Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM

Fraunhofer IFAM – Research shaping the future

Fraunhofer IFAM is one of Europe's leading independent research institutions in the fields of adhesive bonding technology, surfaces, shaping, and functional materials. Our mission: We develop innovative solutions for key future topics such as sustainable mobility, the energy transition, the digitalization of production, and resource efficiency – and bring them to industrial application.

With about 700 employees at locations in BremenDresdenStadeWolfsburg BraunschweigHelgoland and Cuxhaven

we offer a wide range of expertise:

  • Material development & functional materials: From metallic, polymer, and hybrid materials to battery materials and smart materials.
  • Shaping & additive manufacturing: Technologies such as powder metallurgy, 3D printing, and sintering processes enable innovative component designs and high-precision applications.
  • Adhesive bonding & surface technology: Solutions for secure, durable joining and the targeted functionalization of surfaces – essential in aviation, automotive engineering, and medical technology.
  • Automation & digitalization: Development of intelligent manufacturing processes, robot-assisted application systems, and automated quality assurance solutions.
  • Qualification & technology transfer: We impart expertise to specialists and decision-makers from industry and research through a wide range of training courses.

Discover our projects, technologies, and expertise – and find out how we can shape the industry of tomorrow together.

Fraunhofer IFAM on LinkedIn

✨Delegation from KCARBON visited Fraunhofer IFAM ✨

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the high-level delegation from 𝗞𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗕𝗢𝗡 (𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆), led by Dr. JI-YOUNG HWANG, which visited us last week at Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen. We greatly appreciated the intensive and constructive exchange on topics such as adhesive bonding technology, functional composites, large-scale structure assembly, automation and robotics, as well as composite and coating technologies.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀: CHONGSOO PARK, Ph.D., Cheol Min Nam, and Soobyoung Lee (KCANIA – Korea Carbon And Nano Industry Association); Manjin Kang and Sungmin Shin (Hankuk Carbon Co., Ltd.); Min Soo Lee (HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS); and Sang Wook Lee and Dr. Minyoung Kim (Kukdo Chemical).

Special thanks also go to Mathias Wietgrefe (Airframe Partnership Manager, Airbus) and Dr. Hubertus Lohner (Lead Techno Centre ECOMAT, Airbus) for their dedicated participation and valuable input. We would also like to highlight the participating colleagues from Fraunhofer IFAM – Prof. Dr. Andreas Hartwig, Dr. Volker Zöllmer, Dr. Dirk Niermann, Dr. Katharina Haag, and Dr. Thomas Lukasczyk – as well as Anja Sander for her support from Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE.

𝗪𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

Hashtag#IFAMdrivesInnovation

Forschen, Staunen, Ausprobieren: Zukunftstag 2026 am Fraunhofer IFAM

Ein Tag voller Neugier, Staunen und echter Forschungspraxis liegt hinter uns!
Beim gestrigen Zukunftstag 2026 am Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen haben 30 Schülerinnen und Schüler der Klassen 5 bis 10 erlebt, wie spannend angewandte Wissenschaft sein kann. 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬

An verschiedenen Stationen – von 3D‑Druck über Plasmatechnik bis hin zu Adhäsions- und Grenzflächenforschung sowie Klebstoffen und Polymerchemie – konnten die Teilnehmenden selbst experimentieren, ausprobieren und entdecken.

Ein besonderes Highlight war der Laser‑Reinigungsversuch an Aluminiumproben: Die Kinder konnten beobachten, wie sich die Haftung von Klebestreifen auf unbehandelten, kontaminierten und laserbehandelten Oberflächen deutlich unterscheidet – und live miterleben, wie der Laserprozess funktioniert.

Ob selbst hergestellter Klebestift oder ein gelaserter Schlüsselanhänger mit personalisiertem Fraunhofer IFAM‑Logo: Alle nahmen ein Stück Forschung zum Anfassen mit nach Hause. 🔬✨

𝘜𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘨 𝘻𝘶 𝘻𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯: 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘵 𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘵 – 𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘎𝘳𝘰ß𝘦𝘴 𝘻𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯.

