Lifetime concepts in the world of technical products

Environmental testing has the aim to test the functions and lifetime of products and equipments under special environmental conditions. In the technical field lifetime means the time of suitability. But this term is limited by aspects of technology, construction, function, reliability and business economics. In the field of sustainable production plants, the relationship between lifetime of the plant itself, the time of utilization of the plant to produce a specific product and the innovation rate of this product in discussed under the different aspects. Also the environmental influences on the lifetime of the plant are considered. It was found, that the time of utilization of a plant will be influenced by the innovation cycle of the produced product and the change of need. Consequences were discussed for the lifetime of production plants