February 2020

Two doctoral students of the Applied Laser Technology & Photonics group led by Prof. Hellmann and an employee of the Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences are showing their current research results at the world's largest conference for photonics, the "Photonics West" in San Francisco. Doctoral students Gian-Luca Roth (graduate in industrial engineering) and Simon Schwarz (graduate in electrical engineering and information technology) present their results on the generation of three-dimensional microchannels using an ultra-short pulse laser for lab-on-chip applications and sensors in polymers (Roth), as well as the production of complex micro free-form optics with the help of a hybrid laser process (Schwarz).

Stefan Belle, employee of Prof. Hellmann, was able to convince a jury, consisting of experts from research and industry, of his current research work with his contribution "Space variant quarter- and half-wave plates fabricated by combining 3D laser direct writing and electroplating" and wins the Best Paper Award in the field of nanotechnology.

November 2019

Test center of the local Weber GmbH and the Applied Laser and Photonics Group (alp) reinforce their collaboration on developing innovative optical sensor concepts.

In consequence of their fruitful cooperation on the development and characterization of a novel and highly versatile optomechanical sensor, the partners intensify their efforts to advance this promising sensor model. The obtained research results have already been published in two renowned journals, whereas a further publication is in progress for March 2020.

Holding broad expertise in environmental simulations Weber GmbH perfectly complements the technology competences of alp and affords their sensor systems team extensive prototype testing by simulating real as well as extreme conditions. In turn, the thus developed low-cost sensors may be employed in environmental simulation machines for monitoring multiple parameters simultaneously.

November 2019

Sensor innovations introduced in Tokyo. Two PhD students of Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences, both from the Applied Laser and Photonics Group, presented their recent scientific results at “SPIE Future Sensing Technologies” international conference in Tokyo last week.

Maiko Girschikofsky introduced an optochemical sensor for selective measurements of the highly ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) trichlorofluoromethane. Being equipped with a special catching layer of cyclodextrine sugar molecules – which essentially are well-known from food technology – this sensor is able to detect concentrations of this harmful substance as low as 25 ppm in real time. The correlated scientific works of the postgraduate already culminated in a European patent and have twice been awarded by peer-reviewed journals.

Steffen Hessler presented an innovative and highly sensitive optomechanical sensor for the measurement of acceleration and vibration, which is deployable as a long-term monitor of seismic signals. In tight cooperation with a local company in Aschaffenburg this novel sensor has already been characterized extensively conforming to standards and is now subject to endurance surveys at the testing laboratory.

October 2019

The AG alp celebrates the successful completion of the international project LaserSens 4-in-1 together with the cooperation partners A.L.L. Lasersystem from Munich and Salvagnini from Ennsdorf in Austria. The 3-year research project from the Eurostars Program of the European Union has developed a sensor for modern laser cutting systems that monitors the cutting quality during cutting and reports typical cutting errors. This is necessary in the course of the continuous automation of laser cutting equipment in order to keep the quality constant and to avoid unnecessary material and time loss. The market entry for the sensor developed in the project is planned for the second quarter of 2020, which underlines the success of the project.

September 2019

Scientists of Aschaffenburg’s local Applied Laser and Photonics Group publish cutting-edge research results in the worldwide highly reputable journal MDPI Sensors introducing a novel optomechanical sensor device.
The entirely polymer-based sensor pad is easily applicable for most various mechanical sensing tasks: Besides intriguingly demonstrating practical application capabilities such as an acoustic pickup, an accelerometer or a seismometer, the use as a biomedical vital sign sensor is highlighted in particular. Since optical sensor technology is inherently immune against electromagnetic interference, it is thus possible to monitor vital signs of patients like body temperature, respiration and pulse during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) simultaneously, where – by contrast – the performance of conventional electronic sensors is corrupt.

