Research association for production technology: additive manufacturing, laser material processing, optics manufacturing, plastics technology and testing services for the manufacturing sector.
Thüringer Zentrum für Maschinenbau
Ilmenau (coordination office, TU Ilmenau) · Jena (ifw, EAH) · Schmalkalden (University of Applied Sciences, GFE)New on Amplifa
About ThZM
The Thüringer Zentrum für Maschinenbau (ThZM) is a research association founded in 2013, comprising five Thuringian institutions: the Technische Universität Ilmenau, the University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden, the Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, the Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik und Entwicklung e. V. (GFE Schmalkalden) and the Günter-Köhler-Institut für Fügetechnik und Werkstoffprüfung GmbH (ifw Jena). The coordination office is based at TU Ilmenau and matches companies with precisely suited partners from research and manufacturing. The services cover the entire process chain: additive manufacturing (FDM, SLS, SLA, LPBF), laser material processing such as cutting, welding, polishing and structuring, machining, optics manufacturing, coating and surface technology, joining technology, heat treatment, plastics technology, tool technology as well as testing procedures and quality assurance. Materials processed include metals such as steel, aluminium and stainless steel as well as plastics, glass, ceramics and crystals. Target groups are SMEs and corporations from mechanical and plant engineering, medical technology, optics, electrical engineering and the automotive industry. In the project period from 2024 to 2028, the focus is on decarbonisation, the circular economy and the processing of renewable raw materials. In addition to contract research, prototype and small-batch production, ThZM offers support with funding applications, further training and a cross-industry
- Site
- Ilmenau
- Processes
- Machining, Laser processing / laser material processing (laser beam cutting, welding, polishing,, Additive manufacturing (FDM, SLS, SLA, LPBF/powder bed processes, material extrusion), Joining technology / joining, Coating and surface technology (PVD hard material coatings, thermal spraying,, Heat treatment, Plastics technology / plastics processing, Optics manufacturing (precision grinding, ultra-precision turning and milling, diamond machining,
- Materials
- Plastic (PLA, ABS), Bio-based plastics / renewable raw materials, Metal, Glass, Ceramics, Steel, Aluminium, Stainless steel
- Certificates
- Testing procedures (tensile, hardness, bending, ultrasonic, X-ray), Metallographic analyses, Industrial image processing / AI quality control, ISO 9001
- Founded
- 2013
- Industries
- Mechanical and plant engineering, Manufacturing sector, Plastics technology, Medical technology, Optics/Electrical engineering, Automotive industry
- 01
Technology consulting & feasibility analysis
- 02
Simulation & design / product development
- 03
Prototyping & pilot production (additive, laser, machining, joining)
- 04
Testing procedures & quality assurance
- 05
Transfer to production / process integration
- 06
Networking & further training
Materials & Processes
Additive Manufacturing (FDM, SLS, SLA, LPBF)
Prototypes and functional components made of plastic, metal, glass, ceramics and hybrid materials.
Laser Material Processing
Laser beam cutting, welding, polishing, structuring and forming of metals, plastics and glass.
Optics Manufacturing
Precision and ultra-precision machining of glass, crystals and plastics including coating.
Coating & Surface Technology
PVD hard material coatings, thermal spraying and anti-reflective coatings for glass, plastic and metal.
Machining Technology
Machining for prototypes, individual parts and small batches.
Joining Technology
Joining connections including soldering and sintering in furnace processes (e.g. furnace system "Sinterella" at ifw Jena).
Heat Treatment
Heat treatment of workpieces for targeted adjustment of material properties.
Plastics Technology
Processing of plastics including bio-based plastics made from renewable raw materials.
Testing Procedures & Quality Assurance
Tensile, hardness, bending, ultrasonic and X-ray testing, metallography and industrial image processing.
Locations & Partner Institutes
Ilmenau
DECoordination office at TU Ilmenau (research & matchmaking)
- Lot size
- Prototypes, small batches
- Materials
- Metals, plastics, glass, ceramics
- TU Ilmenau / Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: manufacturing and testing facilities
Jena
DEJoining technology, materials testing, additive manufacturing, optics manufacturing (ifw Jena, EAH Jena)
- Lot size
- Prototypes, small batches
- Materials
- Metals, glass, crystals, plastics
- Furnace system "Sinterella" (soldering, sintering, heat treatment)
Schmalkalden
DEManufacturing technology, additive manufacturing, plastics technology (University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden, GFE
- Lot size
- Prototypes, small batches
- Materials
- Metals, plastics
Services & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MachiningMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser processing / laser material processing (laser beam cutting, welding, polishing,Surface | – | – | – | – | Metals, Plastics, Glass, Steel, Aluminium, Stainless steel |
| Additive manufacturing (FDM, SLS, SLA, LPBF/powder bed processes, material extrusion)Additive | – | – | – | – | Plastic (PLA, ABS, thermoplastics), Metal, Glass, Ceramics, Hybrid materials |
| Joining technology / joiningJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Coating and surface technology (PVD hard material coatings, thermal spraying,Surface | – | – | – | – | Glass, Plastic, Metal |
| Heat treatmentHeat treatment | – | – | – | – | – |
| Plastics technology / plastics processingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Plastic, Bio-based plastics |
| Optics manufacturing (precision grinding, ultra-precision turning and milling, diamond machining,Machining | – | – | – | – | Glass, Crystals, Plastic |
| Testing procedures (tensile, hardness, bending, ultrasonic or X-ray testing, metallographicTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Quality assurance / in-process quality assuranceTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tool technology / toolmakingEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Product development (concept consulting, prototyping, simulation, virtual prototypes)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sensor technologyEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Simulation and design (FEM, flow simulation)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Industrial image processingTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Machine learning and AI (quality control, predictive maintenance, process optimisation)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Prototyping and test engineering / contract manufacturing, prototypes & small batchesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Soldering and sintering (furnace processes)Joining | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furnace system "Sinterella" (soldering, sintering, heat treatment) | Sinterella | 1 | – | – | ifw Jena |
Additional services
Quality & Testing Procedures
The partner institutes offer tensile, hardness, bending, ultrasonic and X-ray testing as well as metallographic analyses and in-process quality assurance, complemented by industrial image processing and AI-assisted quality control.
| Evidence | Ilmenau | Jena | Schmalkalden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testing procedures (tensile, hardness, bending, ultrasonic, X-ray) | |||
| Metallographic analyses | |||
| Industrial image processing / AI quality control | |||
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 2013
Founding event of ThZM on 07.06.2013 at the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Labour and Technology; association of TU Ilmenau, University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, GFE Schmalkalden and ifw Jena.
- 2013–2017
Project period I: total approved funding of over 33.6 million €, over 80 % industry projects.
- 2018–2023
Project period II with sustainability phase: over 33.5 million € project volume; approx. 7.9 euros of federal/EU funds per euro of state funds.
- 2024–2028
Project period III: focus on decarbonisation, circular economy and bioeconomy.