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 over 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

🍏 Fraunhofer IFAM aus Stade auf den Norddeutschen Obstbautagen in Jork am 11.+12. Febraur 2026 – wir sind dabei! 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♂️

Auf der Veranstaltung zeigen wir vom Fraunhofer IFAM gemeinsam mit unseren Projektpartnern wie Forschung von heute die Praxis von morgen verändert. Zudem bieten wir erste Einblicke in unsere Arbeiten zur Humanoiden Robotik für den Obstbau.

Mit dabei sind drei Highlights aus dem unseren aktuellen Forschungsprojekten im Obstbau:
🍏𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗦𝗢𝗡 – Digitale Zwillinge für jeden Obstbaum: Robotik, Sensorik, Digitalisierung und KI für datenbasierte Entscheidungen direkt im Bestand.
🌳𝗞𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗧 – Klimaeffizienter Obstbau: Ansätze zur Reduktion von Treibhausgas- (THG‑) Emissionen und intelligentes Energiemanagement auf dem Hof.
🤖𝗢𝗦𝗞𝗔𝗥 – Robotische Ausdünnung: Präzise Blüten‑ und Fruchtausdünnung, sensorikgestützte Navigation und Zielerkennung für mehr Ertrag und weniger Handarbeit.

👉 Kommt vorbei! Ihr findet uns in 𝗭𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝟱 𝗮𝘂𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗹ä𝗰𝗵𝗲 – wir freuen uns auf den Austausch und Eure Fragen!

🔗 𝗠𝗲𝗵𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻:
Norddeutsche Obstbautage 2026: https://s.fhg.de/G4vR
Presseinformation SAMSON: https://s.fhg.de/8etC
Projekt-Website SAMSON: https://s.fhg.de/p7c
Projekt-Website KERMIT: https://s.fhg.de/7L4

Zudem stehen Benjamin Schulze, Frederick Blome, David Berschauer und Christian Böhlmann, Claudio Möller und Daniel Valencia vom Fraunhofer IFAM für Gespräche zur Verfügung.

Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg (HAW Hamburg), hochschule 21, Technische Universität Hamburg Institut für Technische Logistik/Technische Universität Hamburg, Obstbauversuchsring des Alten Landes e.V., Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen, Universität Hamburg, digital workbench gmbh Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ernährung und Heimat Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung

#Stade #IFAMdrivesInnovation

❄️ Winterwetter und E-Mobilität: Tipps für den Alltag mit dem Elektroauto

Das aktuelle Winterwetter bringt weiterhin Kälte, Schnee und Glätte – und damit auch Herausforderungen für den Betrieb von Elektroautos. Denn niedrige Temperaturen beeinflussen die Reichweite, Ladeleistung und den Komfort.

Unser Fachdozent Stefan Sündermann vom Weiterbildungszentrum Elektromobilität des Fraunhofer IFAM teilt praxisnahe Tipps, wie man auch bei Frost und Schnee sein E-Auto effizient, sicher und entspannt nutzt.

🔬 Bioinspiration + Nanotechnologie: Die Zukunft der Dentalmaterialien 🦷

In der vergangenen Woche ging die CIOSP 2026 in São Paulo erfolgreich zu Ende. Als größte Dentalmesse Brasiliens bot sie erneut eine hervorragende Plattform für den Austausch zwischen Wissenschaft, Industrie und klinischer Praxis – und den idealen Rahmen, um auf starke internationale Forschungskooperationen aufmerksam zu machen.

Seit über 10 Jahren besteht eine enge wissenschaftliche Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Fakultät für Zahnmedizin von Piracicaba (FOP/Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brasilien) und dem Fraunhofer IFAM.

