Manufacturing highly precise fibre-composite structural components for space, aerospace and industry – from idea to series production.
INVENT Innovative Verbundwerkstoffe Realisation und Vermarktung neuer Technologien GmbH
Braunschweig (Christian-Pommer-Str. 47) · Braunschweig (Christian-Pommer-Str. 42)New on Amplifa
About INVENT GmbH
INVENT GmbH is a lightweight construction specialist based in Braunschweig that has been developing and manufacturing fibre-composite components made of carbon- and glass-fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP/GFRP) since 1996. The portfolio includes structural panels, support structures, filament-wound tubes, vessels, central tubes for satellite construction as well as sandwich and laminate components up to 6 m in length. Manufacturing encompasses resin injection and infusion technology (including DP-RTM), prepreg/autoclave technology with three autoclaves, filament winding technology, press technology, CNC machining of fibre-composite and metallic materials, toolmaking, painting, adhesive bonding as well as assembly and integration. Customers come from the space, aerospace, automotive, mechanical engineering, rail vehicle and shipbuilding industries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. INVENT is certified to DIN EN ISO 9001 and EN 9100, accredited under Nadcap AC7118 and listed as an Airbus Qualified Supplier; well-known projects include Aeolus, MASCOT, BepiColombo and eROSITA.
- Site
- Braunschweig
- Processes
- Resin injection and infusion technology (including DP-RTM differential-pressure process), Prepreg/autoclave technology (laminate and sandwich manufacturing, sandwich bonding, adhesive, Filament winding technology, Press technology (OOA press process, processing of trim offcuts/recyclates), Machining (CNC turning and milling of fibre-composite materials and metal alloys, toolmaking), Painting (filler, primer, coating in painting booth, Airbus QSPL-qualified processes), Adhesive bonding (film, injection and paste adhesives, aerospace-qualified processes), Assembly/integration (with laser trackers and measuring arms)
- Materials
- Carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), Glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP), Prepreg, Aluminium, Titanium, Steel, Polyurethane materials, Honeycomb core (sandwich)
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, EN 9100:2018, Nadcap Composites AC7118, Airbus QSPL / Qualified Test Method List qualification, ISO 9001, EN 9100, Airbus QSPL/QTML qualification
- Founded
- 1996
- Industries
- Space, Aerospace, Automotive, Mechanical engineering, Rail vehicles, Shipbuilding
- 01
Design, calculation & dimensioning
- 02
Manufacturing planning & toolmaking
- 03
Resin injection/infusion, autoclave, filament winding or pressing
- 04
CNC machining
- 05
Adhesive bonding & painting
- 06
Assembly/integration
- 07
Quality control
Materials & Processes
Carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP)
Core material for structural components in space, aerospace and industry.
Glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP)
Used for laminate and sandwich components as well as wound struts.
Prepreg (including in-house prepregs)
Processed in autoclave and press processes with automated cutting.
Aluminium
Material for toolmaking and metallic structural components.
Titanium
CNC machining of metallic components with the highest tolerance requirements.
Steel
Machining of metallic components and production tooling.
Polyurethane materials
Used in toolmaking.
Honeycomb core (sandwich)
Core material for sandwich bonding of structural panels.
DP-RTM (differential-pressure resin injection)
Resin injection using the autoclaves, without pressure-resistant two-part tools – economical for prototypes and small series.
Filament winding technology
5-axis system (since 2019) for components up to 1.65 m in diameter and 4 m in length.
Press technology (OOA press process)
200-kN press, heatable up to 200 °C, for trim offcuts, recyclates and aerospace series parts.
