A German SME active in the production of parts for the automotive industry and repair of tools as injection moulds by laser welding has developed a coated laser wire in cooperation with a local research institute. The coating of the welding wire with additional metals reduce the risk of welding failures as the welding seam as homogeneity and penetration depth are increased. Additionally the energy effort is reduced up to 50% and the use of thicker welding wires up 8mm is enabled. Currently the SME has a machine for the small-scale production of the coated wire in use.

In many applications in the field of high frequency technology – e.g. the calibration of measuring instruments or the verification of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements – the exact intensity distribution of electromatic fields is of great interest. Often, these fields are merely simulated or measured indirectly. Microwave thermography, on the other hand, can be used to show electromagnetic fields in real environments in a way that is accurate and space-resolved, i.e. outside of measurement laboratories.

Analytical chromatography is a process of separation, quantification and identification of chemical or biological compounds. Chromatography is used e.g. for research and analysis of food, drinks, pharmaceuticals, metabolomic processes, material sciences, environment and chemicals. The SME was found in 2006 and is located in Oranienburg, near Berlin (Germany). Its core competence is the development and production of high quality liquid chromatography media in analytical and semipreparative scale.

The idea of a biobased economy is gaining ground, based among others on the principle of closing loops of material flows and turning waste into useful resources. Companies that develop high-value applications based on non-food biobased output streams from other industries can design truly sustainable products and avoid dependencies on raw material supply.