Knowledge Transfer as a Gateway to New Markets
How Aluminum Is Breaking New Ground
GUTMANN ALUMINIUM DRAHT GMBH (GAD) of Weißenburg specializes in drawn aluminum wires as well as round and shaped aluminum bars. These products are currently used in a wide variety of industries—from the automotive industry and mechanical engineering to medical and electrical engineering.
But the question is: Where are the markets of tomorrow?
As many industries undergo transformation, there is a growing need to apply existing materials expertise to new applications. For GAD, the focus is on future-oriented fields such as battery technology, sustainable construction, humanoid robotics, and even fusion technologies. The challenge lies less in the technology itself than in gaining access to the right partners, research organizations, and application areas.
This is where Bayern Innovativ came into play. Through various innovation networks and exchanges with the transformation guides, contacts were established with companies and research institutions that opened up new perspectives on the potential applications of aluminum. At the same time, topics such as the circular economy, AI-supported process optimization, funding programs, and intellectual property rights were discussed.
“These networks have led to an intensive exchange with the FAPS at FAU Nuremberg-Erlangen and the Fraunhofer IISB. An initial research project has already been approved. In addition, we were able to establish partnerships with two companies from the region that we met at Bayern Innovativ networking events,” recalls Arne Mendel, Head of Aluminum Technology & Development at Gutmann.
Mutual Benefits
The knowledge transfer was a two-way process: The research institutions contributed new insights into materials, technologies, and applications. GAD, in turn, was able to contribute its many years of expertise in aluminum processing and an understanding of the requirements of industrial markets. This generated new momentum for joint developments and potential areas of application beyond the existing core markets. “In the field of electrification—a relatively new sector for Gutmann—we are currently launching the new aluminum material ‘G-MAG,’ which has been specifically optimized for copper substitution with mechanical properties on par with copper and a maximum electrical conductivity of >59% IACS,” Mendel continues.
Furthermore, Gutmann has invested in new equipment capable of producing Al-bond wire (4N, 5N Al), which is required in power electronics for chip bonding.
Today, the company benefits from an expanded network spanning industry and academia. For GAD, this is a key building block for tapping into new markets and further expanding its own innovative strength. The connection between research and industry does not arise by chance—it requires people and networks that bring both sides together. Or as Arne Mendel and Rudi Ehrengruber of GAD put it: “The connections to companies and research institutes forged through Bayern Innovativ have taken our company’s innovative strength to a new level.”
