Press Releases

Throughout the day, our skin is exposed to a range of hostile elements: wind, rain, sunlight, central heating, vehicle emissions... It is vital therefore to ensure it receives proper care. Most importantly, this means choosing a skincare product that is suitable for your type of skin. Fraunhofer researchers have now come up with a commercially viable method of producing a facial skincare product that is precisely tailored to the actual condition of your skin. What’s more, it contains nothing but essential ingredients.

The grid is changing as the big, centralized providers of the past are replaced by smaller, distributed suppliers. Keeping such complex networks running stable requires high-resolution sensor technology – AI provides a way to make accurate predictions and automatically detect any disturbances or anomalies in real time. Here is how Fraunhofer researchers developed the compression techniques, algorithms and neural networks to make a power supply fit for the future.

Sensors in autonomous vehicles have to be extremely reliable, since in the future motorists will no longer constantly monitor traffic while underway. In the past these sensors were subjected to arduous road tests. The new ATRIUM testing device from Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR now makes it possible to move a large portion of these road tests to the laboratory. ATRIUM puts on a show for the vehicle’s radar sensor, generating artificial scenery that comes very close to the actual conditions encountered in street traffic.

Cycling is healthy, keeps the body supple, exercises the joints and strengthens the back. A company that places great value on comfort is Ergon International GmbH, which manufactures ergonomic bicycle accessories. Handlebar grips play an important role in cycling comfort. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF are working with the Koblenz-based company on methods and tools for accelerating and digitalizing the development process for ergonomic bicycle grips.

Natural rubber from rubber trees is a raw material with a limited supply. Synthetically produced rubber, on the other hand, has not yet been able to match the abrasion behavior of the natural product, rendering it unsuitable for truck tires. But now, for the first time, a new type of synthetic rubber has been developed that achieves 30 to 50 percent less abrasion than natural rubber.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. was founded in Munich on March 26, 1949, to help rebuild Germany’s economy. It is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2019, as are the Federal Republic of Germany and its constitution, the Basic Law. With its clear focus on new key technologies and markets, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has become the German economy’s innovation engine and Europe’s leading organization for applied research. The anniversary year is an occasion for the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft not only to look back, but also to look ahead to the future by preparing strategic initiatives for Germany and Europe. The anniversary year will kick off with a ceremony on the date of the founding, followed by a Bavarian State Reception in Munich. The Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München (LMU) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) will join the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft at the event to state their intent to establish an Institute for Cognitive Systems in Bavaria.

At Booth A30 in Hall 6 at the 2019 Hanover Trade Fair the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD will be presenting Data@Hand, a basic automated data analysis technology for a variety of application scenarios. Data@Hand detects deviations from the normal operation of a machine, a component or a production installation - and can also be used in medicine. It optimiz-es processes on the basis of artificial intelligence using principles of machine learning.

The additive manufacture of large-volume plastic components is a time-consuming undertaking. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have now developed Screw Extrusion Additive Manufacturing (SEAM), a system and process that is eight times faster than conventional 3D printing. Visitors will be able to see the ultrafast 3D printer in action at the Fraunhofer Booth C22 in Hall 2 during the Hannover Messe from April 1 through 5, 2019.

When workers in Germany call in sick, back pain is often to blame. It frequently affects employees in logistics, manufacturing and services where physically strenuous patterns of movement are part of the daily job routine. In a bid to prevent back problems, Fraunhofer researchers have come up with ErgoJack to offer a smart soft orthosis that supports workers with real-time motion detection. A prototype of this smart vest will be presented live at Hannover Messe from April 1 through 5, 2019, at Booth C24 in Hall 17.

CAPE® is a transportable, tent-like cleanroom facility developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. It can be installed both indoors and in unexposed outdoor locations, and takes less than an hour to set up. The inspiration for this innovative new development came from a project with OHB System AG, one of the key players in the European space industry. CAPE® helps to protect delicate parts during the manufacturing process as well as to avoid any cross-contamination. It also provides a controlled environment in which to sterilize equipment and components. Serving as a “cleanroom on demand”, CAPE® is the ideal solution for any industry needing to keep the production process free of contamination and yet not requiring any permanent sterilized cleanroom facility. Fraunhofer IPA will be showcasing the system at this year’s Hannover Messe, April 1 to 5, 2019 (Hall 17, Booth C83).