Fraunhofer IFAM
Fraunhofer IFAM is a German non-profit applied research institute, part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, specializing in manufacturing technology and advanced materials across adhesive bonding, surface technology, additive manufacturing, hydrogen, batteries, and automation/robotics, serving automotive, aerospace, energy, medical, maritime, and industrial clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersBremen, Germany
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fraunhofer IFAM does
Fraunhofer IFAM (Fraunhofer-Institut für Fertigungstechnik und Angewandte Materialforschung) is a German non-profit applied research institute and legally non-independent member of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, headquartered in Bremen with branch locations in Dresden, Stade, Wolfsburg, Braunschweig, Helgoland and Cuxhaven. Founded in 1968 and operating with roughly 700 employees, the institute concentrates on manufacturing technology and advanced materials across seven competency areas: metallic materials, polymeric materials, surface technology, adhesive bonding technology, shaping and component manufacturing, energy storage and converters, and automation and robotics. Its named technology portfolio includes the Machine Tool Robot (developed with Siemens AG and autonox Robotics), CooLTank and HYTANK for cryogenic hydrogen tanks, Powerpaste magnesium-hydride hydrogen storage, PLASLON/UltraPLAS PFAS-free plasma coatings, solid-state batteries, MeGaBat battery recycling, and the SAMSON/KERMIT smart-agriculture systems. Business operations are organized around three revenue mechanics: institutional public funding channeled through Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, bilateral and consortium contract research with industrial clients (Airbus, Mercedes-Benz among named partners), and fee-based professional qualification programs in adhesive bonding, composites, electromobility, and related disciplines. Customers are concentrated in the mobility/automotive, aviation/aerospace, and energy/wind verticals, with additional activity in medical technology, maritime technologies, and industrial manufacturing. Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven (Hannover Messe, ILA, formnext, Paris Air Show, Hydrogen Technology Expo), with distribution executed primarily through direct enterprise engagement rather than product sales.
Fraunhofer IFAM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fraunhofer IFAM
- Legal name
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Fertigungstechnik und Angewandte Materialforschung IFAM
- Website
- https://ifam.fraunhofer.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Fraunhofer IFAM is a German non-profit applied research institute, part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, specializing in manufacturing technology and advanced materials across adhesive bonding, surface technology, additive manufacturing, hydrogen, batteries, and automation/robotics, serving automotive, aerospace, energy, medical, maritime, and industrial clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fraunhofer IFAM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Applied Manufacturing and Materials Research Services
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (541330), All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (333248), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reliability, Safety & Risk Engineering (RAMS/PSM) Consulting (BPAHAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)
Keywords
Where Fraunhofer IFAM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bremen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Fraunhofer IFAM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Research Funding: As part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, IFAM receives institutional funding from public sources for basic and applied research.
- Industry Contract Research: Collaborative R&D projects with commercial partners where companies commission research and development work. Revenue generated through project contracts with automotive, aerospace, energy and other industrial clients.
- Training and Education: Professional qualification programs, seminars, and workforce training in adhesive bonding, composites, electromobility and other specialized topics. Part of knowledge transfer mission.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Fraunhofer IFAM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fraunhofer IFAM is a leading European applied research institute that conducts contract research, technology development, and technology transfer across manufacturing technology and advanced materials. Its core offerings span adhesive bonding technology, surface technology, additive manufacturing/3D printing, shaping and component manufacturing, energy storage and converters (batteries, hydrogen, fuel cells), and automation and robotics. Deliverables to industrial partners include collaborative R&D projects, prototype and pilot production, qualification and testing, and professional training programs in specialized topics.
Product overview
Fraunhofer IFAM is a leading European research institute specializing in manufacturing technology and advanced materials, not a product company in the traditional sense. Its portfolio encompasses multiple technology domains organized as competencies and developed solutions: Additive Manufacturing (including 3D printing and powder metallurgy), Adhesive Bonding Technology (adhesive development, characterization, and industrial processes), Surface Technology (plasma, laser, and coating technologies), Shaping and Component Manufacturing (forming, casting, and metal processing), Energy Storage and Conversion (batteries including solid-state, hydrogen technologies, and fuel cells), Automation and Robotics (including humanoid robotics and the Machine Tool Robot developed with Siemens), and specialized solutions for aviation, maritime, medical, and energy industries. Key named technologies include CooLTank for hydrogen tank production, HYTANK surface technologies, Powerpaste hydrogen storage, MeGaBat battery recycling, PFAS-free coatings (PLASLON/UltraPLAS), and smart agriculture systems (SAMSON, KERMIT). The institute also provides extensive training, qualification programs, and technology transfer services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE: A dedicated business unit within Fraunhofer IFAM focused on aerospace research and development.
