Press Releases

Lithium, cobalt and nickel are in high demand – and they are hard to obtain. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM are developing an electrochemical process to recover scarce raw materials in battery recycling. This new technology could also enable the extraction of rare earth elements from electronic waste in the future.

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.

With automation, digitalization and robotics as well as specially trained personnel into the efficient, high-rate and versatile production of the future

The SAMSON project – “Smart automation systems and services for fruit growing on the Lower Elbe” – funded by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) and now extended until December 2027, is characterized by the fact that dialogue and professional as well as practical exchange with apple growers from the Altes Land region has been an essential part of the research and development work (R&D work) right from the start. In close cooperation with the Obstbauversuchsring des Alten Landes e. V. (OVR), Jork, the project partners Fraunhofer IFAM, Stade, HAW Hamburg, hochschule 21, Buxtehude, and the TU Hamburg are working together with practitioners to develop sustainable solutions for the cultivation practice of the future and to exchange constructive ideas in regular forums. The additional project period will serve to validate the R&D results achieved to date: the systematic analysis and processing of the data collected will then make it possible to provide practical decision-making aids for fruit growers. In addition, field and technical days as well as a regional conference will be held to further intensify the transfer of knowledge into practice.

With federal funding of approximately 10 million euros, the FORE-PAIR consortium project launches the development of autonomous robotic technologies for the inspection, maintenance and cleaning of floating offshore energy platforms such as floating wind and floating solar systems.

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.

The cutting-edge milling kinematics close the gap between classic industrial robots and machine tools – a milestone for resource-efficient, flexible automated production. It enables versatile, efficient and high-precision machining of fiber composites to aluminum up to tempered steels

An innovative measurement method enables optimized battery management in electric vehicles, helping to make them safer and extend their lifespans. Impedance spectroscopy from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM analyzes detailed measurement data on the battery’s state in real time during operation. This means batteries can also be used for safety-critical applications.

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.

For resource-efficient, flexible and automated production – Newly developed milling kinematics enable versatile, efficient and high-precision machining of fiber composites to aluminum up to tempered steel with a manufacturing tolerance of up to 0.1 millimeters