Press releases 2012

Meanwhile the laser build-up welding technology is a well industrially established technique for highly precise coating tasks. Thanks to the IWS Dresden powder nozzles, the manufacturing of customized components can be realized up to a detail resolution within the double-digit micrometer range. At this year’s Euromold we presented a variety of powder nozzles and micro components.

Damaging biocides can be detected on old wooden sculptures, hidden wall paintings can be made visible again and the layered structures of pieces of art analyzed. Using terahertz scanners restorers will soon be able to identify quickly, and completely non-destructively, what is happening with an object of art. Fraunhofer scientists will introduce a new generation of such scanners at the denkmal trade fair (Hall 2, H30), from November 22 - 24 in Leipzig, Germany.

Dr. Matthias Lütke from the Fraunhofer IWS Dresden received the annual prize of the Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft für Lasertechnik e. V. (WLT - German Scientific Laser Society). He was honoured for the development of a Remote laser cutting technique, a procedure, which caused a world-wide appreciation and sensation.

If two thermally sensitive materials have to be precisely joined with low mechanical stress and, to top it, in a short time, the suitable heat source will be of utmost importance. Together with the Chair of Production Engineering of the TU Dresden, the Fraunhofer IWS has developed a heat source, which interiorly acts directly in the joining zone, a source which is most suitably tailored to the corresponding joining task. Metals, ceramics, semi-conductors, diamonds and most recently even polymers can be joined with this technology.

The Fraunhofer IWS international summer school on laser application development was held in Dresden during the last week of August. The one week school focused on trends and new developments in the theory and practice of laser materials processing. Over 40 researchers from 13 countries including Spain, Italy, Great Britain, Lithuania, Finland and Switzerland attended the school which also provided a unique networking opportunity for attendees.

With effect from 1st July 2012, the TU Dresden has appointed Dr. Andrés Fabián Lasagni to the "Laser Structuring in Manufacturing Technology" professorship.

With effect from 2nd April 2012, the TU Dresden has appointed Dr. Martina Zimmermann to the Professorship for Material Testing and Characterisation, a chair funded by the Fraunhofer Society. The chair focuses the research on the understanding of damage processes as a result of vibration stress – particularly in the field of extremely high stress cycles. The research work aims at the development of concepts to reliably and accurately predict the lifetimes for safety-relevant and bonded components.

With effect from 1st July 2012, the TU Dresden has appointed Dr. Andrés Fabián Lasagni to the "Laser Structuring in Manufacturing Technology" professorship.

From June 12th – 13th 2012 Dresden will be the host of the international symposium “Nanofair”. The congress has proved itself as an excellent European platform for the field of nanotechnological research. Nanofair with its included exhibition will take place for the 9 th time and is organized by the Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik Dresden, DRESDEN-concept, the City of Dresden - Economic Development Office and the Nanotechnology Competence Center Ultra Thin Functional Films Dresden.

The efficiency of a solar cell can decisively be increased by a surface structuring process. A novel laser based technology to structure organic solar cells has proved itself as a very fast and efficient process and is thus very promising for industrial applications.