Die Begeisterung der jungen Nachwuchsforschenden war ansteckend. Ein großes Dankeschön an alle, die diesen Tag möglich gemacht haben. Und herzlichen Glückwunsch an unsere frisch ausgezeichneten Zukunftstalente! 🙌🎉

John Laubert | Christopher Dölle | Sonja Böske da Costa | Christine Müller | Annika Vasić | Jennifer Baier | Andreas Keil | Thorsten Fladung | Sandra Froharth | Kerstin Flothmeier | Stephanie Koesling

📢 Register now! - Composite Repair Seminar & Experts Forum 2026

The Seminar is organized by Fraunhofer IFAM and GMI AERO, together with 𝗟𝘂𝗳𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗸, 𝗟𝘂𝗳𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀. It will be presenting the recent innovations and research results, as derived from the academic community, while providing practical application examples and demonstration with possibilities of hands-on experience to its participants in a 2-days course. It mainly targets composite repair engineers and technicians (working either in engineering, technical or training departments) of airlines and MROs, as well as PhD candidates and postgraduate students, with R&D interests in bonded composite repairs and potential employment outlook in the aeronautical industry.

During the Seminar, experienced industrial personnel, together with academic experts, will provide an insight of recent R&D developments and critical issues in the field of bonded composite repair, ensuring that seminar participants acquire a full “process understanding” and learn “innovative solutions”, to support reliable application of repairs, even on Class I (safety critical) structures.

📆 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟵–𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
📍 ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research, 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴
📝 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://s.fhg.de/9e3W
ℹ️ 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://lnkd.in/eRFujisa

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀:
📌 Digitalization of Aircraft Maintenance – Driving Composite Repairs in the Industry 4.0 era
📌 Aircraft Composite Repair: between Innovation and Regulation
📌 Structural Health Monitoring for Bonded Composite Repairs
📌 Repair technologies @ Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE
📌 AI‑Driven Composite Repair: Practical Methods, Tools, and Use Cases
📌 Thermal Transfer Issues Advanced Composite Repair Case studies
📌 Composite Repair in Real‑World Operations

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Andreas Krenz or Kai Brune of Fraunhofer IFAM.

Hashtag#IFAMdrivesInnovation

🔥 Reger Austausch beim Abschlussworkshop zum Projekt »WäNEff«

𝗪𝗶𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘄ä𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘇𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘂𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗞𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻? Die Antwort für effiziente Fernwärme liegt nicht nur in der Erzeugung, sondern auch in der Integration ins Gesamtenergiesystem und Ausnutzung von Flexibilitäten. Beim Abschlussworkshop in Berlin wurde deutlich: Derzeit fehlt es an einheitlichen Definitionen und Methodiken, um Vergleichbarkeit und Monitoring zu ermöglichen.

𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘀 𝗭𝗶𝗲𝗹? Gemeinsam mit 𝗔𝗸𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿*𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘄ä𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲, 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗳𝘁, 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗸 wurden die von Fraunhofer IFAM, Öko-Institut und 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗰 erarbeiteten Effizienzdefinitionen diskutiert.
𝗗𝗮𝘀 𝗭𝗶𝗲𝗹: Effiziente Wärmenetze so definieren, dass der Ausbau begleitet wird, ohne Hemmnisse zu erhöhen – mit mehr Fairness im Wärmemarkt und gestärktem Vertrauen der Wärmekund*innen.

𝗗𝗶𝗲 𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘁𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲:
📊 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗲𝗻 & 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲: Die Erfassung von Verlusten im Netz ist bisher nicht einheitlich definiert. Das muss sich ändern.
⚖️ 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻: Die Bundesförderung effiziente Wärmenetze (BEW) und das Wärmeplanungsgesetz brauchen klare Parameter, die über die Erzeugung hinausgehen. Wünschenswert sind vereinheitlichte Definitionen oder Erhebungsmethodiken, um den Aufwand zu verringern.
🔄 𝗚𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗺𝘁𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸: Wir brauchen einen ganzheitlichen Ansatz, der Erzeugung, Verteilung und Abnahme zusammen betrachtet – insbesondere angesichts neuer Technologien wie Großwärmepumpen und deren Auswirkungen auf das Stromnetz.

