From Bremen to the world: 25 years (!) of workforce education as an adhesive bonding engineer (EAE) at Fraunhofer IFAM

The beginnings: From the first course to international diversity

The first course for adhesive engineers (EAE) started in 2001 under the direction of Dr Dirk Niermann. The 31st course is now underway in German here in Bremen. The development of the course was the final step in a three-stage personnel certification system aimed at all target groups in user companies: from workers to technical decision-makers.

This expansion was necessary in order to supplement adhesive bonding quality assurance with a company certification system – at that time based on the requirements of DIN 6701 for rail vehicle construction, later supplemented by DIN 2304 for all industries outside rail vehicle construction. Today, it is the international successors EN 17460 and ISO 21368, as well as TL A0023 for the military sector, that require trained adhesive engineers for the development and manufacture of products with safety-relevant adhesives.

Due to the international reach of DIN 6701 and the emerging demand, the first English-language EAE course followed here in Bremen in 2006. We are currently running the 15th international course. In 2015, the range of courses was expanded to include the Chinese course, which has since been run with great success in cooperation with our Chinese partner YIFA and is now in its eleventh year. The Polish course was added to the current portfolio in 2020/21.

Strong partners for strong training

Of course, such a comprehensive course cannot be run alone. We have received and continue to receive support from the University of Bremen, the Technical University of Dresden, Saarland University and, of course, our colleagues from the specialist departments at Fraunhofer IFAM. For the adhesive engineering course in particular, the integration of the training centre into the research activities of the entire institute has paid off and ensures that our participants always receive the latest information from science and technology.

Participant numbers and course development

The number of participants has changed significantly over the years. The largest course had an impressive 42 participants, while during the coronavirus pandemic there was also a course with only six participants. Despite these challenges, we have found innovative solutions: the English course in 2020 was successfully completed with online lessons and online exams. Based on these experiences, we developed a comprehensive blended learning concept with online and face-to-face components, which was audited in 2025 by the EWF, the European umbrella organisation for personal certification in joining technology, and we subsequently received an extension of our scope of accreditation.

From the beginning to today, we have qualified over 1,200 adhesive bonding engineers. Most of them are from Germany, of course, but the field of participants has become very international, ranging from west (Salt Lake City, USA) to east (Tokyo, Japan), from north (Reykjavik, Iceland) to south (Brisbane, Australia). The goal is usually to work as a responsible bonding supervisor for S1 or A1 bonding – a crisis-proof job, as EAEs are in high demand. Since 2022, there has also been a qualification as a bonding technologist, which is aimed at participants who do not meet the formal requirements for participation in the EAE course but perform similar tasks in their companies.

Diversity of industries and perspectives

The composition of participants has changed over the years. While the first courses were heavily influenced by rail vehicle construction, today we find a very mixed field of participants from various industries: from automotive engineering to shipbuilding and aircraft construction to electronics and defence technology. In addition, there are adhesive manufacturers, mechanical engineers and employees from research institutes. This diversity ensures that different perspectives are discussed during the course and that everyone can benefit from each other's specialist knowledge.

This has resulted in a network of former participants that continues to exist beyond the course period. Former course participants often meet at other events such as the Bremer Klebtage (language: German) or at the Bremen Bonding Days (language: English) to exchange ideas or chat about the intensive eight weeks at Fraunhofer IFAM. Many of them are now the central point of contact in their companies when it comes to adhesive bonding issues, while some work in further education institutions, promoting the next generation of adhesive bonding specialists in their countries. Some are active as DVS examiners, ensuring that the high standards of the adhesive bonding qualification system are maintained.

In addition, very personal relationships have developed, even life partnerships, some of which have led to ‘biological’ offspring in adhesive bonding technology. It is therefore fair to say that participation in the adhesive bonding engineer training course has had a major impact on the professional (and in some cases private) lives of the vast majority of participants!

We cordially invite you to become and remain part of this community. Let us continue to shape the future of adhesive bonding technology together!