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 Bremen, Dresden, Stade, Wolfsburg Braunschweig, Helgoland 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

Connecting Japan and Germany through adhesive bonding in Bremen

It was a great pleasure to welcome a high-level delegation from Japan to Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen for two intensive days dedicated to adhesive bonding technology, sustainable manufacturing and future research cooperation.

The visit brought together representatives from AIST, NEDO and leading Japanese industrial companies. The automotive sector was strongly represented by Nissan Motor, Toyota Auto Body and Mitsubishi Motor R&D Europe. We were also pleased to exchange perspectives with Asahi Kasei as a major chemical and polymer manufacturer, as well as Taiseiplas and Shimadzu.

The program was developed and moderated by Dr. Holger Fricke from Fraunhofer IFAM and Nao Terasaki from AIST. The shared objective was not only to present current research, but to identify concrete starting points for future cooperation between industry, AIST and Fraunhofer IFAM.

A particular highlight was the extensive tour of our laboratories and technical facilities. It allowed our guests to gain a close look at the broad spectrum of adhesive bonding research at Fraunhofer IFAM, from adhesive materials, surfaces and joint design to process technology, automation, quality assurance and professional training.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀:
🔹 Adhesive bonding as an enabler of sustainability in automotive manufacturing
🔹 Durable bonding combined with debonding and rebonding
🔹 Robotics and Physical AI in adhesive manufacturing
🔹 Adhesives for hydrogen infrastructure
🔹 Hybrid bonding of mega-casted AL-structures
🔹 Adhesive and sealing technologies for semiconductor applications

The discussions with the automotive representatives focused particularly on how adhesive bonding can support lightweight multi-material design, robust vehicle production, testing and future circular manufacturing concepts. The exchange with Asahi Kasei added the important materials perspective, especially regarding innovative vitrimer polymers and the development of future adhesive systems.

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀! 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗮𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺.

Fraunhofer IFAM is internationally active across the entire field of adhesive bonding. We look forward to turning the ideas developed in Bremen into new German-Japanese research partnerships and industrial projects.

#IFAMdrivesInnovation

Dr. Katharina Koschek | Dr. Erik Meiss | Dr. Christoph Regula | Dr. Till Vallée | Tobias Evers

🌟 Das »12. Fachsymposium Polymerverguss« am Fraunhofer IFAM war ein voller Erfolg!🌟

Unter dem 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗸𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗮 »𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻« diskutierten Expertinnen und Experten aus Wissenschaft und Industrie aktuelle Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze rund um die Vorhersage von Materialverhalten, die Ermittlung relevanter Kennwerte sowie deren Einsatz in Simulationen.

𝗨𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗴𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗳ü𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗵.

Am ersten Tag lag der Fokus auf Kennwerten und Simulationen. Es gab Vorträge von Tobias Gebhardt (Siemens Energy), Felix Fehmer (CRW Engineering), Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Uwe Rietz (LUM GmbH), Nafiz Söyleyen (Infineon Technologies), Julian Motzkau (Formenfrei 3D GmbH), Dr.-Ing. Olaf Hesebeck (Fraunhofer IFAM), Dr. Fabian Mühl (SICK) und Dr. Ole Hölck (Fraunhofer IZM).

Die Vorträge des zweiten Tages widmeten sich den Themen Lebensdauer und Nachhaltigkeit. Es gab Vorträge von Massimo Galbiati (Particleworks Europe), Alexander Reichel (Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS), Jeremias Friesen (Nemak Global), Dr.-Ing. Lars Rebenklau (Fraunhofer IKTS) und Michael Vogt (Universität Bremen).

📅 𝗪𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘂𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝘀 𝗻ä𝗰𝗵𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗺 𝟲./𝟳. 𝗢𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳.

Wer nicht so lange warten möchte, findet hier weitere Infos zum Thema Polymerverguss am Fraunhofer IFAM: https://s.fhg.de/RP7

Für Fragen steht Ihnen Dr. Martin Rütters vom Fraunhofer IFAM gerne zur Verfügung.

#IFAMdrivesInnovation

☀️🔋 Sonne im Tank oder Strom aus der Steckdose? Wie sind wir zukünftig mobil?

Darüber sprach 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗸𝗶 vom Fraunhofer IFAM am 𝟮. 𝗢𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 in seinem Vortrag im Rahmen des 𝗧𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗶𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 in Bremen.

