Marc Steinmetz
Fraunhofer bugatti brake caliper
A demo of how the Bugatti titanium brake caliper was additively manufactured.
The City of Hamburg has invested €30 million to boost its research of 3D printing and nano technology, merging Fraunhofer Gesellschaft with the Laser Zentrum Nord (LZN) centre.
Fraunhofer Gesellscaft, among the largest application-oriented research organisations in Europe, and LZN will be integrated to form the Fraunhofer Institute for Additive Production Technologies (Fraunhofer IAPT). As part of this deal, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft has also acquired the Centre for Applied Nanotechnology (CAN) to establish the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer research (IAP).
Since 2009, LZN has been working to develop laser applications for a wide range of industries. CAN, meanwhile, offers companies and fellow researchers analytics in the area of nanotechnology, which like laser technology, covers an array of cross-sectional technologies, such as materials and hardware systems. The two organisations will now be under the influence of Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, which directs around 70 different institutes in varying fields of applied science.
The new Fraunhofer IAPT is Fraunhofer’s first autonomous facility in Hamburg, and will look to become the leading R&D location within the German additive manufacturing market. It recently showcased its expertise in a project with Bugatti and Bionic Production AG, which saw a functional automobile brake caliper additively manufactured in titanium. Its successful R&D like this which leads the City of Hamburg to believe that the new facilities established as a result of its investment will be crucial for the city and the additive manufacturing field alike.
Marc Steinmetz
Fraunhofer bugatti brake caliper.
The additively manufactured brake caliper, developed by Bugatti, Bionic Production AG and Fraunhofer IAPT.
“Innovations are guarantors of economic development and prosperity,” said Olaf Scholz, Mayor of Hamburg. “Linking outstanding science with commerce, Fraunhofer’s model for success is crucial to Hamburg’s innovative and competitive ability. The expansion of Fraunhofer’s activities enhances the nascent, but very successful, cooperation between Hamburg and the Fraunhofer Institute.”
“Hamburg is well on the way to become a leading centre of research and innovation in Europe,” added Katharina Fegebank, Deputy Mayor of Hamburg. “3D printing and nanotechnology are future-oriented fields which are important catalysts of innovation and our city’s development.”
