ceramitec 2026 - Fraunhofer IKTS

Trade fair / March 24, 2026 - March 26, 2026

ceramitec 2026 – Fraunhofer IKTS at the leading trade fair for the ceramics industry

From March 24–26, 2026, the international ceramics community will gather at ceramitec. At the trade fair, companies and research institutions will present their products, machinery, technologies and innovations related to the production and processing of ceramic materials – for applications in, among others, construction, mechanical engineering, medical technology, the automotive industry and chemicals.

Fraunhofer IKTS partner along the entire ceramic value chain – this year with the following focus topics:

Analytics, sensor technology, and digital quality assurance
Transparent ceramics
Membrane and process technology
Ceramic foams
Climate-neutral firing with hydrogen

Fraunhofer IKTS at ceramitec

You will find Fraunhofer IKTS

at the Ceramic Applications joint booth in Hall A6, Booth 323A, and
at the DKG-Agora joint booth in Hall A5, Booth 213N.

In addition, Fraunhofer IKTS will showcase selected exhibits in the special ”Hidden Champions” area at the entrance. Visitors will gain insights into innovative ceramic applications and the latest technologies – from material design to solutions ready for series production.

Event details

Location

Munich, Germany

Date

March 24, 2026 - March 26, 2026

Analytics, sensor technology, and digital quality assurance

Understanding materials, controlling processes, ensuring quality: Fraunhofer IKTS offers users and manufacturers a comprehensive portfolio of testing, characterization and analysis methods for materials, components and processes.

The focus is on the chemical, thermal, microstructural, mechanical, tribological, electrical and electrochemical properties of ceramic materials and systems. In addition to all standard methods, we use digital materials research, modeling/simulation, in-line monitoring and AI-assisted microstructure analysis. This makes processes more transparent, robust and efficient.

With our accredited laboratories, we support you in material and product development, failure analysis, the design of standard-compliant test concepts and quality assurance.

At Booth 323A, the IKTS team will demonstrate, among other things, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that enables real-time, non-destructive investigation of layer thicknesses, cracks and pore structures in ceramic components. On site, you will also get an overview of our complete analytics services.

More information

Contact Press / Media

Dr.-Ing. Björn Matthey

Head of business division Materials and Process analysis

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
Winterbergstr. 28
01277 Dresden, Germany

Phone +49 351 2553-7973

Fax +49 351 2554-280

Send email

Contact Press / Media

Dr. rer. nat. Annegret Potthoff

Head of department: Sintering and Characterization

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
Winterbergstr. 28
01277 Dresden, Germany

Phone +49 351 2553-7761

Fax +49 351 2554-147

Send email

Contact Press / Media

Dipl.-Ing. Ralf Schallert

Group manager

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
Volmerstraße 9
12489 Berlin, Germany

Phone +49 30 63923427

Send email

Transparent ceramics

Robust optics where glass reaches its limits

Optical technologies are key to reliable sensor technology, modern security systems, automated production and mobility. Fraunhofer IKTS is one of the world’s leading research institutions in the development of transparent ceramics with a fine-crystalline microstructure and excellent mechanical properties.

Transparent ceramics offer clear advantages over glass, especially in harsh environments with high thermal loads, abrasion or aggressive chemicals. With the PERLUCOR^® infrastructure, Fraunhofer IKTS covers the entire value chain from powder to complex optics, thereby opening up new fields of application:

Optics and sensor technology: stable optics for driver assistance and transportation, lidar systems for autonomous driving, components for active light diffraction and guidance, laser head protection, optics for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, e.g. drones)
Civil security: protective covers in desert, offshore or orbital environments, optics for night-vision and solar systems, ballistic windows/optics, large-format scanner windows
Medical technology/biotechnology: biocompatible, biostable optics for endoscopy and imaging systems
Consumer/IoT: scratch-resistant displays, robust, transparent control and display element

At ceramitec, we will present PERLUCOR^® exhibits from these application areas and discuss specific use cases with you.