- CooLTank
- Powerpaste
Products and services
- Machine Tool Robot (MTR)
Companies that use Fraunhofer IFAM
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fraunhofer IFAM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature8 records
Fraunhofer IFAM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fraunhofer IFAM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SINTEF: Norway's largest independent research institute conducting applied R&D in materials science, manufacturing, energy, and maritime technology with similar non-profit contract research model.
- CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology): Swiss applied research center specializing in microelectronics, surface engineering, and manufacturing technologies with comparable contract research and technology transfer business model.
- TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization with comparable mix of public funding and industry contract research, focused on similar domains including advanced materials, energy transition, and industrial innovation.
- Forschungszentrum Jülich: Large German research center with comparable non-profit government-funded model conducting research in materials science, energy, and information technologies with significant infrastructure footprint.
- CEA (Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission): French government-funded research organization with comparable scale (~20,000 employees) operating across materials, energy storage, hydrogen, and advanced manufacturing technologies with mixed public/industry funding model.
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC): UK-based applied research organization specializing in additive manufacturing, automation, and digital manufacturing with similar industry-led contract research approach and recognized expertise in production technology.
- WZL of RWTH Aachen University: German production engineering research institute at RWTH Aachen with deep overlap in manufacturing technology, automation, quality assurance, and similar German industrial customer base.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied research organization conducting contract R&D across manufacturing, materials, energy, and mobility with similar institute-level structure and industry contract research model.
Emerging players
- SLM Solutions Group AG: Commercial additive manufacturing equipment manufacturer focused on metal 3D printing, representing a commercial counterpart that competes for industrial contract research and licensing in a domain where IFAM has significant expertise.
Broad incumbents
- TRUMPF SE + Co. KG: Large German industrial equipment manufacturer with adjacent capabilities in laser-based manufacturing, additive manufacturing systems, and automation, providing both partnership and competitive context for IFAM's manufacturing technology activities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fraunhofer IFAM social profiles
Digital presenceFraunhofer IFAM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fraunhofer IFAM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Fraunhofer IFAM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fraunhofer IFAM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fraunhofer IFAM
What does Fraunhofer IFAM do?
Fraunhofer IFAM is a leading European applied research institute that conducts contract research, technology development, and technology transfer across manufacturing technology and advanced materials. Its core offerings span adhesive bonding technology, surface technology, additive manufacturing/3D printing, shaping and component manufacturing, energy storage and converters (batteries, hydrogen, fuel cells), and automation and robotics. Deliverables to industrial partners include collaborative R&D projects, prototype and pilot production, qualification and testing, and professional training programs in specialized topics.
Is Fraunhofer IFAM a public or private company?
Fraunhofer IFAM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fraunhofer IFAM founded?
Fraunhofer IFAM was founded in 1968. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Fraunhofer IFAM based?
Fraunhofer IFAM is headquartered in Bremen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Fraunhofer IFAM make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research Funding is the primary driver. The others are industry Contract Research and training and Education.
Who are Fraunhofer IFAM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SINTEF, CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology), TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research), Forschungszentrum Jülich, CEA (Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), WZL of RWTH Aachen University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. SLM Solutions Group AG is listed as an emerging player. TRUMPF SE + Co. KG is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Fraunhofer IFAM have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fraunhofer IFAM.
What industry is Fraunhofer IFAM in?
Fraunhofer IFAM's product category is Applied Manufacturing and Materials Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAK, Reliability, Safety & Risk Engineering (RAMS/PSM) Consulting, with a secondary code of IMAGAGAH, Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics). Its NAICS code is 541330 and its SIC code is 8731.