Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology
Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology

Hybrid materials

Hybrid lightweight construction combines the best properties of various materials

System-efficient hybrid lightweight construction has the objective of combining various materials in such a way that their combination results in a product with the best overall properties. In addition to suitable production processes, hybrid joining technology plays a major role in this context.

The Fraunhofer IWU together with its partners from industry and research pursues various approaches for generating multi-material systems. This makes it possible to realize suitable material properties in the required positions.

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  • CFRP z-slider
  • CFRP cross beam
  • Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE: process combination of deep drawing, injection molding and forming using melting
  • Joining technology for hybrid lightweight construction
  • Lightweight construction due to hybrid design
  • Forming of composite materials
  • Process combination hydroforming – injection molding

  • Multi-material design in automotive engineering
  • Increasing production complexity
  • Adaption of existing production and joining technologies, development and testing of new technologies and process chains 
  • Functional integration in hybrid structures as the simplest solution in terms of function
  • Development of manufacturing processes for producing hybrid structures
  • Adapting the pultrusion process for processing various classes of material
  • Combining advantages of various manufacturing processes

Development of process chains

  • Market analysis
  • Investigation of process chains
  • Process optimization
  • Cost-benefit calculation
  • Development of manufacturing concepts
  • Planning and technological dimensioning of processes, tools and machines

Development and evaluation of forming and joining strategies

  • Market analysis
  • Feasibility studies
  • Technology development
  • Development of characteristic process values and ideal manufacturing strategies
  • Benchmarking
  • Numerical simulation
  • Manufacturing of prototypes

Machine technology

  • Pultrusion plant for manufacturing straight and curved profiles
  • Hot press
  • Laying-up
  • Diverse infusion processes
  • Press technology for processing organic sheet metals, SMC etc.