Zahlreiche Interessierte nutzten die Gelegenheit, über die Mobilität der Zukunft zu diskutieren. Im Fokus standen moderne Antriebskonzepte, der Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur sowie die Rolle erneuerbarer Energien für eine nachhaltige und vernetzte Mobilität.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲: Die Transformation des Mobilitätssektors erfordert nicht nur technologische Innovationen, sondern auch ein intelligentes Zusammenspiel von Energieversorgung, Infrastruktur und gesellschaftlicher Akzeptanz.

𝗩𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿*𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗻 𝗳ü𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼ß𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲, 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗵!

#IFAMdrivesInnovation #TDE2026

Gemeinsam voran beim Konsortialtreffen von SIB:DE Forschung!

Unser Konsortialtreffen hat wieder gezeigt, wie wertvoll die Zusammenarbeit unterschiedlicher Partner und Perspektiven ist. Gemeinsam haben wir Ergebnisse diskutiert, Herausforderungen adressiert und die nächsten Schritte auf den Weg gebracht.

Organisiert wurde das Treffen von Dr. Daniela Fenske vom Fraunhofer IFAM und Gastgeber Franz Schmidt von Evonik Operations GmbH. Ein besonderes Dankeschön an Evonik für die ausgezeichnete Versorgung und die rundum angenehmen Rahmenbedingungen für unser Treffen.

Vielen Dank an alle Partner für die konstruktiven Diskussionen und das große Engagement.

Das 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗸𝘁 »𝗦𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺-𝗜𝗼𝗻-𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱-𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 – 𝗦𝗜𝗕:𝗗𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗚« wird vom Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt gefördert.

#IFAMdrivesInnovation

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

1.10.2026

Electrolysis with Untreated Seawater: Fraunhofer Tests Materials and Membranes

Seawater and brackish water could serve as alternative water sources for hydrogen production. The challenge is that conventional electrolyzers require high-purity water that needs extensive treatment. In the SeaEly project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM investigated how suitable seawater and brackish water are for hydrogen production and what testing and evaluation infrastructure is needed.
more info

29.9.2026

Construction starts on new prototype centre for electrolysis technologies at Fraunhofer IFAM in Dresden

With the construction of a new prototyping centre, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Dresden is expanding its research infrastructure in the field of hydrogen technologies. The new building, situated within the Fraunhofer Institute Centre Dresden, will in future provide the facilities needed to manufacture, further develop and test electrodes for alkaline water electrolysis (AEL/AEM) on an industrially relevant scale under conditions close to real-world applications. The build-ing is scheduled for completion in summer 2028.
more info

10.9.2026

Innovation Boost for the Hydrogen Economy: Real-Time Diagnostics for Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells in Operation

Hydrogen use is a key component of decarbonization, but ensuring the long-term operation of electrolysers and fuel cells is challenging. Fluctuating operating conditions lead to wear and performance losses. Fraunhofer IFAM has now achieved a decisive breakthrough with dynamic impedance spectroscopy: This diagnostic method enables precise analysis during operation, detects overloads in real time, and identifies weak points at an early stage. This allows for the targeted optimization of resilience and efficiency, extends the service life of the systems, and reduces operating costs – a technological leap with enormous potential for the hydrogen economy.
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28.5.2026

Plasmatreat and Fraunhofer IFAM Collaborate on Rapid Industrial Implementation of PFAS-Free Coating Technologies

Plasmatreat GmbH and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM are expanding their collaboration specifically in the field of environmentally friendly coating technologies. The focus is on technology transfer and the rapid industrial implementation of the PFAS-free low-pressure plasma coating systems PLASLON® and UltraPLAS®, which were developed by Fraunhofer IFAM. Plasmatreat contributes its system and application expertise, acts as a contract coater and equipment manufacturer, and thus enables the application of these technologies in various industrial fields.
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Events

24.2.2027

Symposium on Innovations in Drones and Autonomous Systems for Wind Park Operations

This symposium will convene scientists, researchers, and industry experts to explore the latest advancements in technologies for wind turbine inspection and maintenance across various environments. The program will focus on innovative inspection methods, challenges in maintenance within offshore and onshore environments, successful repair strategies, and the integration of robotics and automation. Additional topics will include the training and qualification of service personnel, as well as sustainability and environmental protection during inspection and repair activities.
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17.11.2026

Space Tech Expo Europe 2026

Space Tech Expo Europe is the must-attend event on the space calendar, a truly global event that pushes the industry to new heights year after year by showcasing the latest technologies, providing networking opportunities and facilitating topical debates.
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8.10.2026

Workshop Electrolysis 2026

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to the 9th Industry Workshop on Advanced Alkaline-based Electrolysis in Dresden.
more info