Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
Processing technologies for plastic and fiber materials
Your Expert Partner in Packaging Technology Development
Increasing legal initiatives to reduce material consumption and achieve a circular economy are leading to ever-increasing demands on packaging and packaging processes. Our expertise lies in the development and optimization of packaging technologies that meet current and future requirements.
Our research focuses on the processing of films or paper on form-fill-seal machines, forming (e.g. thermoforming or deep-drawing processes), and sealing and cutting. In our pilot plant, we have unique laboratory test stands, high-performance sensor technology and industrial machines that enable us to analyze a wide range of processes and technologies for our industry and research partners. This makes us, among other things, the laboratory with the most extensive range of sealing technologies in Germany. Through our networking in science and industry, we are constantly expanding our know-how on established and new mechanisms of action. We use this knowledge in a targeted manner to find customized technology solutions for your applications. We support our partners from the initial idea to series production.
Our services include support in selecting suitable packaging technologies, optimizing existing technologies and tools, and developing new, application-specific solutions.
Selection of Packaging Technologies
Are you looking for reliable and efficient sealing or processing technologies?
We provide a comprehensive overview of the latest processing technologies in packaging production, evaluating their advantages, limitations, and applications with a neutral, science-based approach. Beyond evaluation, we actively develop and refine these technologies.
Our well-equipped technical center for processing technologies and packaging testing includes a range of sealing, forming, and cutting technologies, proprietary test stands, and industrial equipment. This allows us to compare different technologies for your specific application and recommend the most suitable solution.
For example, based on your material, application, and defined requirements, we select from our portfolio of sealing technologies—including heat contact, impulse, ultrasonic, radio frequency, and induction sealing. Using scientific methods, we determine key process and quality parameters such as seal strength and integrity. This data-driven approach enables us to compare various technological solutions and provide well-founded recommendations for industrial implementation.
We support you through
- Overview and comparison of novel and established sealing, forming, and cutting technologies
- Simulation of industry-related conditions to evaluate technology suitability
We will help you find the optimal packaging technology for your needs. Get in touch!
Optimization of Packaging Technologies
Have your existing packaging technologies reached their limits in terms of quality or cost-effectiveness?
With our expertise in the interactions between materials, processes and machines, we identify approaches for a customized adaptation of production to your application. By changing the technology variant, the tool design and properties, as well as the process parameters, we improve your manufacturing process. This enables you to achieve greater process stability and cost-effectiveness in your production.
Based on your current technology solution and application-specific requirements, we determine and analyze the state of the art. As a scientific institution, we are familiar with the current status quo and can suggest established and novel solutions. Depending on your needs, we develop customized technological concepts and test them in our laboratory, or we find suitable combinations of process parameters to unlock potential for increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness in your production
In addition to purely experimental methods, we also use numerical simulations to identify the opportunities for optimization and to recognize influencing factors.
We support you with
- Overview of alternative solutions
- Optimization of the machine-material pairing through simulation- and experimentally supported further development
We support you in optimizing your packaging technologies to increase the cost-effectiveness of the packaging processes.
Development of innovative Packaging Technologies
Are current packaging technologies not meeting your requirements?
We develop new technological solutions for the packaging industry through research and industry-driven projects. Our focus includes material efficiency, processing of mono-materials and recycled materials, joining coated and uncoated paper, and using process data for quality control, among other challenges.
By collaborating with research institutions and industry partners, we continuously expand our expertise in process mechanisms, new methods, and emerging challenges. We develop innovations from concept to proof of feasibility, verification in the laboratory, and industrial implementation with our partners.
We use our comprehensive, high-performance technology center and precise sensor technology to understand technologies and tools and develop suitable solutions. New technologies often require innovative testing methods, which we also design and implement.
With expertise in materials science, mechanical engineering, computer science, and process technology, our interdisciplinary team collaborates closely with research partners to provide flexible, application-driven solutions.
We support you through:
- Developing innovative technologies to address current challenges
- Designing tools to enhance the processability of plastics and papers