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

🌱 Zukunft Obstbau: Automatisierung, Digitalisierung und Klimaschutz live erleben


Wie sieht der Obstbaubetrieb von morgen aus? Auf der Regionalkonferenz »Zukunft Obstbau« am 25. Juni auf dem Gelände des ESTEBURG Obstbauzentrums in Jork zeigen die Spezialisten anhand aktueller SAMSON- und KERMIT-Projektergebnisse, wie praxisnahe Lösungen bereits heute den Wandel vorbereiten.

🌳 SAMSON (»Smarte Automatisierungssysteme und -services für den Obstanbau an der Niederelbe«) bringt smarte Automatisierung direkt in die Plantage: Zum Beispiel von KI-gestützter Ertragsprognose über digitale Hofmanagementsysteme bis hin zur automatisierten selektiven Blüten- und Fruchtausdünnung. Auch autonome Transportlösungen sowie digitale Systeme für Frostschutz und Bewässerung unterstützen Betriebe dabei, datenbasiert effizienter und ressourcenschonender zu arbeiten.

🌍 KERMIT (»Klimaschutz im Erwerbsobstbau durch modellgestützte Bilanzierung«) setzt beim Klimaschutz an: Innovative Ansätze wie Photovoltaik-Wände zur Reduktion von Pflanzenschutzmittelabdrift, elektrobasiertes Unkrautmanagement oder auf überschüssigem PV-Strom basierte Eisspeicher für energieeffiziente Kühlung zeigen, wie sich Treibhausgasemissionen im Obstanbau gezielt senken lassen. Ergänzt wird dies durch modellgestützte CO₂-Bilanzierungen und die Bewertung klimawirksamer Maßnahmen.

👉 Das Besondere: Alle Lösungen sind im Rahmen von Live-Demonstrationen direkt im Obstbauumfeld erlebbar.
✅ Aktuelle Ergebnisse aus Forschung & Praxis
✅ Technologien zum Anfassen
✅ Austausch mit Fachleuten & anderen Obstbauern
✅ Inspiration für die eigene Betriebszukunft

🔗Presseinformation mit weiteren Informationen: https://s.fhg.de/3E2H

📝 Anmeldung und weitere Informationen https://lnkd.in/eyYKdWPB

Kommen Sie vorbei! Wir freuen uns auf Sie! 🙌

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

Benjamin Schulze Frederick Blome David Berschauer Christian Böhlmann Simon Kothe

Hashtag#IFAMdrivesInnovation Hashtag#Stade

🔋♻️ We're live at Battery Recycling Expo in Frankfurt!

The doors are open – and we’re excited to be part of this year’s Battery Recycling Expo. Join us to explore how innovative technologies are shaping the future of sustainable battery recycling.
 
📆 June 17-18, 2026
📍 Booth B64
 
At Fraunhofer IFAM, we’re presenting our latest work on electrochemical recovery of critical raw materials from wastewater – developed within the 𝗠𝗲𝗚𝗮𝗕𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁.
 
👉 𝗔 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: How can the battery industry recover valuable resources like lithium, cobalt, and nickel more efficiently?
 
𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿:⚡A highly selective electrochemical process for valuable metal recovery
💧 Resource-efficient solutions with low energy and water consumption
🔄 Flexible application across different process conditions
📈 Scalable approaches from lab to industrial level
 
𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
 
👉 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: https://s.fhg.de/b3rt

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Cleis Santos Santos, Victoria Carnero-Roldán and Jan Conen from Fraunhofer IFAM.

#IFAMdrivesInnovation #BRYE2026

Hydrogen is a key enabler for zero-emission aviation – but making it viable requires new approaches across materials, surfaces, machining and assembly

In HYTANK, Fraunhofer IFAM, together with leading partners from industry and research, has developed key technologies for the efficient production of large-scale cryogenic CFRP hydrogen tanks. The goal: enabling lightweight, leak-tight and reliable LH₂ tank structures for future aircraft operating at temperatures down to -253 °C.

