News

Bio-based ester oils for hydraulic applications and photoprotective active ingredients from algae show how versatile biotechnology can already be used today. We are working exactly on such solutions in our laboratories. With the help of biological systems, microorganisms and enzymes, industrial processes can be controlled in a targeted way - efficiently, in a resource-saving manner and with a view to recyclability.

Companies from a wide range of industries are currently looking for precisely such solutions without compromising on performance or cost-effectiveness. Two of our team's current research projects "EnTE" and "MycoNoS" show that this is possible.

Food manufacturers today operate in a challenging environment shaped by increasing requirements for product safety and ever more complex supply chains. To reduce losses and ensure reliable supply, it is becoming increasingly important to identify risks at an early stage.

This is exactly where our developments come in. In the "RAVOC" project, we are using the example of hazelnuts and dried fruit to investigate how open and hidden mold contamination can be detected at an early stage through real-time monitoring. To achieve this, we are using machine learning methods to evaluate measurement data and develop new analysis models. The aim is to be able to reliably distinguish between mold-infested and uncontaminated goods in the future.

Our work opens up new possibilities for mobile analytics along the supply chain, for example on the basis of specific gas sensors. This enables early detection of quality risks and strengthens supply security. Food manufacturers can thus make well-informed decisions with regard to storage and logistics. With targeted adjustments, the developed models are also suitable for detecting food adulteration.

Would you like to use dynamic shelf life predictions for food and unlock new potential along your supply chain? Get in touch with us - we will support you in the development of suitable approaches.

The PPWR significantly increases the requirements for food packaging: recyclability and the use of recyclates are becoming mandatory. At the same time, reliable product protection remains essential. High-performance barriers are therefore indispensable and must be able to withstand the mechanical stresses of the thermoforming process when producing cups and trays.

This is exactly where the developments of the Fraunhofer IVV come in: With our thermoformable barrier coatings, recyclates can be safely used in PET- or PP-based mono-material trays and in compliance with food regulations. At the same time, the oxygen and water vapor barrier of the packaging is increased, which can extend the shelf life of sensitive products. In recent studies, the oxygen barrier of thermoformed trays was increased by a factor of 4 compared to state-of-the-art materials with a barrier layer.

These functional coatings open up new possibilities for sustainable packaging concepts. As an alternative to conventional multi-material composites, they combine product protection, the ability to use recycled materials and thermoformability in a recyclable mono-material concept – without compromising on process or quality.

Meet us from May 7 to 13, 2026, at interpack in Düsseldorf. Feel free to schedule a personal meeting with our experts in advance and discover the potential that thermoformable barrier coatings offer for your sustainable packaging solutions.

Macroalgae is a versatile ingredient, rich in protein, fast-growing and resource efficient. With the right processing approaches, it opens up a wide range of innovative food applications.

Algae have long been a staple food in Asia. However, they have so far played only a minor role in Western diets. Taste, smell, texture and color pose challenges for producers and consumers alike. The EU-funded "FunSea" project (Horizon 2020 / SBEP) addresses exactly these challenges.

Together with partners from research and industry, we are developing safe and scalable processing solutions that unlock the full potential of brown macroalgae. These form the basis for innovative food concepts that involve pre-treated brown algae. Enzymatic and microbial processes are used to enhance the functional and nutritional properties, enabling new product generations. At the same time, our experts develop first prototypes and carry out extensive testing to ensure safety, nutritional value and sensory quality.

Interested in shaping the future of innovative foods? Get in touch with our expert Dr. Maike Föste to explore how we can support your company.

How are technologies developed that make production lines more efficient, packaging more sustainable and processes more intelligent? Our double anniversary "100 years – research connects" showed how 70 years of university research and teaching at TU Dresden and 30 years of Fraunhofer IVV at the Dresden site have produced groundbreaking innovations that are used directly in practice.

Together with partners from industry and mechanical engineering, the processing technology experts are developing sustainable packaging systems, efficient production and cleaning processes and innovative, AI-based solutions for machines and systems. A current project with packaging machine manufacturer Theegarten-Pactec, the global market leader in confectionery packaging, shows how the transfer to industrial practice works.

We have developed an AI agent for Theegarten-Pactec that provides digital support for the global commissioning of packaging machines. When systems are installed around the globe, extensive documentation is created – previously often handwritten, as a PDF and in different languages. The AI agent automatically digitizes and analyzes this information, identifies gaps and asks questions. "This opens up a completely new pool of data for us, a wealth of knowledge and facts, which we will even be able to use in the future for the new and further development of packaging machines in order to meet the most common challenges," says Managing Director Dr. Egbert Röhm.

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer, Fraunhofer Executive Board member Prof. Axel Müller-Groeling and TUD Rector Prof. Ursula Staudinger also took advantage of the event to get an idea of the pioneering technologies and developments at the Dresden "packaging hub".

We will be presenting our AI-based assistance and knowledge management systems at this year's interpack Hall 4, C54.
Drop by or get in touch!

