Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM
The third Bremen Bonding Days will take place from 29 to 30 October 2025 at the Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen, Germany. Dr Holger Fricke, Head of the Department of Adhesive Bonding Technology at Fraunhofer IFAM, explains to us in an interview what the Bremen Bonding Days are and how they differ from the German-language »Bremer Klebtage«.
Dr Fricke, the Bremen Bonding Days are entering their third round. What is the concept of this conference and who takes part?
We introduced the Bremen Bonding Days in 2021 as a supplement to the well-known »Bremer Klebtage« We have used the proven concept of the »Bremer Klebtage« as a basis, transformed it into an English-language event and expanded it with presentations by internationally recognized experts. The reason for the introduction was the frequent demand from former participants of our adhesive bonding training courses for continuous further training. According to ISO 21368 or EN 17460, such further training is required for adhesive bonding supervisors every two years at the latest. Similar to the »Bremer Klebtage« the »Bremen Bonding Days« are now not only a compulsory program, but also the »class reunion« for our international course participants. The participants come from industrial practice, have a high level of training in bonding technology and are often decision-makers in bonding technology issues. The conference therefore offers the opportunity to discuss current challenges, pick up on new developments and gain inspiration for day-to-day work. Not only the supporting program, but also the breaks and the evening event contribute to the open exchange of experiences.
How is the lecture program of the Bremen Bonding Days put together?
When preparing the Bremen Bonding Days, we carefully put together an appealing program for our target audience. We look for presentations from the industry that have a high practical relevance. These presentations can serve as positive examples to inspire imitation or as negative examples to highlight pitfalls. It is special that »user-companies« are willing to report on their internal processes. That's why these presentations are a very important point of the conference. Another topic are the presentations from the world of science. These deepen the learning content of the courses or inform the participants about new developments. We endeavor to identify presentations that have a strong transfer content, i.e. that convey scientific facts in such a way that a practical relevance can be derived directly. In addition, material and equipment manufacturers will present new developments of their products, while remaining focused on the technological advantages and practical use of their products.
What are the highlights of the third Bremen Bonding Days in October 2025?
We have once again been able to attract outstanding speakers who will cover a wide variety of topics. Anyone interested in the automotive industry will certainly enjoy the presentation by Gunnar Gunnarsson from McLaren Automotive Limited on the topic of »Inline quality control for energy-absorbing adhesive joints«. In the sports car sector, adhesive joints are designed at the limits of what is possible and must be executed without error. In his presentation, Uladizislau Bayarovich from Stadler will discuss the practice of bonding in rail vehicle construction and highlight the processing of polyurethanes in series production. Julian Motzkau from Formenfrei 3D will show how flow simulations can be used to produce customized static mixers using 3D printing. He will present a project that is currently running in cooperation with the Fraunhofer IFAM. Prof Dr Alireza Akhavan-Safar will give us an overview of the current state of research into the simulation of bonded joints. He will provide insights into the calculation of the fatigue strength of bonded joints in automotive engineering. Verena Boeckmann from BYK will talk about the formulation of adhesives and show how the flow behaviour of adhesives can be adjusted using rheological additives.
In addition to the presentations, the get-together with the speakers, experts and participants is also a highlight. Participants will have access to a broad international audience of industry specialists and managers. They will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and network with colleagues from the industry at an international level.
Thank you for the interview!