Autoclaves are today and in the longer term an integral part of the chain of production of CFRP components. Through the processes taking place in the autoclave, the system influences the material properties and component geometry. Therefore, procedures are to be designed with respect to the parameter measurement, simulation and presentation of heat transfer processes. One aim of the project is the recording of the exact temperature distribution on the component in order to minimise heating and holding times by new criteria for the autoclave controls. Hence, a procedure for quality-assured production of large structures of carbon fibre will be developed. Another aim is the use of a simulation method to obtain a process prediction, with which thermal inertia could be observed beforehand in order to optimise the cycle time. In a further step this information could be used to reduce the required heating and holding phases for homogeneous heating of the component by systematic manipulation of the hot air flow inside the autoclave. An additional option is the integration of alternative heating systems to critical areas of the component, specifically and locally limited to heat and thus achieves the homogenisation of the temperature field more quickly. A quality-assured production in the autoclave is based on a fundamental understanding of the processes in the autoclave. Hence, the research platform of the autoclave is equipped with extensive sensing systems. These data bases provide, which models are to be built that allow an active intervention in the autoclave process. This happens within a simulation of flow, heat transfer processes and the representation of the polymer reaction. The intended purpose is the virtual autoclave. To gain a fundamental understanding of industrial processes an industrial scale was considered by the size of the autoclave which was chosen to have an inner diameter of 5.8 metres and a loading length of 20 metres. The overall objective is the most cost-optimised production of high quality large components with small production variations. This should be obtained by using a thermal and pressure management for time optimisation and quality assurance during the process. A representation of the technology on an industrial scale is necessary, because a lot of effects can not be simulated in the laboratory. Therefore, the research facility has a dimension that allows for the manufacturing of aircraft fuselage components of short range aircraft in its entirety.