Expert Lecture Spotlight | Prof. Frank Henning
M³ – A Sustainable Approach to Vehicle Light-weighting with Composites
Light-weighting is a cornerstone of sustainable mobility—and composites are key enablers. In this expert lecture, Prof. Frank Henning introduces the M³ (Material, Manufacturing, Modeling) approach developed at KIT and Fraunhofer ICT, offering a holistic path toward engineered lightweight solutions tailored to industry needs.
Backed by a strong “House of Competence,” M³ integrates:
Virtual process chains
Advanced materials and manufacturing technologies
A focus on automated, high-volume production
Spotlight: Automotive Applications
The lecture showcases real-world examples, including BMW’s i-Series, where wet compression molding with carbon fiber is used to create lightweight, structural body-in-white components. Prof. Henning walks through:
- Virtual modeling of the process chain
- Process variants and manufacturing steps
- Early-stage design integration for manufacturability
The talk concludes with a forward-looking discussion on circularity and recycling—underscoring the importance of closed-loop solutions in future composite applications.
Whether you’re in automotive, materials development, or manufacturing innovation, this lecture offers a comprehensive and sustainable blueprint for the next generation of composite-based vehicle structures.
Now available on the cdmHUB YouTube channel as part of the Global Composites Expert Webinar Series.
