Automotive technology and mobility

Additive Manufacturing, particularly metal 3D printing, has evolved from a promising technology to a serious constituent of industrial production. Industries such as plant engineering, aerospace, automotive and metalworking are facing a technological transformation that could have far-reaching implications for design, production and sustainability. Dr. Stefan Leuders, head of Technology & Innovation at voestalpine Additive Manufacturing Center GmbH, Düsseldorf, and Dr. Tim Lantzsch, head of Laser Powder Bed Fusion at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Aachen, discuss the current trends in Additive Manufacturing (AM), analyze the opportunities and risks, and show which industries can particularly benefit.

On September 10 and 11, 2024, the 5th Laser Colloquium Hydrogen 2024 - LKH2 brought together around 60 renowned experts from industry, science and research. The now well-established conference is the ideal platform for discussing the latest developments and applications of laser technology for fuel cell and hydrogen production. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, the two-day event focused on the continuous production of metallic bipolar plates, process monitoring and the functionalization of surfaces.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will show experts from the hydrogen industry how advanced laser technologies are helping to pave the way for the breakthrough of hydrogen technology at the international trade fair and conference Hy-fcell, which will take place in Stuttgart on October 8 and 9, 2024. At stand 4E51 in hall 4, the Aachen-based institute will be demonstrating which innovations can meet the growing demand for hydrogen technology and how laser technology increases efficiency, reduces costs and improves the sustainability of fuel cell production.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and Automatic-Systeme Dreher GmbH are presenting a groundbreaking innovation in the field of sheet metal processing at Euroblech 2024 from October 22 to 25 in Hanover, Germany: a demonstrator system for laser blanking that significantly increases process reliability and efficiency in production through the use of artificial intelligence.

A new ultrashort pulse (USP) laser beam source from TRUMPF, designed for industrial use, will significantly expand the range of applications of USP laser processes. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen will be systematically exploring the potential of this beam source with an average output of 1 kW in the coming months. Among other things, experiments are planned to optimize processes in battery and fuel cell production, toolmaking and semiconductor technology, as well as to test various beam guidance strategies. Many of these pilot applications have their origins in the Fraunhofer internal Cluster of Excellence Advanced Photon Sources (CAPS), to which 21 institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft belong.

Burrs on cut and punched edges of sheet metal increase the risk of injury and can often damage cables and scratch surfaces. For this reason alone, it makes sense to deburr such edges. If this is done by laser, not only can edges be selectively reinforced, but the fatigue strength of the components can be increased and the tendency to forming cracks reduced. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen will be presenting state-of-the-art laser deburring processes at the EuroBLECH trade fair in Hanover from October 22 to 25, 2024. Interested parties can also find out more about laser polishing of sheet metal at the stand in Hall 27 | D142.

How pharmaceuticals act, how efficient catalysts are and how effective and accurate printing inks function all depend on the size of the nanoparticles they contain. However, there are as of yet no methods for monitoring the particle size distribution during grinding processes. In the EU-funded PAT4Nano project, a consortium from industry and research has spent the last four years looking for practicable approaches for such inline measurements. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen has developed a promising laser-based method that could soon make such measurements possible.

Makino and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT are using EHLA and EHLA3D to redefine the boundaries of Additive Manufacturing. By integrating EHLA3D into a five-axis CNC platform, they have developed a process that can efficiently produce, coat or repair complex geometries with high-strength materials. Result of the collaboration: shorter production times and extended component life in critical industries, while laying the foundations for future innovation in the circular economy.

The “AKL’24 - International Laser Technology Congress” took place in Aachen from April 17 to 19, 2024. For the 14th time, the congress provided a platform for an intensive professional exchange on current technology trends and perspectives in laser technology. In addition to three forums and nine sessions with a total of 82 specialist presentations, the 525 participants from 21 countries had access to a fully booked exhibition with 58 companies and 60 “Laser Technology Live” demonstrations in the laboratories of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and RWTH Aachen University. Two evening events and the deliberately relaxed schedule on the three days of the congress invited participants to network. In short: AKL’24 was the place to be for the laser community.

Innovative process technology enables energy-efficient drying of anodes and cathodes while at the same time reducing space requirements. As part of the IDEEL research project (Implementation of Laser Drying Processes for Economical & Ecological Lithium-Ion Battery Production), project partners from industry and research are developing a laser drying process for the more climate-friendly and economical serial production of lithium-ion batteries. Now, for the first time, the process has been successfully scaled up to a coating and drying speed of 5 m/min in a continuous process, proving that industrial implementation is technically possible and economically viable.