Our R&D work covers key technological components of the process chain – from surface pre-treatment up to final assembly:
➡️  Tailored, contact free and gentle surface pre-treatments (e.g. AP-plasma, vacuum UV-light, laser) to ensure reliable adhesion on CFRP
➡️ Functional barrier coatings to reduce gas permeability, enhance leak tightness and stabilize vacuum insulation
➡️ Automated machining, positioning and adhesive bonding technologies for the assembly of large-scale structures on a 1:1 scale

The results demonstrate that automated and resource-efficient manufacturing of complex LH₂ tank systems is technically feasible. At the same time, they highlight the importance of robust process control, particularly in tolerance management, reproducible joining and long-term material performance under cryogenic conditions.

Beyond aviation, these developments also offer strong potential for hydrogen infrastructure and other mobility applications.

A big thank you to our project partners: @airbusgroup (consortium leader), Broetje-Automation GmbH, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V., FIBRE Faserinstitut Bremen e.V., FFT Produktionssysteme, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Technische Universität Dresden as well as to the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie for funding and DLR Projektträger for supporting within the LuFo VI-3 program.

Together, we are shaping the future of hydrogen-powered aviation. ✈️

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 🔗https://s.fhg.de/xcg

Hashtag#ifamdrivesinnovation

Benjamin Diehl, Christoph Brillinger, Leander Brieskorn, Urs Roemer, Björn Reichel, Dirk Niermann, Christian Böhlmann, Simon Kothe, Christopher Dölle, Jörg Ihde, Lukas Menzel, Dr. Andrea Deissenberger, Thomas Lukaszcyk, Dr.-Ing. Amelie Knape

Inside Innovation – nordisch, neugierig, nah dran

Trotz Schietwetter ein inspirierender Open Campus Rundgang am Fraunhofer IFAM.
 
Interessierte konnten am Samstag einen intensiven Blick in unsere Forschung werfen. Direkt, praxisnah und mit vielen starken Fragen.

Was den Tag besonders macht: Open Campus ist unsere Einladung, Forschung nicht nur erklärt zu bekommen, sondern live zu erleben. Dafür öffnen wir ausgewählte Labore, die sonst nur für Projekte, Industriepartner oder Forschungsteams zugänglich sind. Interessierte erhalten so einen echten Eindruck davon, wie angewandte Wissenschaft funktioniert – jenseits von Vorlesungen und Lehrbüchern.

Nach dem kurzen Auftakt im Hörsaal des Fraunhofer IFAM ging’s direkt in die Labore und Technika:

👉 Kryolabor — Kleben bei –196 °C und warum das für moderne Materialien entscheidend ist 
👉 PLATO-Technikum — Plasma-Beschichtungen, funktionale Oberflächen und ein Experiment mit PFAS‑freien Bratpfannen

Der Rundgang zeigt, wie vielfältig die Themen an unserem Institut sind: von Werkstoffen über Klebtechnik bis hin zu Oberflächen und Energie.

Und genau das macht den Open Campus so spannend: Forschung, die direkt in Anwendungen übersetzt wird – und zeigt, wo man sich selbst einbringen kann.

Besonders stark war in diesem Jahr die Mischung der Gruppe: Schüler*innen, Studierende, Technikinteressierte und Menschen, die Forschung aus erster Hand erleben wollten. Unterschiedliche Perspektiven, ein gemeinsamer Fokus: verstehen, wie Innovation entsteht.

Danke an alle, die dabei waren und den Rundgang mit ihren Fragen und Ideen geprägt haben. 😊

Thorben Brenner | Dr. Kai Borcherding | Sonja Böske da Costa

#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

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.
more info

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

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.
more info

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

29.9.2026

Composite Repair Seminar and Experts Forum

The Seminar 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.
more info

26.8.2026

Drone Days 2026

Drone Days is a platform for anyone who wants to play an active role in shaping the future of aviation. The event brings together stakeholders from a wide range of fields, from start-ups to established industrial companies and from research institutions to government agencies.
more info