More information

Contact Press / Media

Dr.-Ing. Sabine Begand

Head of department: Oxide Ceramics

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
Michael-Faraday-Str. 1
07629 Hermsdorf, Germany

Phone +49 36601 9301-1972

Fax +49 36601 9301-3921

Send email

Membrane and process technology

Ceramic solutions for demanding separation processes

Ceramic membranes and specially functionalized ceramics – often combined with innovative process technology – enable efficient, robust and scalable processes in chemical, environmental and energy technologies as well as industrial production.

At ceramitec, Fraunhofer IKTS will present, among other things:

SiC membranes and modules for demanding filtration tasks, micro-/ultrafiltration, water treatment and separation processes
Components for heat and charge transport, including heating elements (SiC, TiO₂), high-temperature brazes, catalyst supports

Combined with data- and model-based design, we offer support from laboratory development through pilot scale to industrial implementation – for consistent quality, high plant efficiency and reduced operating costs.

More information

Contact Press / Media

Dr. rer. nat. Olga Ravkina

Group Manager: High-Temperature Membranes and Storage Materials

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
Michael-Faraday-Str. 1
07629 Hermsdorf, Germany

Phone +49 36601 9301-4905

Send email

Ceramic foams for efficient heat and mass transfer

Open-porous ceramic foams enable highly efficient heat and mass transfer as well as catalytic reactions at low pressure drops. They are also cost-efficient and, thanks to their high design flexibility, suitable for a wide range of applications, including environmental, energy and wastewater technology, and the food, chemical, pharmaceutical and fuel industries.

At our booth, we present:

Ceramic foams, e.g. solar receiver foam components, direct foams, catalytically coated foams
Structural and high-temperature ceramics, e.g. DiaSiC heat exchangers, SiSiC 3D/Voronoi structures
Sensors and electronics, e.g. TiO₂ plasma electrode, B₄C thermocouple

More information

Climate-neutral firing with hydrogen

On the path to climate neutrality, Fraunhofer IKTS offers a globally unique high-temperature furnace that can be operated either with natural gas or hydrogen (H₂). This makes it possible to compare real firing and sintering processes and transfer them to H₂ – with an identical furnace chamber and temperature profile, adjustable oxidizing/reducing atmospheres and integrated debinding processes.

Digital monitoring as well as chemical and mechanical analytics ensure transferability to industrial practice – from process development to industrial implementation.

The high-temperature hydrogen furnace was developed together with Riedhammer and funded by the State of Thuringia within the WaTTh hydrogen application center.

Key technical data

Usable volume: 500 l
Maximum temperature: 1700 °C
Power: 1000 kW
Batch weight of up to 150 kg per firing trial

More information

Press release: Firing with natural gas or hydrogen: novel high-temperature furnace paves the way for climate-neutral firing processes

DKG-Agora

Experience ceramics along the process chain

At the DKG-Agora in Hall A5, Booth 213N, Fraunhofer IKTS presents the diversity of ceramic solutions – from the initial idea to the finished component:

Components: Filtration membranes, ceramic implants, battery cells, heaters, heat exchangers and sensors illustrate the wide range of ceramic components for different industries.
Forming: Depending on the application, Fraunhofer IKTS uses a variety of forming processes such as pressing, injection molding, extrusion, tape casting, slip casting and additive manufacturing. This broad portfolio of technologies enables a wide variety of ceramic component geometries – also for series production.
Materials: A broad spectrum of ceramic materials (such as Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, TiO₂, MgAl₂O₄, BaTiO₃, β-Al₂O₃, SiC or AlN) enables customized solutions for diverse applications and industries, including energy, medical technology and environmental technology.

Special exhibition “Hidden Champions”

At the “Hidden Champions” special exhibition in the entrance area of ceramitec, we present selected demonstrators that show how ceramic technologies often deliver outstanding performance behind the scenes for medical technology, energy and environmental technologies, and electronic and power systems:

FingerKit – customized ceramic finger joint implants from the 3D printer
PoXos membrane – patented solution for decentralized oxygen generation from air
BioReef – 3D-printed bioactive ceramic reef structures contributing to marine conservation
Adaptable electrical insulation for DC high-voltage applications

Trade fairs

Trade fair / March 24, 2026 - March 26, 2026