Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT

We light up new paths: Whether car manufacturing, photovoltaics, aircraft industry or medical engineering, the most diverse branches of industry are profiting from the brilliant power of the laser.

As a tool, light is indisputably an innovation driver. Germany occupies a top position worldwide in the field of optical technology and is holding its own as the world leader in laser manufacturing technology. And, thanks to the intensive research it carries out at the cutting edge between science and practice, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has been making its own contribution to this success - for more than 35 years.

Opening Up New Perspectives

With over 480 employees, more than 19,500 m² net floor space and more than 40 spin-offs, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is one of the world's most important contract research and development institutes in the fields of laser development and laser applications. Our core competencies include the development of new laser beam sources and components, laser measurement and testing technology, and laser manufacturing technology. This includes cutting, ablation, drilling, welding and soldering as well as surface finishing, micro manufacturing and additive manufacturing, among others. The areas of application for laser beam sources and processes include production and metrology, energy and mobility, medical and environmental technology, and quantum technology. Together with excellent partners from German and international research and industry, we develop, for example, satellite-based measurement systems for climate research or frequency converters for a fiber-based quantum internet. Cross-sectionally, Fraunhofer ILT addresses issues of digitalization in photonics and production technology, process monitoring and control, simulation and modeling, AI in laser technology, and the entire field of system technology.

Our Additive Manufacturing division, with more than 60 scientists and engineers, is one of the R & D priorities of Fraunhofer ILT. We use high-performance AM systems from relevant system manufacturers to develop applications on behalf of industrial customers from various industries. In addition, Fraunhofer ILT is developing new concepts for the systematic scaling of AM processes and plants.