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

Was macht die ESA eigentlich am Fraunhofer IFAM?

Nein, nicht ESA, die Space Agency – aber genauso visionär! 🚀
Unsere Abteilung 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗲 (𝗘𝗦𝗔) ist seit über einem Jahrzehnt auf einer Mission: die Energiewende nicht nur zu verstehen, sondern aktiv mitzugestalten.

Was als Idee begann, ist heute eine interdisziplinäre Einheit, die Ingenieurwesen, Geografie und Wirtschaftswissenschaften vereint. Gemeinsam entwickelt das Team Lösungen, die technische Innovation mit strategischer Planung verbinden – von Wärmenetzen bis Elektromobilität.

Die ESA denkt vernetzt, handelt praxisnah und begleitet Ministerien, Städte und Unternehmen auf ihrem Weg in eine klimaneutrale Zukunft.

👉 𝗪𝗶𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗘𝗦𝗔 𝗵𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗹ü𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗹𝘁?

𝗗𝗶𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗯𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻.

Vielseitige Einblicke am Fraunhofer IFAM!

Am Montag konnten Anja Sander (Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE) und Dr. Stefan Dieckhoff (Fraunhofer IFAM) Mitglieder des ECOMAT Bremen für einen spannenden Rundgang bei uns am Institut begrüßen. Im Fokus standen unsere vielfältigen Forschungsbereiche und insbesondere unsere Innovationen rund um die Luftfahrt. ✈️

An insgesamt neun Stationen – von unseren Plasma- und Lack-Technika über unsere Cryo-Prüfmaschine, das Technikum mit Klebrobotern und den Eiswindkanal des Fraunhofer IFAM bis hin zu den Themen Batterietechnologien, CFK-Reparatur, Klebtechnik, Oberflächenanalytik und Galvanik – stellten die interessierten Besucher*innen viele Fragen, die unsere Expert*innen gerne beantworteten. Im Anschluss an den Rundgang kamen die Mitglieder des ECOMAT zu ihrem monatlichen Jour Fixe in unserem Hörsaal zusammen.

Wir danken allen Besucher*innen für das große Interesse und den offenen Austausch während des Rundgangs und freuen uns, sie bald wieder am Fraunhofer IFAM begrüßen zu können. 👏

Online-Seminar: »Ladeinfrastruktur: rechtssicher und wirtschaftlich planen und betreiben«

📢 𝗡ä𝗰𝗵𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝘁!
Am 𝟮𝟳. 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 bringen wir Fachwissen, Rechtssicherheit und Praxiserfahrung rund um das Thema 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗸𝘁𝘂𝗿 kompakt auf den Punkt – im 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿: »𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗸𝘁𝘂𝗿: 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘁𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗻« vom Fraunhofer IFAM 🔌

Sie wollen Ladeinfrastruktur in Wohngebäuden, Quartieren oder auf öffentlichen Flächen 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗸𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗸𝘁, 𝘄𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘇𝘂𝗸𝘂𝗻𝗳𝘁𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 umsetzen? Dann ist dieses Seminar genau das Richtige für Sie! Mit dabei: 👨🔬 Stefan Lösch vom Fraunhofer IFAM ⚖️ Lisa Jakob von BLANKE MEIER EVERS Rechtsanwälte in Partnerschaft mbB 🔧 Jan Runkel von der Eulektro GmbH 🎯

Inhalte: ✔️ Rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen ✔️ Betreiberkonzepte im Vergleich ✔️ Praktische Planung & Betrieb ✔️ Typische Probleme und Lösungen ✔️ Einblicke aus aktueller Forschung 📅 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻: Donnerstag, 27.11.2025 | 🕘 9:00–16:00 Uhr | 💻 Online 💶 𝗧𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗻𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗯ü𝗵𝗿: 540,- €

🔗 𝗝𝗲𝘁𝘇𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻: https://s.fhg.de/fB6 📣 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘇𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗹ä𝘁𝘇𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗳ü𝗴𝗯𝗮𝗿 – 𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗜𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗭𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝗲𝘁𝘇𝘁!

✨Two days left at MEDICA✨

Take the chance to inform you about 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 by Fraunhofer IFAM – 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀!

Vitrimers are polymers that combine the stability of thermosets with the mouldability of thermoplastics. Thanks to their dynamic bonds, Vitrimers can change their shape as often as desired. Through temperature and pressure, even fibre composites with a vitrimer matrix can be repaired, self-healed, reshaped, welded or re-bonded.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://s.fhg.de/sRun

Visit us at the joint booth of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and learn more about our solutions for safe bone implants!

If you are not at the 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗔, please contact Dr. Kai Borcherding, Head of Medical Technology and Life Sciences at Fraunhofer IFAM.

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

22.9.2025

EMO 2025

The experts for Automation and Production Technology at Fraunhofer IFAM in Stade, Germany, together with their research partners Siemens AG and autonox Robotics GmbH, will be presenting their latest R&D results on the “Machine Tool Robot” (MTR) at EMO 2025 in Hanover from September 22 to 26
more info

14.9.2025

EuroPM 2025

Der Powder Metallurgy European Congress findet jedes Jahr in Europa statt und ist daher ein wichtiges Ziel für die internationale PM-Gemeinschaft, um ihre Lieferanten, Hersteller und Endverbraucher zu treffen und die neuesten Innovationen in der PM-Technologie zu entdecken.
more info

24.6.2025

automatica 2025

The experts for Automation and Production Technology at Fraunhofer IFAM in Stade, Germany, will be presenting their latest R&D results on the topic of “Hybrid drive for industrial robots” at automatica 2025 in Munich from June 24 to 27.
more info

16.6.2025

Paris Air Show 2025

Fraunhofer IFAM will be presenting its portfolio in the business field of aviation at the Paris Air Show 2025 from June 16 to 22 at the joint Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE booth C358 in Hall 2C.
more info