In order to close the gaps in the material cycles, packaging manufacturers must switch to sustainable packaging materials such as mono films, fiber-based or recyclate-containing materials. The key question here is: how can these materials be processed without compromising on product safety and process efficiency?

As the largest competence center for sealing technologies in Germany, we develop technological solutions for the reliable sealing of new materials. You can experience two of our technologies live at interpack in Hall 4, Stand C54.

One hundred percent paper, one hundred percent recyclable packaging: The newly developed "Papure" joining process makes it possible to join paper packaging securely and completely without the use of foreign materials such as adhesives or plastic layers. This is achieved by laser pre-treatment of the paper in combination with a special heat contact sealing process.

With the patented high-speed impulse sealing process "HIS" developed by us, monofilms can be sealed reliably and at the same time 95% energy can be saved compared to conventional heat contact processes. The flexible technology can also be used for demanding applications such as high-speed processes, temperature-sensitive products or very limited process windows.

At the trade fair, we will be presenting other solutions for sustainable, safe and efficient packaging production as well as innovative packaging that combines sustainability along with functionality and digital tools for securing in-house expert knowledge, operator assistance and training.

Visit us at interpack in Düsseldorf from May 7 to 13, 2026, and discover solutions – we will support you with your challenges! Please feel free to make an appointment with our experts.

Increasing technical requirements and a multitude of legal regulations are making compliance work for food packaging increasingly complex and quickly confusing.

As the person responsible or a new employee in this field, you are therefore faced with the challenge of applying these requirements in such a way that compliance work can be carried out more safely, quickly and cost-effectively throughout the entire supply chain.

In cooperation with the Industry Association for Food Technology and Packaging e. V. (IVLV), the one-day practical seminar "Conformity 2.0 – Food Safety and Sustainability" will take place on February 10, 2026, at the Fraunhofer IVV in Freising. You will receive a structured overview of the basics of compliance work and clear recommendations for your daily work.

These topics await you:
• Basics and practical examples for daily compliance work
• Current challenges and legislation for food packaging
• Insight into the practical implementation of migration and compliance testing in the (testing) laboratory.

We look forward to the exchange on site! Register now for the IVLV cooperation event.

Hygiene is a key factor for product safety in food production. Machine interiors and packaging must be reliably sterilized, especially in hygienic and aseptic filling processes. However, traditional sterilization processes using chemicals and high temperatures are often energy-intensive. They also require the handling of hazardous substances and careful control of possible residues.

To overcome this challenge, we are researching two innovative approaches: In the "O3Ster" project, we are testing the use of ozone in combination with high humidity for the efficient sterilization of machine interiors in food filling.

At the same time, we are investigating the use of xenon flashlight for the sterilization of packaging materials in aseptic filling systems in the "BLITZ" research project together with industrial partners. The aim is to inactivate even resistant microorganisms reliably and residue-free.

Are you interested in a customized test method to reliably evaluate the effectiveness of your sterilization processes? Then get in touch with us! You can read more information about the projects here on "O3Ster" and here on "BLITZ".

Composite packaging made of cardboard and plastic is mainly used in the food industry: it saves up to 80% plastic and combines a protective function with stability. However, their weak point is their recyclability, as the packaging components cannot be separated by type using current technology and manual separation by consumers is almost impossible to implement in practice. This means that a lot of hybrid packaging is lost to the recycling loop.

But what if the packaging itself actively supports recycling? In the "DEBO-Pack" research project, we are working on turning this vision into reality. With the Debonding on Demand approach, we are developing packaging concepts in the Fraunhofer joint project that separate themselves autonomously after use in a controlled and unmixed manner.

With our expertise in the development of resource-minimized packaging that meets requirements and the use of our model system for thermoformed packaging ("MoTiV"), the first demonstrator packaging has already been produced and analyzed. We are currently developing new adhesive and material concepts and testing variants for technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness and consumer acceptance.

Our goal: hybrid packaging that can be easily integrated into existing recycling streams – an important step towards a circular economy. Would you like to try out a packaging sample for yourself?
Visit us from May 7-13, 2026, at interpack in Hall 4, Stand C54!

What is the economic and ecological cost of common cleaning processes in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries? We are systematically investigating this question in the "QRiAS" research project. Experience to date has shown that simulations deliver more efficient results than iterative, experimental approaches. However, there is no quantitative evidence to date. The aim of the study is therefore to reliably quantify the concrete benefits of optimization measures. We are using simulations to achieve this.

Your benefits if you take part:
• Early access to the study results
• Data basis for process optimization
• Direct insight into the needs of potential customers
• Market overview of common cleaning processes
• Optimization of existing cleaning processes (e.g. temperature, chemistry, sequence)
• Budget relief
• Increase in resource efficiency
• Opportunity to bring in your own challenges and develop practical solutions together.

Take part in our survey now and use the opportunity to contribute your experience, gain practical insights at an early stage and optimize your processes based on data!

▶️Link to the survey for machine and plant manufacturers
▶️Link to the survey for producers

You can find out more about optimizing cleaning processes and hygienic production on our website.