The Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

Credit:

DLR/Adobe Stock

»We maintain Mobility for a Sustainable Future.«

Who we are

The DLR Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) advances aviation through excellent research and technology transfer. Guided by the vision “We Maintain Mobility for a Sustainable Future,” the institute focuses on lifecycle analytics, maintenance technologies, and digital process optimisation to improve technical operations in aviation.

By leveraging digital product twins, the institute connects the physical and digital worlds, enabling data-driven solutions for maintenance, material circularity, and the integration of human expertise.

The Application Center MRO, the institute’s hub for developing, testing, and evaluating maintenance technologies, provides a dedicated space to bring research to life, incorporating robotics, sensors, and innovative visualisation systems to explore new approaches.

Collaborating with partners from science and industry, the institute ensures that research translates into competitive, resource-efficient MRO solutions, advancing sustainability in aviation.

The institute's research areas at a glance

Research Areas - Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul
The graphic shows the three departments of the institute and their research areas at a glance.

Departments

Product Lifecycle Management

The Product Lifecycle Management Department is dedicated to modelling, simulating and optimising products and their maintenance throughout their entire lifecycles.

Maintenance and Repair Technologies

The focus of the Maintenance and Repair Technologies Department lies in developing, integrating and applying the most diverse technologies within the context of maintenance.

Process Optimisation and Digitalisation

The Process Optimisation and Digitalisation Department explores the mapping of real components as digital twins to achieve predictive maintenance and optimise process workflows.

Contact

Gerko Wende

Director
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul
Hein-Saß-Weg 22, 21129 Hamburg