Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology
Fraunhofer IWU - your partner for research and development in production engineering
The Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU is your innovation-driven partner for research and development in production engineering. Around 600 highly qualified employees work at our locations in Chemnitz, Cottbus, Dresden, Leipzig, Wolfsburg, and Zittau. We unlock potential for competitive manufacturing, across industries like automotive, aerospace, electrical engineering, and precision engineering. Our research and contract research encompass the entire manufacturing ecosystem, from individual components to processes, methods, complex machine systems and human interaction.
As one of the leading institutes for resource-efficient manufacturing, we bank on intelligent automation and artificial intelligence technologies for highly flexible, scalable (cognitive) production systems inspired by nature. We take a holistic approach to the entire process chain, aligning with circular economy principles. With a focus on application-ready solutions, we develop technologies and intelligent production plants for forming, cutting, and joining manufacturing steps. We master the processing of a wide variety of materials and explore the latest technologies in lightweight engineering and additive manufacturing (3D printing). To support the transition to renewable energies, we develop solutions for integrating electricity storage systems into factories and for the large-scale production of hydrogen systems.