Press releases 2018

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  • EARTO Award for Microsystem of the Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / 2018

    Less animal experiments on the horizon: Multi-organ chip awarded

    Press release (Nr. 13) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / October 17, 2018

    On the multi-organ chip, several technical components simulate the interaction of blood circulation and organs in the human body. These include a pump (1), a storage chamber for blood and substances (2), chambers for organs and tissues (3) and valves, which simulate the varying blood flow to different organs.
    © Fraunhofer IWS

    Dresden Fraunhofer engineers have developed a so-called "multi-organ chip". This microsystem from the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS Dresden, which has now received an "EARTO Innovation Award" in Brussels, simulates the blood circulation and the organs of animals or humans.

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  • Fraunhofer IWS Dresden scientists print electronic layers with polymer ink / 2018

    Micro energy harvesters for the Internet of Things

    Press release (No. 12) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / October 10, 2018

    Dr. Roman Tkachov examines a film printed with two different conductive polymers at a dispensing printer in the Fraunhofer IWS Dresden. "PEDOT:PSS" is a polymer with positive charge carriers (“p-conductive”), while “Poly(Kx[Ni-itto])” transports negative charge carriers (“n-conductive”). This also shows that IWS polymers can be processed using standard techniques such as printers or rotary coating.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    Thin organic layers provide machines and equipment with new functions. They enable, for example, tiny energy recuperators. In future, these will be installed on pipes or other surfaces in order to convert waste heat into electricity. The experts at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS Dresden use ink based on conductive polymers for this purpose.

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  • No more cleaning: Fraunhofer IWS, TU Dresden and Airbus produce water- and dirt-repellent nanostructures on aircraft surfaces / 2018

    Micro fishbones to stop car fuel thirst

    Press release (No. 9) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / September 12, 2018

    Ultra-short laser pulses generate micro-patterns in engine parts such as piston rings and thus reduce friction (r.). The Fraunhofer IWS technology is designed to reduce wear and friction and save fuel.
    © Shutterstock / Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    Dresden Fraunhofer engineers are working on reducing the fuel consumption of cars by more than a tenth. They use ultra-short laser pulses to generate very fine and friction-reducing fishbone patterns in engines.

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  • Additive Manufacturing and Laser Welding Solutions presented at IMTS Chicago 2018

    Press release (No. 10) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / August 31, 2018

    In cooperation with the Chair for Space Systems of Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Fraunhofer IWS scientists investigated a novel approach for using the capabilities of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in the field of rocket engine development.
    © Institute of Aerospace Engineering, TU Dresden / Fraunhofer IWS

    (Dresden, August 31, 2018) The Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS Dresden will present solutions for Additive Manufacturing and laser welding at IMTS Chicago 2018. The German engineers will show a rocket engine with aerospike nozzle for space travel, the "smart head" COAXwire 4.0 for laser build-up welding and the modular laser welding optics concept remoweld®FLEX together with Arnold Ravensburg.

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  • No more cleaning: Fraunhofer IWS, TU Dresden and Airbus produce water- and dirt-repellent nanostructures on aircraft surfaces / 2018

    Lasers make the lotus effect on aircraft

    Press release (No. 8) - Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / August 08, 2018

    Alfredo Aguilar, Scientist with the team Surface Functionalization at Fraunhofer IWS, operates the world’s largest 3D DLIP system based at TU Dresden.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    (Dresden, August 8, 2018) Filigree engravings on external surfaces of aircraft are intended to ensure that airflow remains smooth and drag on the aircraft low. For this, engineers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, the Technische Universität Dresden and Airbus have developed a laser process that produces textured surfaces at high throughput making surface contamination more difficult.

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  • Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 2018: Improved efficiency of aircraft engines

    Press release (No. 6) - Fraunhofer IWS / May 15, 2018

    Professor Frank Brückner and Mirko Riede (from the left) have developed microstructures that, among other things, extend the life of the thermal barrier coatings.
    © Fraunhofer / Juergen Loesel

    The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS has succeeded in increasing the stability of those aircraft engine parts which are subject to stress due to temperature. The IWS process helps to reduce kerosene consumption as well as CO2 emissions. In combination with further measures, significant cost savings result during flight operations. The research project was developed in close cooperation with the engine specialist Rolls-Royce. The first engines with the new technology are already in use.

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  • IWS engineers design modern aluminum components for future aircraft / 2018

    With low pressure to the lightweight aircraft

    Press release (No. 5) - Fraunhofer IWS / April 23, 2018

    Circular blank with central-flat welded FSW seam
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    Engineers at the Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS in Dresden have developed an innovative process in cooperation with industrial partners to weld and form modern lightweight parts for aircraft. They present this technology at the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA in Berlin from 25 to 29 April 2018.

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  • Fraunhofer IWS Dresden presents new COAXwire laser processing heads at Hannover Messe and ILA Berlin / 2018

    Coaxial wire cladding in the next generation

    Press release (No. 4) - Fraunhofer IWS / April 17, 2018

    Die COAXwire mini ermöglicht die Herstellung filigraner Bauteiler mittels feinen Schweißdrähten.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    The next generation‘s laser wire processing optics "COAXwire" is in the starting blocks. At the Hannover Messe and the ILA Berlin, the Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS Dresden presents two versions of its coaxial wire optics. A completely newly developed miniaturized version enables high-precision processing of complex components with fine wire. In a macro version, the head can be equipped with a hot-wire module.

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  • Fast direct joining of metal and thermoplastic materials / 2018

    Bonding without adhesive

    Press release (No. 3) - Fraunhofer IWS / February 20, 2018

    In order to adapt the HCPI process for industrial applications, IWS scientists developed a modularly designed joining gun that can be mounted on a robot arm instead of a spot welding gun.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

    The Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS Dresden has developed a new process for joining materials with different properties. Thermal direct joining presses laser-structured metal with thermoplastic components and heats them locally. This causes the thermoplastic to melt, to penetrate into the structures and to adhere to the surface. A specially developed joining gun generates robust connections within seconds. The "HeatPressCool-Integrative" (HPCI) process is highly suitable for replacing complex adhesive processes.

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  • Christoph Leyens takes over management of Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / 2018

    Change in dual leadership

    Press Release (No. 2) - Fraunhofer IWS / January 26, 2018

    Prof. Christoph Leyens übernahm zum Jahreswechsel die Funktion des geschäftsführenden Mitglieds der Institutsleitung am Fraunhofer IWS Dresden.
    © Fraunhofer IWS Dresden / Martin Förster

    The Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS has a new managing director. At the turn of the year, Prof. Christoph Leyens succeeded Prof. Eckhard Beyer as managing director, who had headed Fraunhofer IWS until October 2016 and subsequently, together with Mr Leyens, managed the Fraunhofer IWS in a double leadership. Mr Beyer continues being a member of the Institute's Executive Board.

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