News
High-Power Lasers for the LASER.region.AACHEN (Acronym: HOLLA, Project Period: August 2025 – June 2028)
HOLLA makes high-power laser welding a reality: A research facility is being established at Aachen University of Applied Sciences featuring a high-power laser (40–80 kW) combined with laser beam welding in a vacuum (LaVa process) to join large metal components significantly faster and cleaner. The goal is to replace slow and labor-intensive standard processes such as submerged arc welding with single-pass, highly productive laser processes, thereby saving time, material, and energy.
The project pushes the boundaries of the process, particularly for thick-walled metal components—such as offshore monopiles or generators—and thus enables new, more efficient manufacturing methods. Vacuum-welded seams have fewer pores, cause virtually no spatter, and achieve greater penetration depths. This saves energy and significantly improves the quality of the components. HOLLA bridges the gap between research and industry: LaVa-X cooperates closely with Aachen University of Applied Sciences and other partners in the LASER.region. AACHEN to lay the technical research foundations for future application in industrial practice, thereby strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises in the long term.
In short: HOLLA brings high-performance laser technology to the region, accelerates the production of large components, conserves resources, and strengthens the competitiveness of German manufacturers.
Aachen Research and Development Center for Joining Technology in Electrical Applications (Acronym: CeFelA, Funding Period: March 2025 – June 2028)
With the “Aachen Research and Development Center for Joining Technology in Electrical Applications – CeFelA,” a unique facility is being established at the ISF of RWTH Aachen University to address joining technology issues related to batteries, (power) electronics, and mechanical engineering. The project will significantly expand the existing joining equipment and instrumentation for the joining and application-specific characterization of joints for electrical applications. In the new research and development center, this will enable research into the relationship between joining production processes and the resulting performance characteristics of electrical components. In addition to the infrastructure, a network of associated partners will be established during the project’s duration with the aim of knowledge transfer and initiating further research. The ISF contributes existing expertise in joining, materials, measurement technology, and digitalization to the network. Participants in the network include research institutions with scientific questions and objectives, such as the FFB or the CARL at RWTH Aachen University, industry associations, as well as regional and national companies with a direct connection to joining for electrical applications.
As part of an initial study on battery contacting, LaVa-X is collaborating with the ISF at RWTH Aachen University and EUROMAT. This marks the implementation of the first project on the research agenda and helps raise the profile of the research infrastructure and the network.