match | Above all, high-quality goods shall be disassembled at the end of their lifetime, either to get them repaired or to reuse their components. This can be achieved by component-friendly disassembly processes, increasing sustainable reuse of products considerably.

LZH | On April 16th, 2018, Dr.-Ing. Stefan Kaierle takes over the scientific and technical management of the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) together with Dr. Dietmar Kracht. He succeeds Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ludger Overmeyer, who takes over the Chairmanship of the Scientific Directorate from Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Ertmer.

Match/IFA | The project SafeMate focuses on general implementation strategies for an accepted and safe human-robot collaboration. A team of researchers will present the research work using the exemple of the assembly of a washing machine at automatica 2018 in Munich from 19 to 22 June.

IPH | In future, factory layouts can be created a lot faster and at a more favourable price: On its flight across a factory, a UAV shall scan all the installations, storage areas and machines and create a three-dimensional model. This is one of the research topics of the Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover (IPH) gGmbH.

CRC 1153 | Experts from the Collaborative Research Centre “Tailored Forming“ are developing new methods for the production of hybrid components, combining the advantages of different materials. Around forty technical exhibits will be presented at Hannover Messe taking place from 23 to 27 April.

IFA | The Institute of Production Systems and Logistics (IFA) had to say goodbye to one of the leading heads: Professor Dr Matthias Schmidt is leaving the institute after more than twelve years to take up a professorship at Leuphana Universität in Lüneburg.

IW | Repair work carried out at offshore wind turbines poses new challenges: Researchers of the Institute of Materials Science (IW) generate data to make the finite element method also usable for the simulation of wet underwater welding.

ITA | In future, printed optical waveguides will be used for multimedia transmission in cars and aeroplanes. The requirements are correspondingly large bandwidths and three-dimensional forming. DFG approves another three years of research of OPTAVER research group, in which scientists from ITA and LZH work together with fellows from Nuremberg, Erlangen and Dresden.

IFUM | For a more comprehensive determination of material properties: At the Institute of Forming Technology and Machines (IFUM), the Gleeble system has been installed at the Department Material Characterisation and Simulation. It is even suitable for simulating bulk metal forming processes.

IFUM/IMPT | Precise temperature control is a decisive factor during hot stamping: Only if the component part is cooled down fast enough, it is hardened sufficiently. For direct temperature measurement in the tool, researchers at IFUM and IMPT developed a thin-film sensor.

IPH/LZH | The Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover (IPH) gGmbH presents new methods for an optimal factory planning. The Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) will be presenting a process chain for additive manufacturing, and the safe deflagration of unexploded bombs using laser technology.

LZH | Aluminum engines save weight and fuel. A steel layer protects the inner surfaces of the cylinder from wear. For the layer to stick firmly, the surface must be rough. Laser-based roughening is an alternative to conventional processes such as corundum blasting or machining.