News from the institute

In April, the Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP opened the »RESsourcenschonende Energie-Technologien (RESET)« research center on its expanded campus in Dresden.

With state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for sputter epitaxy, biomedical applications, and electron beam technologies, the institute aims to set new standards in research. Strategic research priorities in the building include the development of innovative process technologies, for example for the generation, storage, and processing of hydrogen (Power-to-X) and for the deposition of high-precision gallium nitride (GaN) layers on silicon wafers.

The grand opening of the building complex was attended by many invited guests from industry and politics, as well as institutions involved in the construction, and the Fraunhofer FEP Advisory Board.

Institute Director Prof. Elizabeth von Hauff then gave Saxony's State Secretary Prof. Thomas Popp and the Mayor of Dresden Dirk Hilbert a tour of the new premises and provided insights into the institute's new research priorities.

Afterwards, all other guests had the opportunity to take part in building tours to gain a closer insight into the topics covered by Fraunhofer FEP.

For decades, Fraunhofer FEP has been successfully working on technologies for the chemical-free treatment of seeds using accelerated electrons. The institute is a leader in the development and implementation of innovative plants and contributes to sustainable agriculture.

With the delivery of an advanced high-throughput pilot plant »ISABEL«, another successful technology transfer to an industrial customer has been achieved. The plant can treat up to 25 tons of seeds per hour. Once again, application-oriented research has been brought to the customer!

More details and information on electrons as a sustainable alternative to chemical seed treatment can be found here:

https://s.fhg.de/SY2U

In September 2024, the first round of the newly designed and exclusive advanced training course to become a “Professional Specialist (m/f/d) for Industrial Parts Cleaning – BeSTeR” began. The course started with a week of classroom training for three participants in Dresden, followed by phases of three hours of online instruction per week and self-study phases.

Participants can expect comprehensive training that addresses the increasing relevance of industrial parts cleaning for the entire process chain and focuses on a sound understanding of the fundamentals of industrial parts cleaning and the practical mastery of relevant skills, because even the smallest contaminants on components can significantly impair the functionality of subsequent products.

The second week of classroom instruction took place at the end of November 2024, followed by two weeks of practical training – one in Dresden in January and one in Stuttgart in February. After further practical training and project work at the participants' companies, they will then obtain the IHK certificate at DQR level 5 by summer 2025, with final exams in June and August.

The training program is an innovative collaboration between Fraunhofer FEP and SBG Dresden.