Impulse project 2

The project Efficient Manufacturing Processes for Novel Natural Fiber-Plastic Composites aims at eliminating these deficits as well as expanding applications from natural fibre composites through improved component and surface properties as well as through competitive, material-adapted manufacturing processes. The focus is therefore on research and development into intelligent, networked and efficient manufacturing processes for components of natural fibre composites that can withstand loads and are economical.

In order to achieve these objectives, the project is pursuing four main research areas:

• Research focus 1: Innovative construction methods and economical manufacturing technologies for lightweight hybrid structures of natural fibre composites (Prof. S. Scholz, Prof. F. Hentschel).
• Research focus 2: Environmentally sound processes for the application of functional layers for complex loaded components of natural fibre composites (Prof. J. Weber)
• Research focus 3: Energetic optimization of energy-intensive process steps for fiber and component production (Prof. J. Meinert)
• Research focus 4: Process networking and data management in processing of natural fibre composites (Prof. J. Lässig)

The four research focal points are strongly interlinked and form the entire process chain of manufacturing natural fibre components from the digested, functionalized natural fiber (cf. other projects of the LaNDER³ project) to the refined surface.

The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences as recipient of the funding benefits from the FH-Impuls initiative by strengthening the research focus "Materials-Structure-Surfaces" in terms of personnel and materials. Investments in modern technology can be made, whereby new manufacturing technologies are advanced in cooperation with partners from industry and science. Not least, this increases the innovative capacity of the region with its many SMEs in the field of textiles and plastics processing.