineering, manufacturing, and service.
Even the best variant configuration only unfolds its value when it can be produced efficiently. FIRE Factory transforms the digital product and process model into automated, model-based production planning.
Based on the configuration, manufacturing-specific parts lists, work plans, inspection plans, calculations, and – where sensible – CAD/CAM and CNC data are generated. Different manufacturing routes can be mapped, simulated, and compared graphically and rule-based. The generated data is transferred directly to ERP, shop floor, and planning systems.
This is how FIRE Factory closes the loop: from the customer's idea to the finished solution – without media breaks.
With adesso FIRE, individualisation is no longer a risk, but a scalable business model. The framework enables tailor-made solutions for customers, controlled variety, end-to-end automated processes, and seamless integration into existing IT landscapes.
FIRE brings structure to complexity – and speed to individualisation.
Marvin Zeeb
Senior Business Developer, adesso manufacturing industry solutions GmbH
marvin.zeeb@adesso-mis.de
Claus Eßer
Senior Business Developer, adesso manufacturing industry solutions GmbH
claus.esser@adesso-mis.de
In order to fulfil complex customer requirements, Kelvion developed the myAFC product configurator together with adesso.
Flender One is a real breakthrough in the direction of individualisation - and sustainability.