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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 one of the game-changer technologies for Germany and thus a driver for many sectors of Berlin's industry: In the traffic and transport industry, medical technology, aerospace and construction, lightweight construction takes place along the entire value chain. The potential of this cross-sectional technology reaches from the design to the selection of the material to the finished product and recycling. For example, materials account for 43.2 % of manufacturing costs, with 22 % of SMEs already using lightweight materials.

(Source: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, 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.“

Dr. Ing. Benjamin Braun
Dr. Ing. Benjamin Braun Managing Director, Space Structures GmbH
Photo: ©Space Structures GmbH

Why Berlin?

„Composites United e.V. was created in 2019 from a merger of CFK Valley e.V. in Stade and Carbon Composites e.V. with its leading-edge cluster MAI Carbon in Augsburg. This has created a world-leading network for fibre-based hybrid lightweight construction, with around 400 members from four continents. Of course, it was only Berlin that came into question for the headquarters of the new association. We want to contribute our expertise here and help shape and advance the activities in the field of lightweight construction.“

Dr. Gunnar Merz
Dr. Gunnar Merz Composites United e.V.
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.“

Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Bardenhagen
Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Bardenhagen Head of Aircraft Construction and Lightweight Construction, Technical University Berlin
Photo: ©TU Berlin / Philipp Arnoldt Photography

Berlin stands out in the field of lightweight construction due to its very well-positioned research in the field of materials and its excellent innovation landscape. A special industry focus of the capital lies in the mobility sector, in particular in the automotive and rail vehicles. But in medical technology, too, major international players are already based at the location alongside SMEs.

Numerous networks and clusters also promote the ecosystem for networking and the transfer of innovation between business and science across sectors. In the capital region in particular, there are opportunities for future development priorities in the area of new (composite) materials. In addition, Berlin has a high density of companies and research institutions with a great deal of expertise in the technologies of additive manufacturing and digitalisation, which are important for lightweight construction.

Lightweight construction as a cross-cluster future technology in Berlin and Brandenburg

The capital region bundles its growth industries and key technologies in various clusters that are closely interlinked and cooperate across the federal states. As part of the innovation strategy of the two states, lightweight construction is included in the master plans of the Transport, Mobility & Logistics (VML), Healthcare, Metal and Plastics & Chemistry clusters. For example, in addition to additive manufacturing, lightweight construction is named as one of the innovation topics in the VML cluster.

The increasing importance of lightweight construction for the future viability of Berlin-Brandenburg as an industrial location was reaffirmed in 2023 by the adopted Berlin-Brandenburg lightweight construction initiative.
 

LightCon

As a new congress trade fair for lightweight construction, LightCon took place for the first time in June 2022 in Hanover. Each year, outstanding lightweight innovations and inspirations are presented through high-profile keynotes, panels and best practices. Berlin Partner supports the establishment of the new format as an international platform for cross-material and cross-technology lightweight solutions.

Lightweight Construction Atlas of the BMWk

Use the digital lightweight construction atlas of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) to find out more and network in the lightweight construction community. The interactive portal is open to all stakeholders with lightweight construction competences and, with its wide reach, offers the opportunity for a transparent and target group-specific presentation. Register quickly and free of charge to increase your visibility.

to the Lightweight Construction Atlas

Selection of research institutions

Selection of associations

Composites United
With around 400 members, CU is one of the world's largest networks for fibre-based multi-material lightweight construction. With its eleven clusters and networks, the international industry and research association headquartered in Berlin promotes the cross-industry use of hybrid and high-performance lightweight composites.

Network Lightweight Metal Brandenburg
In the field of metal and hybrid lightweight solutions, LMB is active as an open association of players from science and industry. The focus is on the initiation and support of innovative individual and joint projects for the development of new lightweight construction concepts, processes and products.

Mobility goes Additive
MGA is the leading international network of companies, institutions, and research organisations developing 3-D printing applications for professional use in various industries.

Medical goes Additive
The network seeks to exploit the full potential of 3-D printing for use in medicine and to improve the quality of life, taking advantage of synergies from the Mobility goes Additive network.

Selection of company builders, incubators, accelerators, and labs

Advanced Materials Competition (AdMaCom)
Lighter, smaller, firmer, more conductive, more resistant, more sustainable, less expensive: just a few of the requirements for new materials. Young materials researchers are supported in the search for the materials of the future by mentoring and coaching programs offered as part of the Advanced Materials Competition.

MotionLab.Berlin
MotionLab.Berlin offers hardware-oriented startups prototyping space in a large production hall in Treptow-Köpenick to promote creative synergies.

IAM Hub Berlin
The IAM Hub in Berlin is a Co-working space that is intended to be the home of all 3D printing activities and help bring the technology into industrial mass production.

Further innovation and creative labs in Berlin

Your contact

David Hampel

David Hampel

Head of Unit
Manufacturing Industries
Berlin Partner for Business and Technology

david.hampel@berlin-partner.de
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