Latest News from the Division »Processes and Materials«

At Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main, starting April 21, 2026, Fraunhofer ITWM will demonstrate how its software solutions support the textile industry with powerful simulation capabilities. The goal is to shorten development times, optimize material usage, and reliably predict the behavior of textile structures virtually. 

How can production processes become more flexible, efficient, and sustainable, especially for medium-sized industrial companies? This is precisely what we are working on in the »Future« project together with Fraunhofer IMM. The project specifically strengthens medium-sized companies in the region and contributes to the establishment of Industry 4.0 in chemistry, biotechnology, and energy in Rhineland-Palatinate.

More stable, lighter, more efficient – the quality of the component is determined during the pressing process. With fiber-reinforced plastics such as SMC, fiber orientation is crucial. Our new simulation technology predicts this precisely and with CT analyses and material optimization, creates the basis for lightweight, robust and resource-saving components.

The »International Conference on Mobile and Miniaturized Terahertz Systems« (ICM2TS) is an international scientific conference focused on the development and application of compact, mobile terahertz systems. Our expert Dr. Maris Bauer from the »Material Characterization and Testing« department gives a presentation entitled »Mobile Terahertz FMCW Systems for the Inspection of Glass Fiber-reinforced Composites and Paint Layers«.

The Battery Show is a trade fair with an conference on battery technologies and electrification, which serves as a platform for discussing current innovations and challenges in the industry.

Dr. Jochen Zausch and Dr. Joachim Jonuscheit are represented with two exhibits. They present the topics »Digital Simulation Tools for Production and Design of Battery Cell« and our »Inline Thickness Measurement System for Anode and Cathode Foils«.

At the Automotive CAE Grand Challenge conference, experts present solutions to challenges in virtual vehicle development.

Our »Material Simulation« department will be on site, and our expert Dr. Hannes Grimm-Strele will present how process-induced fiber orientation is taken into account in the simulation of Sheet Molding Compounds.

The NAFEMS DACH Conference 2026 offers comprehensive information and networking opportunities in the field of computational simulation methods (CAE).

Our experts will be on site with three presentations on the topics of »GPU-Accelerated Mesh-Free Gas Dynamic Simulations«, »CAE Success Stories From Fraunhofer ITWM« and »A Hybrid Parallel PGAS Approach to Linear Solvers«. We will also be presenting our software tool »MESHFREE«.

The Fachtage Fernwärme showcase the latest developments in pipe-based heat supply. The Focus in Workshops and specialist seminars will be on approaches to planning, simulation, and operation of modern heating networks. At booth 51, a team from our »Flow Processes« department will present our »AD Net Heat« software. 

PaintExpo is an international trade fair for industrial coating technology.

We are on site with a team from the »Material Characterization and Testing« department and are presenting an exhibit on the topic of »Coating thickness measurement using terahertz radiation« with a focus on plastic components in combination with determining radar performance.