Fraunhofer IAPT, based in Hamburg and part of the renowned Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, focuses on the industrialization of additive manufacturing (AM). The institute supports end-to-end development of metal AM processes, from design optimization and process qualification to post-processing. Its innovations cater to aerospace, automotive, and medical industries, enabling lightweight structures, material efficiency, and rapid prototyping. Backed by Fraunhofer's applied research standards, IAPT offers collaborative projects, technology transfer, and pilot production, with outreach across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.
The "door opener" for 3D printing in automotive series production. With approximately 50 percent lower cost and 35 percent weight savings compared to the equivalent milled part, a redesign of the arm of a door hinge for a high-profile sports car shows that innovation with additive manufacturing is economically feasible! This is made possible thanks to 3D printing-centred design methods developed by specialists at Fraunhofer IAPT.