The open access article can be fully viewed at the following link:
doi.org/10.3390/s19194101

September 2019

35 representatives from industry and science met at the Open Innovation Lab of the Applied Laser and Photonics Group of the University of Applied Sciences Aschaffenburg (shortened alp group), discussing current trends of ultrashort pulsed laser technology. On the occasion of this meeting, the alp group, being member of the German innovation network on USP-technology since 2016 (www.ukpl-technologie.de/netzwerk), inaugurated its new build USP-laboratories with more than 500 m².
In addition to external presentation, PhD-student Simon Schwarz (alp group) presented the current state of his research on laser micro processing of transparent materials, which is of high current topicality in both fundamental research and industrial applications.

September 2019

50 years ago, the first Universities of Applied Sciences have been founded in Germany. Under the auspices of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Universities of Applied Sciences celebrate this anniversary with the slogan „Incredibly Important“. For the web site of this campaign, the Applied Laser and Photonics Group (abbreviated alp group) was selected as one of twenty national showcases, representing the category „incredible research“, in turn highlighting and awarding the extensive and international research activities of the alp group.

September 2019

On the occasion of a workshop at the company Elementar in the city of Langenselbold, international experts from industry and science discussed on the capabilities of inorganic material analysis. Dr. André Edelmann of the Applied Laser and Photonics Group (abbreviated by alp group) gave a talk on „Additive manufacturing: analysis of quality of metallic powder by element analysis”, highlighting the potentials of modern analytical measurement instrumentation for quality assurance in AM.

August 2019

Expertise of applied laser and photonics group of TH AB in the standardization of additive manufacturing.

Due to the widely recognized engineering achievements of the applied laser and photonics group (AG alp) of the University of Applied Sciences Aschaffenburg, the latter has now receive an invitation from the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) to the Working Committee NA 152-06-10 AA "Terminology of Manufacturing Processes".
Dr. Babette Götzendorfer of Aschaffenburg AG alp took part in the committee meeting in Berlin as a guest expert. She heads the Plastics 3D Printing Department at AG alp.
The aim of the working committee is to include additive production as a new manufacturing method in the basic standard DIN 8580. DIN 8580 provides an overview of existing manufacturing processes and forms the basis for a uniformly structured classification system.
The inclusion of additive manufacturing clearly demonstrates its ever-increasing importance as an industrially relevant method. For the University of Applied Sciences Aschaffenburg and the AG alp, this honorable appointment means a reward for the work done so far.

July 2019

Benedikt Adelmann has passed his doctoral examination for Dr.-Ing. at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg with very good success. The topic of his dissertation is "Laser material processing of semiconductors and ceramics for applications of power electronics". The research work was carried out in cooperation with the Chair of Electronic Devices and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology in Erlangen, Germany.
Mr. Adelmann completed his bachelor's and master's degree in electrical engineering and information technology at the University of Applied Sciences Aschaffenburg and subsequently worked as a research assistant in the applied laser technology and photonics group (AG alp) of Prof. Hellmann.
In the future, Mr. Adelmann will work in open innovation at AG Alp in the field of technology transfer laser technology and optical metrology and lead projects with regional companies.

July 2019

Gian-Luca Roth gave a presentation on "Generation of internal 3D microfluidic architectures in polymers by fs laser processing" at the conference "Lasers in Manufacturing (LiM) 2019". The presentation focused on the possibilities of extending the internal laser structuring of transparent polymers and their application in microfluidic systems.
In addition, Dr.-Ing. André Edelmann gave a presentation at LiM 2019 on the possibilities of increasing the quality of additive-manufactured metal components using the heat aftertreatment process of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) with the title "Effects of hot isostatic pressing and solution annealing on the microstructure and porosity of tool steel 1.2709 processed by selective laser melting".

