Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology
Coordinates: 50 ° 47 ′ 7.9 ″ N , 6 ° 2 ′ 50 ″ E
| Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology | |
|---|---|
| Category: | research Institute |
| Carrier: | Fraunhofer Society |
| Legal form of the carrier: | Registered association |
| Seat of the wearer: | Munich |
| Facility location: | Aachen |
| Type of research: | Applied research |
| Subjects: | Natural sciences , physics |
| Areas of expertise: | Laser technology , photonics , laser development, laser applications, natural sciences , physics , mechanical engineering , manufacturing technology , materials technology |
| Management: | Constantin Häfner |
| Employee: | 546 employees, including 264 permanent staff (scientists and engineers 188, employees in the technical infrastructure 43, administrative employees 33) and 282 additional employees (research assistants 275, external employees 3, trainees 4) [information as of January 2019] |
| Homepage: | www.ilt.fraunhofer.de |
The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT , also known as “Fraunhofer ILT” for short, is an institution of the Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research e. V. (FhG). The institute is based in Aachen , its activities are assigned to applied research and development in the areas of laser development and laser applications. It was founded in 1985 by Gerd Herziger .
Research and Development
With around 570 employees and a net floor space of more than 19,500 m², the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is one of the contract research and development institutes in the field of laser technology.
The Fraunhofer ILT has been working in the field of laser technology since the 1980s. This includes solutions for manufacturing and production tasks, the development of new technical components, advice and training, personnel, technology. Customers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT come from the automotive and mechanical engineering, chemistry and electrical engineering, aircraft construction, precision mechanics, medical technology and optics.
The technology fields of Fraunhofer ILT cover a range of topics in laser technology.
Technology field »laser and optics«
In the “Lasers and Optics” technology field, the scientists at Fraunhofer ILT develop beam sources as well as optical components and systems. The spectrum ranges from free-form optics to diode and solid-state lasers to fiber and ultra-short pulse lasers . In addition to the development, production and integration of components and systems, the areas of optical design, modeling and packaging are also covered.
Technology field »laser material processing«
The Fraunhofer ILT is researching tasks for cutting, ablating, drilling, cleaning, welding, soldering, labeling, as well as surface processing and micro-production in the technology field of "laser material processing". The focus is on process development and system technology. This includes machine and control technology as well as process and beam monitoring as well as modeling and simulation. Since the mid-1990s, Fraunhofer ILT has also been promoting additive manufacturing - especially of metallic components - for example with powder bed-based Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) or powder- or wire-feed-based laser deposition welding . The focus is on optimizing profitability through a holistic view of the process chains - from component design to process management and system technology to final processing.
Technology field »medical technology and biophotonics«
Experts in the technology field “ medical technology and biophotonics ”, together with partners from the life sciences, develop new applications of the laser in bioanalytics, laser microscopy, clinical diagnostics, laser therapy, biofunctionalization and biofabrication. The development and manufacture of implants, microsurgical and microfluidic systems and components are also among the core activities.
Technology field »Laser measurement technology and EUV technology«
In the technology field "Laser measurement technology and EUV technology", Fraunhofer ILT develops processes and systems for customers for inline measurement of physical and chemical parameters in a process line. In addition to production metrology and material analysis, the contract research focuses on the environment and safety as well as recycling and raw materials. With EUV technology, the scientists venture into the submicrometer world of semiconductor technology and biology.
Technology field "digitization"
The technology field of digitization is closely linked to the activities of the technology fields of laser and optics development, laser material processing, medicine and biophotonics and laser measurement technology. It combines competencies in digital production and laser technologies, for example in the areas of design-to-production, digital twin, smart simulation, and fog and edge computing.
Knowledge in the field of laser development, laser process engineering and laser process technology, combined with digital competencies in modeling, simulation, data processing, storage and integration, enable not only customer-specific and technological solutions, but also digital mapping of these. Accordingly, the technology field is characterized by a holistic view of processes and procedures - from modeling to data integration.
Technology field »quantum technology«
Together with German and international researchers, the Fraunhofer ILT scientists develop solutions for new quantum technologies . These include parametric photon sources and frequency converters, integrated optical components, packaging processes and application-specific system technologies.
In particular, beam sources with tailor-made properties and precise assembly technologies for optical components and systems are of great interest in the field of quantum technologies. The developments also focus on compactness and a high degree of integration of the systems. The Fraunhofer ILT has technology platforms here, including the development of satellite-based lasers and components for climate research.
Networking science and industry
The networking of applied research at Fraunhofer ILT with basic scientific research at local universities with the involvement of industrial partners is an essential building block for research. Fraunhofer ILT operates various joint projects with RWTH Aachen University , FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT and industrial partners .
Associated chairs at RWTH Aachen University and Infrastructure
The RWTH Aachen University with the chairs for Laser Technology LLT, Optical for technology systems TOS and Digital offers additives Production DAP and the Teaching and Research Nonlinear Dynamics of Laser Processing NLD an outstanding cluster of expertise in the field of optical technologies. This enables a supercritical processing of fundamental and application-related research topics. The close cooperation with the Fraunhofer ILT not only allows industrial contract research on the basis of solid basic knowledge, but also leads to new impulses in the further development of optical processes, components and systems.
The Fraunhofer ILT is headed by Constantin Häfner, who also holds the Chair for Laser Technology LLT at RWTH Aachen University. Deputy head is Peter Loosen, who also holds the Chair for Technology of Optical Systems TOS at RWTH Aachen University.
Fraunhofer ILT offers research and development, system design and quality assurance, advice and training under one roof. Industrial laser systems from various manufacturers and an infrastructure are available for processing research and development orders. In the adjacent “Digital Photonic Production DPP” research campus, companies cooperating with the Fraunhofer ILT work in their own laboratories and offices. The basis for this special form of technology transfer is a long-term cooperation agreement with the institute in the field of research and development. The added value lies in the use of the technical infrastructure and the exchange of information with the experts at Fraunhofer ILT. In addition to laser manufacturers and laser users, new founders from the field of special system construction, laser production technology and laser measurement technology find an environment here for the industrial implementation of their ideas.
Integration in the Fraunhofer Society
The Fraunhofer ILT is part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft , which with 74 institutes, more than 28,000 employees and an annual research volume of 2.8 billion euros is one of the most important research institutions in Germany.
Web links
- Homepage of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT)
- Further information on cooperation and networks
- Further information on clusters
Individual evidence
- ^ Institute profile - Find out more about us - Fraunhofer ILT. Accessed January 21, 2020 .
- ↑ Technology fields - Fraunhofer ILT. Accessed January 21, 2020 .
- ↑ LIGHT AS THE KEY TO GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY. In: SPECTARIS. Accessed January 21, 2020 .
- ↑ Digitization - Fraunhofer ILT. Accessed January 21, 2020 .
- ↑ Quantum Technology - Fraunhofer ILT. Accessed January 21, 2020 .
- ↑ Networks - Fraunhofer ILT. Accessed January 21, 2020 .
- ↑ Associated chairs of RWTH Aachen University - Fraunhofer ILT. Accessed January 21, 2020 .