𝗪𝗶𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗵𝘁 𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿? Die Ergebnisse und Diskussionen werden nun vom Projektteam aufgearbeitet und in die bisherigen Erkenntnisse integriert. Der offizielle Bericht wird im Spätsommer durch das Umweltbundesamt veröffentlicht.

𝗩𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗳ü𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗸𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗹𝘀𝗲!

Bei Fragen wenden Sie sich gerne an Dr.-Ing. Lena Vorspel oder Dipl.-Ing. Max Fette vom Fraunhofer IFAM.

👉 𝗠𝗲𝗵𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝘀 𝘇𝘂𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗸𝘁 𝗪ä𝗡𝗘𝗳𝗳: https://s.fhg.de/97m

Fraunhofer IFAM

Take a Virtual Tour of our Laboratories for Adhesive Bonding Processes, Plasma and Laser Technology and our Coating Technology Centre

Magazine

 

Expansion of offshore wind energy in Europe

The Interreg North Sea project DIOL (Develop Innovative Offshore Logistic) deals with the implementation of the Esbjerg Declaration, which was signed by the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands at the North Sea Summit in Esbjerg on 18.05.2022. Its aim is to turn the North Sea into Europe's "green power plant".

 

Extension of the durability of rotor blades

Offshore wind turbines are exposed to extreme weather conditions. These lead to damage, e.g. erosion of the coatings on the leading edges of the rotor blades. The MARiLEP joint project aims to achieve a significant improvement in the service life of the leading edge coatings of wind turbines.

 

Hybrid casting for joining CFRP and aluminum

In the "HyFKAl" project, experts from Fraunhofer IFAM and the Faserinstitut Bremen e.V. are developing an economical hybrid casting process for joining CFRP and aluminum. This involves joining thermoplastic and thermoset CFRP structures with the aluminum partner using the primary forming aluminum die casting process.

 

Printed batteries

Manufacturing technology for batteries of the future: Fraunhofer IFAM offers alternatives for battery production using the screen printing process. New manufacturing concepts enable higher active material loads and greater freedom in electrode design. On the one hand, completely printed batteries help to overcome the limitations of current production technology and, on the other hand, reduce the use of solvents and subsequent drying processes.

Press Releases

31.3.2026

Major BMFTR Project for the Production of Sodium-Ion Battery Cells in Germany started

With the funding project SIB:DE ENTWICKLUNG, the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has launched the largest German consortium to date dedicated to sodium-ion battery technology. Twenty-five partners from academia and industry are collaborating to develop a sustainable, safe, and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The focus is on the production of large-format, market-ready cells and the assessment of their recyclability. The goal is the rapid transfer of research results into industrial applications.
more info

3.11.2025

Innovative Surfaces to Rapidly Load Bone Implants with Antibiotics

Infectious complications are not uncommon after implant placement. The risk is higher in heavily contaminated wounds, which are particularly common in war zones such as Ukraine, where many bone injuries require treatment. Research-ers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Bremen have developed a new functionalized surface that can be loaded with antibiotics.
more info

25.6.2025

Wayland Calibur3 Installed at Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden

Scaling up Next-Generation Additive Manufacturing: Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden has successfully installed a Wayland Calibur3 system, marking the institute’s third facility dedicated to Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-EB) and reinforcing its leadership in advanced additive manufacturing technologies.
more info

Events

20.4.2026

Hannover Messe 2026

Meet us at the Fraunhofer Group Materials joint booth (Hall 11, Booth D33), at the Lightweight Construction Pavilion (Hall 17, Booth G41), and at Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe (Hall 11, Booth E12). We look forward to seeing you there!
more info

14.4.2026

Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2026

The Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg is a leading international trade fair for aircraft interiors and a key platform for everyone involved in the development of modern cabin concepts. International exhibitors showcase innovations in aircraft interiors – from seating systems and materials to lighting, catering systems, and cockpit doors.
more info

25.3.2026

Coiltech 2026

At Coiltech, Fraunhofer IFAM will present its portfolio on the development, manufacture, and testing of electric drives.
more info

10.3.2026

AM Forum 2026

Meet experts from Fraunhofer IFAM at the AM Forum Berlin (booth 10) and discover innovative materials and solutions for industrial additive manufacturing.
more info