Institut für Materialwissenschaften der Hochschule Hof

The ifm develops new products and manufacturing processes in the fields of textile technology, system materials, mechanical engineering and composite materials. Our institute is characterized by its high competence and technical equipment and is, among other things, the technology leader for the production of branched braids.

The ifm sees itself as a partner for application-oriented research and development projects in industry and business. Nationally and internationally we work with companies from the aerospace, automotive, construction and environmental industries. The projects range from processes for the production of space antennas to near-natural antibacterial coatings and braided medical stents.

ifm stands for close and good partnerships with its customers. We support the networking of our partners and advance the work in areas relevant to us by organizing events and training courses.

Inventing a better tomorrow today.

The ifm offers development competences in specialized research groups for highly innovative sustainable products and processes in the fields of textile technology, system materials, surface technology, mechanical engineering and composite materials. The projects range from processes for the production of space antennas to natural antibacterial coatings and braided medical stents. Modern equipment is available in our laboratories on more than 6,500 square meters in Hof and Münchberg.

• Development services for highly innovative sustainable products and processes in the aforementioned research areas
• Trials conducted on our modern equipment (research devices and pilot plants) at the Hof and Münchberg sites
• Solutions for more efficient processes and manufacturing of innovative products
• Advice on funding from national and international programs
• Analytics at the State Testing Office for the Textile Industry (Textile Testing Office)
• Textile advanced training
• Small batch and pilot production

• Weaving technology (including jacquard fabrics, dobby fabrics, 3D fabrics, molded parts)
• Braiding technology (including variation braiding, braiding around)
• Composite technology
• Recycling processes
• Nonwoven technology
• Surface functionalization (including. PVD, CVD, electroplating, plasma and corona pretreatment)
• Textile finishing, printing and dyeing
• Mesh technology (including. Knitting, knitting, flat and circular knitting, spacer fabrics, functionalized knitted fabrics)
• Injection molding and function-integrated components
• Multi-component 3D printing
• Textile analytics in the State Testing Office for the Textile Industry (Textile Testing Laboratory)

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