ITA Augsburg is the first Bavarian Textile Research Institute
Back in September 2016 ITA Institute for Textile Technology in Augsburg, Germany opened its doors in the technological centre Augsburg, a traditional textile area. Hence, many positive aspects have been taking place
An overview of activities
Since the opening on September 23, 2016 already five collaborators and 4 student auxiliaries are working under the directorship of University Prof Dr-Ing. Stefan Schlichter. At the inauguration more than 100 trade visitors and experts were present.
Meanwhile also a manufacturing cell for hybride manufacturing consisting of components from Engel were installed. These allow the excellent opportunity to fabricate final contour finished lightweight components.
Also German Dilo was involved in the development of ITA Augsburg by dedicating a compact nonwoven plant. It is located two kilometres at SIGMA-Park and has been especially modified for the processing of recycled carbon fibres.
Only weeks after the inauguration the first sample manufacture started for industrial projects for the automotive industry.
Actually, ITA Augsburg is occupied to formulate scientific research projects and various collaborative projects with industrial partners are already underway.
In coordination with the scientific Advisory Committee the new research focus was formulated and the major aim will be on:
– Web Based Composites: Under this umbrella the potential application of nonwovens in components will be researched, may these be from recycled carbon fibres or bio-based materials, isotropic or rectified, with a focus on thermoplastic applications with new semi-finished products such as fleece tapes or organo tiles, representing a new field has created interest by speeches and were leading to first projects.
– Hybride manufacturing: A combination of application of deformable thermoplastic semi-finished products and injection moulding allowing new avenues – besides lightweight components – for the finished production of components developed in one manufacturing step and these are not in need of post processing.
According to Prof Schlichter all of these new aims will be developed step-by-step and enhanced. “This is only possible, because we enjoy an important support from partners from industry, research and administrative bodies.”
ITA Augsburg deals primarily with textile research tasks in the production of composites and nonwoven fabrics, i.a.:
- Research of appropriate treatment and production processes of fabrication, semi-finished products and product waste made out of rCF, glass and aramid on modern recycling plant based on compact carding technology and explores and develops new additional aggregates
- Research of design methods for products made out of recycled components
- Research of the potentials of composites based on nonwoven fabrics (web based composites)
- New production technologies of nonwovens manufacturing and development of suitable testing and measurement technology
- Research of process optimization of thermoplastic matrix in carbon components
- Research of applications and different system variations for biobased composites (fibre and matrix)
- Production of spread fibre tapes and its processing into semi- finished products in thermoplastic matrix systems
- Processing technologies for the production of hybrid composite components by injection moulding and pressing (for this purpose, the institute has acquired a new organomelt injection moulding press for the production of hybrid, ready-made components in their final shape)
- Development of textile structures and components for fuel cells for wastewater treatment as well as energy production
The basics
• Worldwide unique facilities as well as engineering and textile competence strengthen research campus Augsburg
• RWTH Aachen University (Europe‘s number one technical university) invests Know-How in cooperation with Augsburg University
• Augsburg University Management opens status of affiliated institute to ITA Augsburg
The integration with other regional research organisations
The inauguration activities
Under the guideline principle “Textile (research) is coming back to Augsburg“, the Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg (ITA Augsburg) was cordially opened on September 23, 2016 at a ceremony in presence of professional public. The location of Augsburg provides long textile tradition and possesses now the first textile research institute in Bavaria, Germany, at the heart of top cluster MAI Carbon. The institute belongs to the ITA Group around the Institut für Textiltechnik (Institute of Textile Technology) of RWTH Aachen University (ITA).
ITA Augsburg stands for key topics in research, development and industrialisation of composites. Textile components become more and more important in the design of composites. They are represented through the research topics recycling of (carbon) composites, fleece technology and the application of thermoplastic composites, especially in hybrid component structures.
RWTH Aachen University is the largest technical university in Europe with regard to third-party funds. It invests know how and equipment targeted in the research region Augsburg and completes its growing expertise in lightweight construction and composite technology at this location.
