Joining and coating technology ranks among the most important steps within a process chain in industry sectors and product lines, comprising in addition to material production also the cycle of fabrication, operation, repair as well as disposal and recycling, respectively, of a product. In the new business segment “Joining and Coating Technology” at Fraunhofer-Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK we develop innovative procedures for materials which previously could not easily be processed.

Automotive industry is exactly the branch facing big challenges due to the increasing application of advanced high-strength and super high-strength steels and of dissimilar steel-aluminium joints. Steels recently developed by the supplying subcontractors call for further research efforts to be directed even to long-established processes such as resistance spot welding. Simulation of welding processes and of distortion and residual stress promotes rapid introduction of economic and energy-efficient procedures in industry.

An excellent supplement to this thin sheet metal welding research is given by arc welding even for greater thicknesses. Application of innovative high-performance arc welding procedures makes joining of greater plate thicknesses as encountered in shipbuilding or pipe construction particularly attractive, seen from an economical point of view.

• High-performance arc welding
• Resistance welding of super high-strength steels and of dissimilar joints
• Process optimization by welding simulation
• Application of modern high-power joining procedures such as laser beam and hybrid welding

“New-type materials require new approaches in joining technology. We offer the development of innovative procedures to our partners guaranteeing the safety of your process chain and of the joined components - regardless of whether it is in automotive construction, plant construction or shipbuilding. And for your pipeline, we develop efficient procedures, too!”