Press Releases

In recent decades, micro-optical technologies have made enormous progress and have been able to advance into a wide range of application areas. The automotive sector in particular benefits from the efficient and compact optics, since the size of the components is usually very limited and the energy balance of vehicles must be continuously optimized. These and other applications for micro-optics will be discussed by international experts at the Microoptics Conference MOC2020 in Jena from September 24 to 26, 2020, also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The perpetrator left shoe prints and tire tracks can also be seen. The forensics usually casts such impressions with plaster - a lengthy procedure that also destroys the trace. Using a portable 3D scanner from Fraunhofer IOF, such traces can now be secured non-destructively within seconds. The new "3DF scanner" will be presented at the GPEC police equipment trade fair from 18 to 20th February of 2020 in Frankfurt/Main (Hall 11.1, Stand E120).

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF will once again be presenting new state-of-the-art developments at North America’s largest photonics trade fair, including coating technologies and metal mirrors for space applications. A special highlight this year is the public workshop of the growth core fo+ [freeform optics plus] all around the topic of freeform technologies. Besides presentations by regional partners, the Fraunhofer IOF will present its competencies in the fields of metal optics and additive manufacturing. Admission is free.

At CES (Consumer Electronics Show), international manufacturers from the electronics industry present the latest products and show the trends of the future. Fraunhofer IOF from Jena is among the 100 exhibitors in 2020. In addition to 3D imaging processes for healthcare or security applications, the institute will be showcasing a new LED lighting technology for automotive headlamps.

Six Fraunhofer Institutes have demonstrated the individualization of single products in mass production environments by the employment of digital printing and laser technologies. This substantial progress provides completely new opportunities for design and weight reduction by material savings.

The topic of recruiting young talent plays an essential role for the optics and photonics industry. For this reason, the Fraunhofer IOF organizes its traditional annual event - the Photonics Days Jena - this year in cooperation with the photonics graduate school Max Planck School of Photonics. For three days, students and PhD students from all over Germany can network with representatives of renowned photonics companies and gain perspectives for their careers.

Tumor or no tumor – to decide, we need to have a close look at the tissue sample. Light doesn't just make hidden things visible, however; it also damages or destroys living cells. Little more than a snapshot is currently possible. Fraunhofer scientists have now developed a new method allowing light-sensitive samples to be observed for a longer time period with higher resolution.

Additive manufacturing, quantum technologies, active optics for space applications – once again, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF presents the latest cutting-edge technologies in optics and photonics research at this year’s LASER World of PHOTONICS in Munich. From June 24 - 27, 2019, experts will be present at the joint Fraunhofer booth (Hall B3, booth 335) to answer questions and showcase »Photonics – Made in Jena«.

Success in the increasingly competitive automobile market is reserved for those who combine well-engineered products with attractive design, for example through the perfect integration of headlamps. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new lighting technology that gives designers more freedom to create vehicles with unconventional styling and also provides additional benefits to drivers and auto manufacturers alike. The prototype will be presented at the LASER World of PHOTONICS trade fair from June 24 - 27, 2019.

Experts from 13 different Fraunhofer institutes are working on the development of multi-kW ultrafast lasers and various applications in the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Advanced Photon Sources CAPS. A user facility with application laboratories in Aachen and Jena is being created for this purpose, laboratories in which partners from industry and research can work with the new technology.