Institute of Manufacturing Technology

What Institute of Manufacturing Technology does

The Institute of Manufacturing Technology — formally Lehrstuhl für Fertigungstechnologie (LFT) — is an academic research chair within the Department of Mechanical Engineering (Maschinenbau) at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), a public German university. Established in 1982 and headquartered at Egerlandstraße 13, Erlangen, the institute operates as a government-funded state entity and is not a commercial enterprise. Its research is organized into three groups: Fertigungsprozesse (Manufacturing Processes), Umformtechnik (Forming Technology), and Werkstoffcharakterisierung und -modellierung (Materials Characterization and Modeling), with technical infrastructure spanning metallography, materials testing and measurement, additive manufacturing (Directed Energy Deposition — DED-LB/M), pressing/forming equipment, heat treatment, and tool/sample production facilities.

The institute's primary 'outputs' are peer-reviewed research, doctoral training, and technology transfer rather than commercial products. Notable technical work includes a CIRP Annals publication on Tailored Additive Blanks (DED-LB/M followed by deep drawing), Open Access publications in WEAR (with Deakin University) and Production Engineering (with TU Munich), and ongoing doctoral research on micro-gear forming and orbital semi-hollow punch riveting. Its customer segments are mechanical engineering students and researchers (primary) and industrial partners in manufacturing, automotive, and toolmaking (secondary), engaged through collaborative R&D and student excursions.

The LFT operates with approximately 35 staff and is led by Prof. Hinnerk Hagenah, who was recognized by Springer for editorial contributions to the journal Production Engineering. It maintains bilateral research cooperation with Johannes-Kepler-Universität Linz, TU Munich, Deakin University (Australia), and participates in the EFB working group on mechanical joining (hosted at Fraunhofer IWU Dresden). Outreach is conducted through academic publications, conference presentations, and a LinkedIn presence. As a Lehrstuhl, the institute generates no commercial revenue; its activities are financed through state university funding, competitive research grants, and project-based industry collaboration.

Name

Institute of Manufacturing Technology

Legal name

Lehrstuhl für Fertigungstechnologie - Department Maschinenbau, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Website

https://lft.fau.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lehrstuhl für Fertigungstechnologie (LFT) is a 1982-founded academic research chair within FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg's Department of Mechanical Engineering, focused on forming technology, manufacturing processes, and materials characterization. It serves mechanical engineering students, researchers, and industrial partners through research, doctoral training, and collaborative R&D.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Erlangen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

The Institute of Manufacturing Technology (Lehrstuhl für Fertigungstechnologie, LFT) is an academic research department within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). It conducts fundamental and applied research in manufacturing processes, forming technology (Umformtechnik), materials characterization and modeling, digitalization, and tool and semi-finished product technologies, while also delivering university-level teaching and supervising student theses and dissertations. The institute offers collaborative research partnerships, access to specialized testing and additive manufacturing infrastructure, and technology transfer to industrial partners.

Product overview

Institute of Manufacturing Technology (Lehrstuhl für Fertigungstechnologie) is an academic research department at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, not a commercial product company. It does not offer products or services for commercial sale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• CIRP Annals publication on Tailored Additive Blanks — demonstrates cutting-edge research output in premier manufacturing journal.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• E-T-A Elektrotechnische Apparate GmbH (Altdorf bei Nürnberg)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Industrial excursion site for students in the lecture 'Maschinen und Werkzeuge der Umformtechnik'. Students received insights into industrial stamping technology and an exemplary value stream, observing operations directly at the equipment.
• Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Umformtechnik IWU (Dresden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Host of EFB working group meeting on 'Mechanical Joining (Mechanisches Fügen)'. LFT was represented by Jonas Neumann M.Sc. The meeting focused on current research needs and intermediate/final reports on various mechanical joining issues. This represents industry-wide research coordination.
• Deakin University (Australien)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration resulting in an Open Access publication in the journal WEAR on tribology, friction, and adhesive wear in warm forming and quenching (HFQ) of aluminum alloys. The collaboration focuses on lubricant-free forming processes and tool coatings.
• Technische Universität München (TUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative journal publication in Production Engineering addressing material-dependent prediction of component quality and tool load in backward extrusion from strip (Rückwärtsfließpressen vom Band), developing semi-analytical models.
• Johannes-Kepler-Universität LinzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing and intensive cooperation in the field of production technology. Regular exchange of students and researchers, joint discussions on current topics in sheet and bulk metal forming, and collaborative teaching activities.
• MATFEMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany visit to discuss research activities, state-of-the-art testing facilities, and ongoing development projects. The meeting focused on presenting and discussing latest experimental methods and research results, with planning for continued cooperation.
• EFB (Europäische Forschungsgesellschaft für Blechverarbeitung) — Arbeitskreis Mechanisches FügencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLFT participates in the EFB working group on mechanical joining, presenting ongoing and completed research, contributing to identifying research needs, and collaborating with industry on various mechanical joining challenges.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• EFB (Europäische Forschungsgesellschaft für Blechverarbeitung): European research association for sheet metal processing that coordinates industry-wide pre-competitive research and hosts working groups where LFT participates. Acts as an ecosystem orchestrator adjacent to LFT's research agenda.
• MATFEM Partnerschaft Dr. Gendolla: FE-simulation and engineering consultancy serving forming technology clients. Mentioned in LFT's news as a collaboration partner; comparable ecosystem player that complements university research with industrial simulation services.

Emerging players

• IPH - Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover: Research institute affiliated with Leibniz University Hannover working on production technology and forming processes. Smaller, applied-research focused peer with comparable industry-cooperation profile to LFT.

Direct peers

• Institut für Umformtechnik und Leichtbau (IUL), TU Dortmund: TU Dortmund's specialist chair for forming technology and lightweight construction. Comparable in size and academic-industry collaboration model to LFT, with adjacent expertise in sheet metal forming that complements LFT's bulk forming and additive research.
• Institute for Metal Forming Technology (IFU), University of Stuttgart: Long-standing German university chair specializing in metal forming technology with similar Umformtechnik focus. Direct comparable in research agenda, scale, and industry-cooperation model, and the most natural peer for benchmarking LFT's forming research.
• WZL - Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering, RWTH Aachen: One of the largest and most prominent university chairs for production engineering in Germany, covering manufacturing processes, forming, and metrology. Closest academic peer to LFT in terms of research breadth and industry collaboration model, though at significantly larger scale.
• Institute of Production Science (wbk), KIT Karlsruhe: KIT's production science institute covers manufacturing technologies, production systems, and forming research. Comparable peer in scale and academic-industry integration, with overlapping agenda on process digitalization and materials characterization.

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Production Technology (IPT), Fraunhofer: Fraunhofer IPT in Aachen operates at the intersection of production technology, forming, and additive manufacturing. Overlapping capability profile with LFT, particularly on advanced forming and process digitalization, but with much larger staff and corporate research mandate.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU): Largest German applied-research organization focused on production technology, with deep capability in forming and machining. Directly comparable to LFT in research scope but with a multi-site footprint, far larger headcount, and broader industry commercialization arm. Already a collaborator on EFB mechanical joining work.

Regional players

• Institute of Manufacturing Technology, ETH Zurich: Swiss counterpart university chair covering manufacturing and forming technology with strong industry links. Comparable in research profile and academic-cooperation model, but operating from a different national funding and industrial base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lehrstuhl-fuer-fertigungstechnologie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Manufacturing Technology