Ceramic batteries and membranes for filtration and gas separation – these are the research topics that will be the focus of the future "Pilot Center for Powder Synthesis and Extrusion". The construction phase at the Hermsdorf site of the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS has now begun with a ground-breaking ceremony. The pilot center, which is funded by the federal government and the Free State of Thuringia with 5 million euros, is tailored to the requirements of complex research topics and an important link for future technology transfer. The build will be completed in June 2020.

Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, Economics Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, Finance Director of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Jörg Laschke, District Administrator Andreas Heller, Hermsdorf's mayor Benny Hofmann as well as IKTS institute director Prof. Alexander Michaelis and deputy institute directors Prof. Ingolf Voigt and Prof. Michael Stelter jointly broke the ground for the construction project. The L-shaped, two-story building extension will have a direct connection to the existing Technikum 1, which will be refurbished as part of the build. Two modern laboratories, six technical centers as well as offices and storage space will be incorporated on 583 m².
 

Focus on digitalization of development and manufacturing processes

The machines and systems in the new pilot center will be technologically equipped to enable digital production of ceramic components. Among other things, shaping machines will be equipped with the latest sensor technology, providing an insight into process details that was previously not possible. In addition, concepts are being developed for combining the sensor data in real time for continuous quality monitoring and process control. All of this ensures industrially stable manufacturing processes for future expected batch sizes of several million ceramic battery components and membrane tubes. In addition, the building offers tailor-made technical solutions for the separation of different materials, for air extraction and dust removal as well as for wastewater treatment. Thus, this state-of-the-art pilot center will provide the Fraunhofer researchers with the best conditions for the up-scaling of ceramic components and systems.
 

Voices

Wolfgang Tiefensee, Thuringian Minister for Economy, Science and Digital Society
"The recently awarded Thuringian Research Prize shows that research at Fraunhofer IKTS resonates in Thuringia and beyond. The fact that the focus in the field of battery development is now being further intensified with this new pilot center, supports our strategy of developing Thuringia into a nationally visible center for battery research and production."

Prof. Alexander Michaelis, Institute Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
"Digitalization is a reality in material-intensive industries, such as ceramic and battery production. In this new pilot center, Fraunhofer IKTS has unique possibilities to develop new, digitally controlled processes of ceramic mass production as well as to design new sensor and software concepts in cooperation with our SME partners, which enable such production processes in the necessary quality and precision in the first place".