Research infrastructure

The institute has office, laboratory and technical centre space with state-of-the-art equipment for its services. Under the following links you will find detailed information on the production facilities as well as the testing and inspection equipment.

Test facility

Test facility The test field facilities at the DLR Institute of Lightweight Structures in Braunschweig enable comprehensive and quality-assured determination of the mechanical properties of fibre composites and allow direct evaluation of new material and structural technologies.

Research autoclave BALU®

The DLR Institute of Lightweight Systems operates the world's largest research autoclave at the DLR site in Stade. The BALU® (Biggest Autoclave Laboratory Uni) autoclave is used to research new technologies in the field of fibre composite lightweight construction.

Research platform for automated production of near-net-shape volume components (EVo)

The EVo research platform at the DLR Centre for Lightweight Production Technology in Stade was designed for the fully automated and flexible production of fibre composite components using RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) technology with an upstream preforming process.

GroFi® research platform

The GroFi® large-scale plant is a research facility that uses coordinated robots for the automated production of large components made of fibre composites. The aim of the research is to develop a production technology for the manufacture of large, high-integrity components using automated fibre placement processes.

Laboratory autoclave

The laboratory autoclave consists of two autoclaves, i.e. pressurisable ovens in which components made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) are cured. They and the associated infrastructure form the focus of the research activities in which the production of fibre composite components is investigated.