July 2019

The applied laser technology and photonics group presented its service portfolio over four days at the international laser trade fair "Laser World of Photonics" in Munich. The capabilities of the AG alp were met with a great deal of interest from representatives from industry and research and resulted in a total of about 100 new contacts. The fair is regarded as the leading trade fair for lasers and photonics worldwide and takes place every two years in Germany. Under the direction of the Bavarian University Association, the Aschaffenburg researchers shared the booth with colleagues from the Polymer Fiber Center at Nuremberg University of Applied Sciences, the Laser Laboratory at Munich University of Applied Sciences and the Photonics Cluster at Munich University.

June 2019

The master graduate Julian Haubner received the Friedrich-Dessauer-Prize of the VDE Rhain-Main e.V. for his master thesis in the AG alp.
Julian Haubner developed a novel process for the selective metallization of transparent plastics which, based on a laser-induced chemical reduction of copper oxide nanoparticles to copper, enables freely selectable metallic conductor paths in a direct writing process on the surface of polymer substrates. Besides a comprehensive chemical and electrical characterization of the metallic structures, their application in an electro-optical microsystem could be demonstrated.

June 2019

Recently published research results of the AG alp are chosen as a cover story of the international journal Lubricants.
The research work deals with the optimization of tribological surfaces by ultra-short laser pulses. According to current studies, 23 % of global energy consumption is caused by friction and wear effects. With regard to today's climate protection goals, the optimization of tribological contacts, e.g. technical sliding surfaces, is a decisive measure for a clean future. Scientists at Aschaffenburg alp AG are researching processes for the production of functional surfaces (Smart Surfaces) for adapted friction and wear properties. In cooperation with researchers from the Laser-Laboratories Göttingen and the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, ultra-short pulse lasers are used to optimize the coefficient of friction. The latest results of this study have now been published in the journal Lubricants under the title „Possibilities of Dry and Lubricated Friction Modification Enabled by Different Ultrashort Laser-Based Surface Structuring Methods“. Lubricants 2019, 7(5), 43; doi: 10.3390/lubricants7050043

May 2019

Research facility of Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences receives innovation award from Federal Minister of Labour Heil

The Open Innovation Lab (OIL) for SMEs in the field of applied laser technology and photonics has received a special award in the nationwide competition “Centres of Excellence in the Land of Ideas”. A facility at which scientists and engineers from industry and research collaborate on innovations for digital manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing, Aschaffenburg’s OIL was named one of the top ten projects out of 600 applications. The motto of this year’s “Germany – Land of Ideas” competition was “Digitise, revolutionise, motivate – ideas for work and education in Germany and Europe.”

Vice President for Research Prof. Hans-Georg Stark along with Prof. Ralf Hellmann and Dr. André Edelmann (applied laser technology and photonics group, Open Innovation Lab) received the award last Tuesday from the Federal Minister of Labour Hubertus Heil at the Palais Populaire in Berlin.
Well-wishers included the President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) Prof. Dr. Kempf and Karl von Rohr, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank. The festive award ceremony compèred by Eva-Maria Lemke and Sandra Maischberger was attended by well-known representatives of politics, industry, science and public life, and the TH Aschaffenburg award winners were very pleased to receive this special recognition of their work. They will be receive support in the form of a Deutsche Bank mentoring programme and will also have the opportunity to present their work at other events and an exhibition.
Bavaria's Minister of Science Bernd Sibler likewise congratulated TH Aschaffenburg on its success: "TH Aschaffenburg with its Open Innovation Lab is a highly valued innovation driver for the region. I’m very pleased that the researchers’ achievements have received nationwide recognition and the university has now been named a 'Centre of Excellence in the Land of Ideas'".
Photo: Bernd Brundert

April 2019

The Open Innovation Lab of the applied laser and photonics group (AG alp) organized an expert forum on additive manufacturing at the technology transfer center ZeWiS. Guided by six lectures from industry, more than 30 participants from industry and universities from germany and austria discussed practical issues and cases studies of 3D printing. Within the framework of laboratory presentations, the researchers of the AG alp also demonstrated their own developments and innovations to specialist audience.