Ziel dieser Partnerschaft ist die Entwicklung innovativer Dentalmaterialien, mit besonderem Fokus auf:
▪️ bioinspirierte Remineralisierungsmittel für Dentin
▪️ Graphen-verstärkte Kunststoffkomposite und Dentaladhäsive

Unter der wissenschaftlichen Leitung von Prof. Flávio Henrique Baggio Aguiar (FOP/UNICAMP) und Dr. Klaus Rischka (Fraunhofer IFAM) wurden die erzielten Ergebnisse bereits in renommierten internationalen Fachzeitschriften veröffentlicht. Die Zusammenarbeit in diesem zukunftsweisenden Forschungsfeld wird konsequent fortgeführt.

📄 Ausgewählte Publikationen:

🔹 Mussel-inspired remineralization agent: Effects on dentin morphology and permeability after erosion–abrasion cycling
👉 https://lnkd.in/dSvhUr-U

🔹 Bioinspired catechol chemistry for dentin remineralization: A new approach to dentin hypersensitivity treatment
👉 https://lnkd.in/dtKM-7kb

🔹 Properties of a dental adhesive containing graphene and DOPA-modified graphene
👉 https://lnkd.in/dycEG4z6

🌍 Diese langjährige Kooperation zeigt eindrucksvoll, wie Bioinspiration, Nanotechnologie und internationale Zusammenarbeit nachhaltige Impulse für die Zahnmedizin von morgen setzen.

🎙️Guest on Everyday Metallurgy video podcast

We were delighted to be invited to the Everyday Metallurgy podcast!

In the latest episode, our colleagues Sandra Wieland and Christina Beltner from Fraunhofer IFAM were invited to talk as experts about magnetocaloric materials - an exciting field of research with great potential for sustainable cooling solutions.

Among other things, the discussion covered the basics of magnetocaloric materials, their discovery, current material systems and possible applications - including the question of whether they could one day be used in conventional refrigerators.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦:
Why is the shaping of magnetocaloric materials so crucial for their application - and at the same time so difficult?

This is precisely where our research at Fraunhofer IFAM comes in. Using powder metallurgy processes, we develop targeted solutions to transform these materials into application-relevant geometries and harness their potential for efficient cooling systems.

🎥 The current episode: https://s.fhg.de/BBJB

Many thanks to the Everyday Metallurgy team and especially to the excellent host Peter Kjeldsteen for the invitation and the exciting exchange!

Hashtag#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

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

10.4.2025

High-performance elastomers and plasma polymer coatings to replace fluoropolymers in technical applications: new Fraunhofer project

Users of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals", are under pressure due to regulatory proposals from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This also affects the use of fluoroelastomers, whose economic significance is enormous. Fraunhofer experts initiated the "HATE-FLUOR" project at the beginning of February. Together, they want to develop high-performance elastomer compounds to replace fluoropolymers in certain technical applications. Various industries can benefit from this, including manufacturers of semi-finished and finished parts as well as companies in mechanical engineering industry, medical engineering, clean room and semiconductor technology, chemical process technology and electrical applications.
more info

3.4.2025

Shipping of the future: biodegradable antifouling coatings for clean seas

More sustainable antifouling coatings for ships are in demand. These innovative solutions should largely dispense with biocides and still withstand the challenges of maritime use. As part of the "BioSHIP" project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) under the "Maritime Research Program", industry and science are working together to develop such environmentally friendly coatings. The biodegradable, self-polishing coatings should not only offer the same functionality as conventional products, but also minimize the release of toxic heavy metals and microplastics into the sea - a major step towards green shipping.
more info

Events

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

JEC World 2026

The automation and production technology experts from Fraunhofer IFAM in Stade will be presenting their latest R&D results in the fields of assembly technologies, joining technologies, and integrated production systems at the Composites United e.V. joint booth at JEC WORLD 2026 in Paris from March 10 to 12. Colleagues from the training center will also be at the trade fair to present certified training courses in adhesive and fiber composite technology that comply with DIN 35255 standards. The training programs ensure qualification for technology transfer and are tailored to all company levels.
more info

25.2.2026

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.
more info

25.2.2026

LOPEC 2026

Fraunhofer IFAM presents smart bearings with integrated temperature sensor technology at LOPEC.
more info