Company

The Institute of Aircraft Design (IFB) at the University of Stuttgart is an internationally active research institute in the field of fiber-based composites and their manufacturing technologies. In addition to basic research, we also work on interdisciplinary research fields in application-oriented research and development in the area of digitalization as well as sustainable design and mapping of textile manufacturing technologies.

One of our core competencies is the production of textile preforms (preforms). Here, a wide range of fiber semi-finished products can be processed and combined using various processes. After fiber preparation with our rewinding and bonding equipment, we can manufacture structures in various degrees of complexity. For this purpose, in addition to braiding machines, we also have automatic tape laying machines and an embroidery line for Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP). The TFP process can be used, for example, to produce preforms for ultra-lightweight parts with variable axial fiber alignment. Furthermore, our expertise in fiber impregnation enables us to implement all common processes, such as vacuum infusion, resin transfer molding or wet pressing. In parallel, we are also working on digitally mapping our entire process chain.

In current research projects, we are looking into manufacturing processes for sustainable fiber-reinforced plastic composites (FRP). For this, we use bio-based starting materials such as natural fibers, biopolymers and also lignocellulose-based core materials. In addition, the topics of recycling and upcycling play a major role in our choice of materials. On the production technology side, too, we are constantly on the lookout for novel solutions for efficient and sustainable production of FRP.