With ITA Augsburg the research location Augsburg gains additional and necessary expertise to the previous range of services which are essential elements for the development of modern lightweight materials using fibre composite components. Within ITA Augsburg, all important process steps for the research of composite parts are onsite available.
Prof Dr Thomas Gries, Director of Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University, was delighted how positive ITA Augsburg developed since its establishment. In particular he was pleased about the practiced synergy in research with the Institute of Materials Ressource Management (MRM) of the University of Augsburg, the German Aerospace Center DLR-ZLP, both the working groups of Fraunhofer FHG-IGCV on one side and the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University which has been established in the composite technology for decades. This cooperation represents to him a future model for mutually beneficial research collaborations.
During the opening ceremony, Prof Dr Stefan Schlichter, Director of the institute, introduced new research approaches about the importance of nonwoven technology for composites for the design of compound materials. Nonwovens are nowadays successfully and with a growing proportion used in technical applications in the automotive and aerospace industry. It enables under the aspects of recycling and sustainability a new design even in light weight and composites. Afterwards industry representatives discussed the future potentials of this new technology.
Prof Stefan Schlichter reported proudly that within a short time latest and worldwide unique research facilities were put into operation with the help of industry and of RTWH Aachen University. Even this support by industry, of research funds of ITA and by RWTH Aachen University accumulating to more than EUR 3.5 million show the deep trust in the expertise and the potential of the new institute. „This will encourage us for the future excellence in research in composites and textile technologies“, underlined Prof Schlichter.
The visitors used the opportunity to inspect the latest and worldwide unique nonwoven fabric production for the processing of recycled composite fibres at the SIGMA Technopark, Augsburg, Germany. This facility of the company DILO will be used for the development of suitable treatment and production processes of fabrication, semi-finished materials and product waste made out rCF, glass und aramides. Appropriate applications made out of recycled composite materials will be developed on it – a contribution to solve the sustainability concerns of the new material carbon.
Within the Technologiezentrum Augsburg (TZA), a new organomelt injection moulding press for the economical production of thermoplastic composite components was presented. This injection moulding press allows to produce ready-made components in their final shape.
The Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg gGmbH (www.ita-augsburg.de) was founded 2014 as extramural research institute in Bavaria, Germany. It deals with the application orientated research and development of fibre-based materials and production processes. The research focus of ITA Augsburg consists in the recycling of carbon composites, in the nonwovens technology and in the application of thermoplastic composites, especially in hybrid component structures.
The ITA Augsburg is a subsidiary of the ITA Technologietransfer GmbH in Aachen, Germany and cooperates closely with the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University (www.ita.rwth-aachen.de ), one of the biggest institutes of the faculty of mechanical engineering of RWTH Aachen University.
ITA Augsburg cooperates closely with the region of Augsburg located top research composite cluster. Prof Stefan Schlichter represents the professorship for Mechanical Engineering in the institute of Materials Ressource Management (MRM) since the winter term 2015-16.
The University of Augsburg (UNA) and the Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg gGmbH (ITA Augsburg) concluded a cooperation agreement
Conditional to the final approval of other university committees of the University of Augsburg, ITA Augsburg received the status of an affiliated institute to the University of Augsburg. The cooperation agreement which is based on a Letter of Intent between RWTH Aachen University and the University of Augsburg has already supported the foundation of ITA Augsburg as a part of ITA group around the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University.
With ITA Augsburg, the research location Augsburg, Germany, gains further and additional expertise to the previous spectrum of services which represents an important element for the development of modern lightweight materials based on fibre composite components. Within ITA Augsburg, the first textile research institute in Bavaria, Germany, all important process steps for the research of composite parts are available onsite.
The education at University of Augsburg will benefit through additional offers for the study programme of industrial engineering (bachelor and master). At the moment, three lectures are offered by employees of ITA Augsburg and ITA Aachen.
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