Sites
Braunschweig (Christian-Pommer-Str. 47)
DEHeadquarters and manufacturing
- Materials
- CFRP, GFRP, aluminium, titanium, steel
- 3 autoclaves (ø 800×1500, ø 1500×6000, ø 2000×4500 mm)
- 5-axis filament winding system (up to ø 1.65 m × 4 m)
- 200 kN press, heatable up to 200 °C, clamping area 840×500 mm
- Automatic cutting table for prepreg cutting
- CNC turning and milling machines
- Laser trackers and measuring arms
- Painting booth
Braunschweig (Christian-Pommer-Str. 42)
DEOperating site for manufacturing & storage of fibre-composite materials
Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resin injection and infusion technology (including DP-RTM differential-pressure process)Plastics | – | – | – | – | CFRP, GFRP |
| Prepreg/autoclave technology (laminate and sandwich manufacturing, sandwich bonding, adhesivePlastics | – | 6000 mm × 1500 mm | – | – | CFRP, GFRP, Prepreg |
| Filament winding technologyPlastics | – | 4 m × 1.65 m diameter | – | – | CFRP, GFRP, In-house prepregs |
| Press technology (OOA press process, processing of trim offcuts/recyclates)Plastics | – | 840 mm × 500 mm × 250 mm press height | – | – | Prepreg offcuts, Recyclates |
| Machining (CNC turning and milling of fibre-composite materials and metal alloys, toolmaking)Machining | highest tolerance requirements | – | – | – | Fibre-composite materials, Aluminium, Titanium, Steel, Polyurethane |
| Painting (filler, primer, coating in painting booth, Airbus QSPL-qualified processes)Surface | – | – | – | – | Fibre-composite materials |
| Adhesive bonding (film, injection and paste adhesives, aerospace-qualified processes)Joining | – | – | – | – | Fibre-composite materials, Metals |
| Assembly/integration (with laser trackers and measuring arms)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Quality control/testing (qualification activities, calibrated test equipment)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design, engineering, calculation, dimensioning, manufacturing planningEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Metallization of CFRP surfaces (high-reflectivity coatings for optical mirrors)Surface | – | – | – | – | CFRP |
6 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autoclave | – | 3 | ø 800×1500, ø 1500×6000 and ø 2000×4500 mm | – | Braunschweig |
| Filament winding system (5-axis) | – | 1 | Components up to 1.65 m diameter and 4 m length | 2019 | Braunschweig |
| Press (heatable up to 200 °C) | – | 1 | Clamping area 840 x 500 mm, press height up to 250 mm, 200 kN press force | – | Braunschweig |
| Automatic cutting table (prepreg cutting) | – | 1 | – | – | Braunschweig |
| CNC-controlled turning and milling machines | – | – | – | – | Braunschweig |
| Laser trackers and measuring arms | – | – | – | – | Braunschweig |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certification
INVENT operates a quality management system certified to DIN EN ISO 9001 and EN 9100, is accredited under Nadcap AC7118 for fibre-composite manufacturing and is qualified by Airbus (QSPL/QTML). Quality assurance includes calibrated systems and test equipment, laser trackers and measuring arms, qualified manufacturing processes and seamless process documentation.
| Evidence | Braunschweig |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| EN 9100 | |
| Nadcap Composites AC7118 | |
| Airbus QSPL/QTML qualification |
History
- 1996
Founding of INVENT in Braunschweig; start of filament winding technology.
- 2005
Initial certification of the quality management system to DIN EN ISO 9001 and EN 9100.
- 2014
Nadcap accreditation for fibre-composite manufacturing (AC7118).
- 2016
2nd place in the DLR Space Management's INNOSpace Masters competition with the OCULUS concept.
- 2018
Launch of the satellite missions Aeolus, MASCOT (asteroid Ryugu) and BepiColombo with INVENT components.
- 2019
eROSITA launch; HyTech 3D funding of €478,000 with TU Braunschweig and DLR; OCULUS parabolic flight campaign; commissioning of a new 5-axis filament winding system.
- 2025
Opening of the new operating site at Christian-Pommer-Straße 42 (NBank funding) with 12 new jobs.
- 2026
30 years of INVENT; Entrepreneur Award of Region 38 in the Innovation category for CEO Henning Wichmann; recertification to ISO 9001 and EN 9100.