Seminar  /  September 29, 2026  -  September 30, 2026

Composite Repair Seminar & Experts Forum 2026

Further to the success of a similar event organized three years ago in Bremen, a new 2 days Composite Repair Seminar & Experts Forum  will be organized in Hamburg.

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.

During the Seminar, experienced industrial personnel, together with academic experts, will provide an insight of recent R&D developments and critical issues in the field of bonded composite repair, ensuring that seminar participants acquire a full “process understanding” and learn “innovative solutions”, to support reliable application of repairs, even on Class I (safety critical) structures. 

 

Program

 

Day 1: Tuesday, September 29th, 2026

Session 1: The Future of Repairs in All–Composite Aircraft

Time Subject/Topic Speaker/Presenter Affiliation
11:00-12:00 Registration    
12:00-13:00

Lunch

Equipment Demo - Networking

    
13:00-13:30 Official Welcome  

All Organisators
13:30-14:00 Digitalization of Aircraft Maintenance – Driving Composite Repairs in the Industry 4.0 era Dr. George Kanterakis

Research & Innovation

GMI Aero
14:00-14:45

Quality Assurance for Aircraft Structures & DIN 35255 “Quality Requirements for Composite Processes & Composite repair - from material development to verified bonded repair strategies

 Mr. Andreas Krenz / Mr. Stefan Simon / Mr. Vinicius Carrillo Beber

In-process QA /  Continuing Education/ Polymer Chemistry 

Fraunhofer IFAM
14:45-15:00 Discussion with experts Panel Discussion  
15:00-15:30

Coffee Break

Equipment Demo - Networking

    
15:30-16:00

Structural Health Monitoring for Bonded Composite Repairs

 Dr. Aggelos Christopoulos

Research & Innovation

GMI Aero
16:00-16:30 Return of Experience from A350 Major Repair Mr. Guillaume Ferrer  Airbus Embodiment Industrialisation Manager
Airbus Operations GmbH
16:30-17:15

Key Note Speech

Innovation in Composites: A bonded repair solution for hole-related damages

 

 Mr. Alexander Zastrow, Mr. Roman Starikov

Composite Repair Experts

Airbus Operations GmbH
17:15-17:30 Discussion with experts Panel Discussion  

End of Day 1 of the Seminar
20:00 Official Seminar Dinner Hosting All CRS&EF Participants at Panthera Rodizio (Ferry transportation will be arranged)

 

Day 2: Wednesday, September 30th, 2026

Session 2: Certification–Standardization–Training and Research Activities

Time Subject/Topic Speaker/Presenter Affiliation
9:00-9:15 Repair technologies @ Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE Dr. Simon Kothe

Head of Central Office AVIATION

Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE
9:15-9:45 AI‑Driven Composite Repair: Practical Methods, Tools, and Use Cases Mr. Jannes Adam / Mr. Hagen Dittmar Fraunhofer IFAM / Laser Zentrum Hannover LZH
9:45-10:15 Thermal Transfer Issues Advanced Composite Repair Case studies Mr. Konstantinos Kitsianos

Research & Innovation

GMI Aero
10:15-10:45

Key Note Speech

Composite Repair in Real-World Operations

 Mr. Andreas Meyer

Chief Instructor for Composites

LHT Training
10:45-11:00 Discussion with experts Panel Discussion  
11:00-11:30

Coffee Break

Equipment Demo - Networking

    
11:30-12:00 GENEX EU R&D Project Presentation Dr. Dirk Holzhueter

DLR
12:00-12:20 TOSCA EU R&D Project Presentation  Dr. Christian Eitzinger  Profactor
12:20-12:40 Material adapted method for the repair of thermoplastic composite structures Mr. Markus Geiger Bremer Faserinstitut FIBRE
12:40-13:10

Key Note Speech

Aircraft Composite Repair: between Innovation and Regulation

 Mr. Tobias Adugna

Principal Engineer Composite Materials 

Lufthansa Technik AG

 
13:10-13:20 Discussion with experts - Closing Remarks Panel Discussion Speakers and Organizers
13:20-14:00

Lunch

Equipment Demo - Networking

    

 

Visit of LHT Hamburg facilities

Time Subject/Topic Speaker/Presenter
est. 14:00 - 15:15 Transfer to Lufthansa Technik Repair Shop  
est. 15:15 - 16:45 Lufthansa Technik Repair Shop Tour Lufthansa Technik 
est. 16:45 - 17:00  Transfer to HAM Airport  
est. 17:00 - 18:00 Transfer to ZAL