Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS
Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS

Technology fields

The Fraunhofer IWS conducts application-oriented research and development from physical and material engineering basics to systems development. The research and development work bases on a comprehensive materials and nanotechnology know-how combined with extensive material and component characterization. The institute is divided into seven technology fields.

© Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

Ablation and Cutting

The Fraunhofer IWS researches and develops laser-based processes and systems for ablation and cutting procedures. Main focus is bundled on laser cutting with assist gas, on remote laser processing as well as on process modelling
Ablation and Cutting

© Fraunhofer IWS Dresden

Microtechnology

The Fraunhofer IWS researches and develops new methods to fabricate 2D and 3D micro-and nano structures on surfaces of polymers, ceramics and coatings. Further the main focus is bundled on micro processing with ultra short pulse lasers.
Microtechnology

Joining

The Fraunhofer IWS offers comprehensive welding technological solutions. The approach includes the analysis of materials behavior, the influence of the joining process, specific material and application requirements and the implementation of adequate system technologies.
Joining

Thermal Surface Technology

The Fraunhofer IWS develops new solution strategies and processes for component geometries, wear parts and materials especially for those cases, in which conventional surface treatments fail.
Thermal Surface Technology

Additive Manufacturing and Printing

This IWS technology field includes the two working areas: additive manufacturing and printing. Our successes in these areas are based on the concept to develop comprehensive coating technology solutions while considering process, system and economic factors.

Additive Manufacturing and Printing

Chemical Surface Technology

Fraunhofer IWS is developing processes, equipment and analytical tools for chemical coating and plasma functionalization of surfaces for battery, solar thermal technology and diverse functional coatings.
Chemical Surface Technology

PVD and Nanotechnology

Within the technology field PVD coating- and nanotechnology, the Fraunhofer IWS develops and researches processes to fabricate various coatings and coating systems, which are based on physical deposition processes.

PVD and Nanotechnology

© Frank Höhler

Materials Characterization and Testing

The offer includes the determination of mechanical parameters of materials and material composites, the establishment of characteristic curves to evaluate the fatigue strength in particular with timesaving high frequency testing and the high resolution imaging and analytic characterization of laser modified surfaces, joining interfaces, thin film systems, nanotubes and nanoparticles.

Materials Characterization and Testing