Trade fairs and conferences

PIAE 2026 is one of the most important international conferences for plastic applications in automotive engineering and brings together numerous representatives from industry, research, and development. Under the umbrella of current topics such as sustainability, circular economy, material innovation, and digitized production processes, the conference offers a comprehensive overview of technological trends and practical solutions along the entire automotive value chain. 

Fraunhofer CCEM is also contributing to the event with a scientific presentation. Prof. Dr. Michael Thomas will present current research results from the field of “Circular Polymer Production Technologies.” The contribution shows how closed material cycles for polyamides can be developed and implemented industrially. To this end, key steps such as the production and processing of closed-loop polyamides, the analytical evaluation of secondary materials, and the design of suitable surface pretreatments that ensure high-quality paintability will be explained.

The presentation illustrates how sustainable polymer technologies can make a significant contribution to conserving resources, ensuring material quality, and meeting the requirements of modern applications, particularly in automotive engineering. In this way, Fraunhofer CCEM is providing important impetus for the transformation toward recyclable and sustainable production systems.

Thursday, March 19, 2026, 2:15 - 2:45 p.m.

Circular Polymer Production Technologies – Ermöglichung der Verwendung von Closed-Loop Polyamiden für Automobilteile

Prof. Dr. Michael Thomas