Blog: Training at Fraunhofer IFAM

New developments thrive on research and development, i.e. on the generation of new knowledge. New knowledge is not an end in itself. New knowledge must find its way into application in order to be economically viable. To do this, it must be transferred from research and development to the manufacturing companies in industry and handicrafts. With its further training offers, the Fraunhofer IFAM is working to simplify this process. Successful and long-term technology transfer is only possible through the qualification of company personnel and the structuring of the organization of company production processes.

Fibre-reinforced plastics usually have high specific stiffness and strength. This makes them suitable materials for lightweight construction. They are used in aviation, marine, wind energy, rail vehicle construction and many other industries. However, in their application they are exposed to enormous environmental influences which can have a detrimental effect on their service life: Temperature fluctuations, humidity, UV radiation, mechanical stress, salts or other chemical compounds. The consequential damage is often not visible and is not noticed, but this can have fatal consequences. Therefore, comprehensive knowledge of the properties of fibre-reinforced plastics is necessary as well as the possibility of professional repair.

The third Bremen Bonding Days will take place from 29 to 30 October 2025 at the Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen, Germany. Dr Holger Fricke, Head of the Department of Adhesive Bonding Technology at Fraunhofer IFAM, explains to us in an interview what the Bremen Bonding Days are and how they differ from the German-language »Bremer Klebtage«.

A misunderstanding is a communicative disturbance resulting from the difference between what is meant by a sender and what is understood by the recipient. It often occurs due to a lack of knowledge. We want to counteract this with this blog article, which deals with the misunderstood role of adhesive bonding technology in discussions about the circular economy.

The Product Safety Act (PSG) requires a "state of the art" for safe products. For demanding processes such as bonding and fiber composite technology, which cannot be tested non-destructively, ISO 9001 requires a quality management system. In order to meet the legal standard, specific quality assurance standards are introduced that are aimed at technologically specific requirements and cover the entire product life cycle.

Dr. Tanja Warratz explains the exchange formats and the involvement of the Continuing Education and Technology Transfer department in social media.

Ten participants successfully completed the first blended learning course of the Bonding Technology Training Center at the Fraunhofer IFAM in fall 2019. The theoretical contents of the course to become a DVS®/ EWF bonding practitioner took place online for the most part. This online phase was supplemented by a three-day presence phase at the institute, during which the theoretical knowledge previously learned was put into practice. Dr. Effi Baumgarten is responsible for the blended learning offers in the Bonding Technology Training Center at the Fraunhofer IFAM and provides an insight into the new course concept.

TDr. Effi Baumgarten is responsible for the online learning offers in the Training Center for Adhesive Bonding Technology at Fraunhofer IFAM and gives an insight into the new course concept Adhesive Bonding Engineer Online (blended learning). Videos with professional speakers and with lectures by Fraunhofer experts, learning checks and group chats - these are just a few of the multimedia formats that make learning easier for participants in online self-study.

The Training Center for Adhesive Bonding Technology at Fraunhofer IFAM has been offering workforce training courses in adhesive bonding technology for company employees for over 30 years. What started as a local programme in Bremen has now become a global training programme at various locations around the world. For over 20 years, we have been working with partners who organise the courses on our behalf, using our course concept and our course materials.

The EU Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which describes the transition from a linear (»throw-away«) economy to a circular economy, is unfortunately often erroneously reduced to the topic of »recycling« in popular and political discourse. »The circular economy action plan takes a comprehensive, holistic approach to ecological sustainability assessment,« explains Professor Dr Andreas Groß, Head of the »Training and Technology Transfer« department at Fraunhofer IFAM (Bremen), »and does not just focus on individual elements such as recycling. The nine R strategies of the EU Commission serve as a guide for linking ecodesign and the circular economy.« In this context, adhesive bonding technology should not be reduced to the topic of »recycling« either. Adhesive bonding technology is already an ally of the circular economy and not its opponent, with its significant contributions, which must be correctly classified in technological, social and political terms.