Lightweight construction in Berlin
Functional integration and the use of lightweight materials offer cost-effective and flexible alternatives for a wide range of industries.
Lightweight construction is a key technology for Germany and a driving force for key sectors of Berlin's industry – from transportation and transport to medical technology, aerospace, and construction. Lightweight construction offers great potential along the entire value chain: from design and material selection to recycling. Materials account for 43.2 percent of costs in the manufacturing industry – already 22 percent of SMEs in Germany rely on lightweight materials.
(Source: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, 2023)
Why Berlin?
„At SPACE STRUCTURES, high-performance lightweight components and systems are created through the consistent use of digital design and manufacturing tools. Design-to-value and a high degree of interdisciplinarity already characterise the tasks of our engineers today. In Berlin, the digital capital, we can find the talents we need for tomorrow.“
Photo: ©Space Structures GmbH
Why Berlin?
„Composites United e.V. (CU) is one of the world’s largest networks for fiber-based lightweight construction. Around 350 members have joined forces to form this powerful industry and research association in order to develop jointly lightweight construction solutions for the future. The CU is headquartered in Berlin and has carried out several projects in the capital region over the last few years with a focus on technology marketing, training and transfer. This has enabled us to network regional lightweight construction stakeholders closely across industry boundaries and to help create a solid basis for sustainable lightweight construction value chains in the greater Berlin area.“
Photo: © Composites United e.V.
Why Berlin?
„At TU Berlin, lightweight construction is understood as being a design principle for functional and/or economic reasons and is applied far beyond aerospace technology and in all innovative areas such as wind power, vehicle construction and medical technology. For us, Berlin offers the right "blend" of large-scale research and industry, SMEs and start-ups to help create an industrial future through cooperation and research projects.“
Photo: ©TU Berlin / Philipp Arnoldt Photography
Berlin scores highly in lightweight construction with strong materials research and an excellent innovation landscape. The focus is on the mobility sector – automotive and rail vehicles –but medical technology is also represented at the location with SMEs and international players.
Numerous networks promote the transfer of innovation between industry and science. The capital region offers great potential for future development priorities, particularly in the field of new composite materials. In addition, Berlin has extensive expertise in other key technologies such as additive manufacturing and digitization due to its high density of companies and research institutions.
The diversity of stakeholders – from industry and startups to research institutions and associations – demonstrates the strength of the regional value chain. It covers all aspects of lightweight construction:
- Research and development
- Design software
- Production of semi-finished products
- Material suppliers
- Global networks for professional 3D printing and composite materials
Lightweight construction – a cross-cluster technology of the future for Berlin and Brandenburg
The capital region networks its growth industries in clusters that work closely together. In the innovation strategy of both countries, lightweight construction is anchored in the master plans of the clusters Transport, Mobility & Logistics, Healthcare, Metals, and Plastics & Chemicals – in the VML cluster, it is one of the central innovation topics alongside Additive Manufacturing.
Berlin-Brandenburg Lightweight Construction Initiative
Since 2023, the Berlin-Brandenburg Lightweight Construction Initiative has been emphasizing the importance of lightweight construction for the future of the industrial location. The aim is to raise the profile of the capital region as a center for the lightweight construction industry – through joint, cross-cluster activities, the presentation of competitive companies, and events at international trade fairs such as JEC World in Paris, ILA, and InnoTrans.
