Lightweight construction research in Lusatia - that sounds complex. But the results are surprisingly realistic. They even provide competitive advantages for cyclists in Cottbus, one of the city's sporting strongholds. Lightweight construction is seen as the key to overcoming many challenges. This is why the recurring lightweight construction workshop, which took place on 14 and 15 March 2024, is so important.
‘Lusatia is and will remain an energy region - and lightweight construction is inextricably linked to the energy transition,’ says Prof Holger Seidlitz from BTU. Seidlitz is a central figure in the lightweight construction network, both regionally and nationally. According to him, a key aspect of lightweight construction research is the cross-material development of innovative solutions. This involves intelligently combining plastics and metals in order to achieve maximum lightweight construction effects while minimizing the use of resources. These approaches not only help to increase efficiency, but also to conserve resources and reduce energy consumption. Holger Seidlitz's institute is dedicated to this cross-material task. Prof. Seidlitz specializing in polymer-based lightweight construction at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg leads the "Polymer Materials and Composites (PYCO)" research department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP). Around 100 employees work with him on various lightweight construction projects in modern laboratories and research halls. ‘We have now become a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight construction community.’
Holger Seidlitz sees a link between the success of regional lightweight construction research and structural change. By developing resource-saving technologies and creating new business models, research is helping to strengthen the regional economy in the long term. The creation of jobs and the securing of skilled labour play a decisive role in this. Lightweight construction research in Lusatia has not only established itself as a branch of science, but also as an engine for economic development in the region. However, the synergies between lightweight construction and structural change are not a one-way street: Seidlitz has observed how the increasing relevance of the energy transition and the search for solutions are driving research forward. As a result, the need for innovative solutions and project partners is growing.
‘The fact that energy prices have risen is no secret to anyone. By using lightweight materials such as carbon fibre in the automotive industry, vehicles can become significantly more efficient, which in turn contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicles in particular benefit from weight reduction, as they can achieve a longer range.’ This helps to reduce CO2 emissions and promote the use of renewable energies. And that's just one example. Similar effects can also be achieved in the aerospace industry and the CO2 footprint can be reduced. Overall, the lightweight construction technology of the future will therefore not only improve the environmental balance, but also make an important contribution to overcoming the challenges associated with the energy transition.
But how true to life lightweight construction research in Lusatia really is. Prof Holger Seidlitz has countless examples of this. One of them concerns cycling in Cottbus. He and his team have supported the Cottbus sports center several times in recent years. Innovative technologies have been developed for regional cyclists that can give them a decisive advantage in competition. One such project, for example, was the development of customized shoes. By precisely recording an athlete's bare foot using a 3D recording device, it was possible to produce customized shoes that enable optimal power transfer from the foot to the pedals without losing energy.
Bicycle cockpits have also been developed specifically for athletes. ‘Of course, you still have to pedal, but we were able to optimise the technology using flow simulations to ensure maximum aerodynamics while riding,’ explains Prof. Holger Seidlitz. Such projects illustrate how lightweight construction research in Lusatia is not only aimed at large industrial projects, but also produces innovative solutions for people in practice. At the next Paralympics in summer 2024, an athlete with such a cockpit will also be competing for Germany. The entire institute is keeping its fingers crossed.
It is precisely this diversity and the opportunity to tackle new challenges every day that make lightweight construction research so fascinating for Holger Seidlitz. ‘Every project is different and there is nothing off the peg. You always have to think outside the box. Through innovative solutions, you can make a sustainable contribution to shaping the future.’
Lightweight construction research in Lusatia has long been not only a witness to structural change, but also an active shaper of a promising future. This was also the focus of the 18th Cottbus Lightweight Construction Workshop on 14 and 15 March 2024, a conference that is a prime example of how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. The close collaboration between research institutions, companies and politicians is making the region a pioneer in the field of lightweight construction and sending a clear signal about the future viability of structural change in Lusatia. Prof Seidlitz was looking forward to the exchange with entrepreneurs. ‘We are endeavoring to solve fundamental problems so that they can then be applied and be useful and helpful to companies.’ The conference thus built a bridge between theoretical research and practical application. Through presentations, discussions and networking, it offered the opportunity to create synergies and promote the transfer of knowledge.
