Press Releases

November 8, 2023 - Fraunhofer IGCV and Nikon SLM Solutions AG strengthen their cooperation in the multi-material sector At Europe's largest trade fair for additive manufacturing, Formnext 2023 in Frankfurt a.M., the two parties signed an agreement in which they declare their intention to expand their joint work and make the knowledge gained accessible to the wider AM community. The aim is to jointly advance the further development of technologies and processes in the multi-material processing of metals. Current research focuses range from industrial applications for the aerospace and automotive industries to toolmaking and even jewelry manufacturing. We look forward to taking a step forward together with Nikon SLM Solutions AG, sharing our findings with a wider audience and looking forward to a profitable collaboration.

Augsburg, 27.09.2023 – The SAMBA Pro Prepreg plant of the Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology IGCV has found its new home in »Hall 43« of the University of Augsburg, an AI research hall inaugurated in June 2023. The production facility is now in use for research into innovative approaches in the field of machine learning. In addition, it is available to companies from various industries for active technology and application development together with researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute.

On Girls'Day 2023, young girls were able to gain an insight into the research areas of processing and composites technology at our site in Ausgburg. Girls'Day offers girls the opportunity to get to know scientific and technical professions a little better and encourages them to choose a career in the MINT sector. A few days later, we opened our doors again for visitors of Augsburg Open 2023 to present our research activities to interested locals.

As part of an international team of experts, Fraunhofer IGCV is conducting research into the production of higher-performance and lighter multi-material components: within the project "MADE-3D" (Multi-Material Design using 3D Printing) the scientists investigate how the advantages of components made of combined materials can be transferred to industrial applications in the automotive industry as well as aerospace. The project has received around 6.7 million euros of funding for the next three and a half years as part of the European Union’s “Horizon Europe 2022” program.

Researching abroad - adding to knowledge and cultivating international contacts: Fraunhofer IGCV employees regularly conduct research as guests at renowned foreign universities and research institutions. In addition to academic networking, these lifelong contacts can be precious for international project acquisition.

As of July 1, 2022, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Volk has taken over the position of Executive Director from Prof.-Dr.-Ing. Klaus Drechsler, a position that rotates every three years. As planned, the latter will remain part of the institute management of the Fraunhofer Institute for Foundry, Composite and Processing Technology IGCV together with Prof.-Dr. Ing. Rüdiger Daub.

At Fraunhofer IGCV, we asked ourselves how factory workers with physical limitations can be supported by an adapted workplace. As a result, appropriate assistance robots were developed in the "RobIn4LeMi" project and are already in use.

The newly founded association for former and active employees of Fraunhofer IGCV has officially started its work. With the advisory board election on May 13th, 2022, all key positions at "Ehemaligen Netzwerk IGCV e.V." are now filled.

On Girls'Day 2022, schoolgirls were able to gain an insight into the everyday research life of scientists in casting engineering. Together with utg (Chair of Forming Technology and Foundry Engineering at TU Munich), we welcomed the girls to our site in Garching.

To reduce the CO2 footprint, the Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology IGCV Augsburg research with a state-of-the-art wetlaid nonwoven machine for recycling carbon fibers. The production processes are similar to those of a paper manufacturing machine. The crucial difference: we turn not paper fibers into the paper but recycled carbon fibers into nonwoven roll fabrics. The carbon fiber thus gets a second life and finds an environmentally friendly way in nonwovens, such as door panels, engine bonnets, roof structures, underbody protection (automotive), and heat shields (helicopter tail boom), as well as in aircraft interiors.