The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft undertakes applied research of direct utility to private and public enterprise and of wide benefit to society. Its services are solicited by customers and contractual partners in industry, the service sector and public administration.

The aim of the Fraunhofer IPT is to develop new and optimize existing solutions through practice-oriented research and development for clients in modern production industries. The Fraunhofer IPT transfers the results of this R&D directly into practice in client companies, which come from a wide range of industries – the automotive industries and its suppliers, especially tool and die making, as well as fine-mechanics and optical industries, aerospace industries and machine tool manufacturers. The Fraunhofer IPT also assists international clients via the Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing Innovation CMI in Boston, USA.

Creativity and personal commitment are the essential basis for the successful realization of our projects in a team of around 380 highly qualified specialists.

What motivates us

The assembly of micro-optical components as to be found in laser-systems is a very challenging task requiring ultra-precise tools and measuring equipment. Automation solutions are very rare in the optical industry due to small lot sizes and high demands on automation equipment. The Fraunhofer IPT therefore develops flexible automation solutions for high precision processes. In previous research activities the Fraunhofer IPT has developed manipulation devices for micro-optical components with translational precision in the range of two-digit nanometers and less than  half of a millidegree rotational precision. These devices are capable of up to six degrees of freedom. The ECHORD experiment is regarded as a chance to lift this development to an industrial level and to prove the overall modularity concept for flexible automation solutions for precision tasks the Fraunhofer IPT stands for.