Forum  /  February 03, 2027

ai4surfaces 2027

Fraunhofer IFAM Forum on AI in Surface Technology: Development, Production and Quality Assurance

Surface Technology in Transition

Artificial intelligence is changing the way surfaces are developed, coated and inspected. But where does the hype end – and where does measurable value for your company begin?

The one-day Fraunhofer IFAM Forum ai4surfaces 2027 provides a practical overview – from the fundamentals of AI to concrete applications across the entire process chain, with examples from coating technology, pretreatment, electroplating, corrosion protection and surface analysis.

 

Keynote

“AI in Materials Development at Airbus” | Dr.-Ing. Christian Weimer, Airbus

How is a globally operating aerospace company using AI in materials development? Christian Weimer, Head of Materials at Airbus, will provide insights into strategies, practical applications and future perspectives.

 

Key Topics

Introduction: How Does AI Actually Work?

Fundamentals of artificial intelligence – from GPT to image processing.

Process Design, Parameter Identification and Development

How AI can shorten development cycles – for example, in coating development. Featuring a presentation by Dmitrij Ivanov (PI Probaligence GmbH) on AI in coating development.

In-line Process Monitoring and Control

How AI is transforming data acquisition in industrial manufacturing and enabling real-time control of coating and pretreatment processes. Featuring a presentation by Luca Kuhlmann (Schäfter + Kirchhoff GmbH) on AI-assisted adhesion testing.

Quality Inspection and Defect Detection

Automated detection of coating defects using deep learning and computer vision – even with limited training data. The program will also cover AI-assisted corrosion inspection. Including a presentation by Prof. Dr. Evgeniya Kabliman (Leibniz Institute for Materials-Oriented Technologies – IWT Bremen) on computational materials design.

Hands-on Experience and Current Trends

Get hands-on experience with Fraunhofer's on-premises AI infrastructure. Use your own smartphone to test AI applications, such as analyzing the corrosion condition of a surface based on your own photo.

The event will conclude with insights into opportunities for collaboration and current research trends.

 

Program

Time Title speaker

For Early Arrivals
From 08:45 Registration  
09:00-09:50 Guided tour of Fraunhofer IFAM, focusing on the Surface Technology department, including presentations of current research projects in the fields of coating, surface pretreatment and surface analytics. Including a demonstration of the VOLD Painting Center.  

Introduction
10:00-10:10 Welcome and brief introduction to Fraunhofer IFAM

Prof. Dr. Bernd Mayer, Dr. Ralph Wilken, Dr. Uwe Lommatzsch

Fraunhofer IFAM
10:10-10:50 Applications of AI in Materials Development at Airbus

Dr.-Ing. Christian Weimer

Airbus
10:50-11:10 Current Trends and Fundamentals of AI

Dr. Uwe Lommatzsch

Fraunhofer IFAM

Applications of AI Along the Process Chain

Block A: Process Design, Parameter Identification and Development
11:10-11:40 Turn Small and Expensive Data in Reliable Models – Smart Agents and Probabilistic Methods

Dr. Dmitrij Ivanov

PI Probaligence GmbH

11:40-12:00

 Accelerating Process Development: The Example of Surface Pretreatment

Dr.-Ing. Markus Veltrup

Fraunhofer IFAM
12:00-12:20 Efficient Materials Development Through Image Analysis

Dr. Peter Schiffels

Fraunhofer IFAM

Lunch Break

Block B: In-Line Process Monitoring and Control
13:30-14:00 AI for Adhesion Testing

Luca Kuhlmann

Schäfter+ Kirchhoff GmbH
14:00-14:20 AI-Based Real-Time Control of Laser Processes

Dr.-Ing. Markus Veltrup

Fraunhofer IFAM
14:20-14:40 Data Acquisition for Monitoring Industrial Manufacturing Processes

Dr. Michael Hoffmann

Fraunhofer IFAM

Interactive Experience
14:40-15:00

All participants will have the opportunity to experience and test Fraunhofer IFAM's on-premises AI infrastructure (language models). For example, you can use your own image to perform a live AI-based analysis of its corrosion condition.

  

Block C: Post-Process (Quality Inspection and Defect Detection)
15:00-15:30 Computer-Aided Materials Design – What Does the Future Hold?

Prof. Dr. techn. Evgeniya Kabliman

Leibniz-Institut für Werkstofforientierte Technologien - IWT Bremen
15:30-15:50 Efficient AI Models for Surface Inspection

Jannes Adam

Fraunhofer IFAM
15:50-16:10 Applications of AI in Corrosion Testing

Dr. Michael Hoffmann

Fraunhofer IFAM

Summary and Closing Remarks
16:10-16:20 Opportunities for Collaboration and Current Research Trends

Dr. Welchy Leite Cavalcanti

Fraunhofer IFAM
16:20-16:30 Conclusions, Questions and Feedback

Dr. Uwe Lommatzsch

Fraunhofer IFAM
16:30 End of Event  

 

Additional Program

For participants arriving early, we offer a guided tour of Fraunhofer IFAM from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. before the event begins, focusing on surface technology. You will gain insights into current research projects and see a demonstration at the VOLD Coating Center.

 

Who Should Attend?

The forum is aimed at anyone who is already using AI in their company or considering its introduction and wants to learn more about the opportunities and risks of AI in surface technology.

 

What You Will Take Away

  • A solid understanding of how AI works and what it can achieve
  • Concrete examples of applications from research and industry
  • Ideas for the profitable use of AI in your own company
  • Direct exchange with experts and fellow professionals