IMTC 2019 presents highlights from lightweight research with an artistic touch
From 18th to 19th September 2019, the Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE will welcome guests to the 4th IMTC - The "Call for Papers and Posters" is open until the 31st of March - The "Call for Creatives" ends on the 31st of July
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During the 4th IMTC 2019, the Cluster of Excellence MERGE will present highlights from more than six years of lightweight construction research, including numerous developments in the field of automotive engineering. Illustration: Ronny Sauer/ Chemnitz University of Technology
New material combinations, innovative production technologies and function-integrated concepts characterise lightweight construction as a multidisciplinary cross-industry technology. Be it in the transport sector or vehicle construction, in mechanical and plant engineering, in medical technology or in the construction industry - lightweight construction applications are used in almost all areas of industry. The 4th International MERGE Technologies Conference (IMTC) of the Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE at Chemnitz University of Technology from 18th to 19th September 2019 offers an interdisciplinary platform for the exchange of information on current developments and trends in this field. The conference will focus on topics such as materials and semi-finished products, manufacturing technologies, modelling and simulation as well as smart systems integration for the large-scale production of lightweight products.
Interested parties from science, business and industry are invited to submit abstracts for lectures and posters until the 31st of March 2019, and thereby help shape the conference programme. The most meaningful scientific contributions will be honoured by a committee of experts as part of the "Best Paper and Poster Awards". Full papers, which have been submitted and reviewed, will then be published in the Open Access Journal "Technologies for Lightweight Structures". In a special session of the conference, the participating scientists will also throw a spotlight on more than six years of interdisciplinary lightweight construction research within the MERGE cluster.
"Lightweight construction requires new solution strategies and market-ready applications; these can only be successful and represent genuine added value through interdisciplinary thinking and action as well as through the interconnectedness of those involved from different sectors and disciplines. For this reason, the 4th Conference on Lightweight Construction will also prioritise the exchange between scientists, researchers and end-users," explains Prof. Dr. Lothar Kroll, Coordinator of the Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE. Further information on the "Call for Papers and Posters" can be found at: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/IMTC/callforpapers
Science, technology and art in dialogue
A new feature of this year's conference is dedicated to a creative approach to lightweight construction. In a "Call for Creatives", the organisers of the IMTC call on the conference participants to submit artistic contributions by the 31st of July, which illustrate the symbiosis of science, technology and art; these will be presented in an exhibition during the event.
"Science always involves creativity and imagination. Often, the process of research leads to interesting results, which ultimately end up being left in a drawer and forgotten about. We want to provide a space for these remarkable and beautiful ideas and offer them an appropriate platform. Of course, we also welcome new projects," says Dr. Michael Heinrich, Scientific Director of the Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE. Headlined "Lightweight Construction meets Creativity", the aim is to stimulate a dialogue and look at innovations with new eyes. Anyone interested can submit up to three artistic contributions related to the topic of lightweight construction. Be it photographs, paintings, sculptures, films or simulations - every contribution is welcome. A jury will award the three best entries during the conference. In addition, the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite. Further information on the "Call for Creatives" is available at: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/IMTC/callforcreatives
Additional information can be obtained from Dr. Michael Heinrich, Scientific Director of the Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE, and Dr. Isabelle Roth-Panke, Administrative Director of the Federal Cluster of Excellence MERGE, phone +49 371 531-13910, e-mail imtc@tu-chemnitz.de
(Authors: Julia Grunwald and Diana Schreiterer / Translator: Eva Stamler)
Mario Steinebach
05.02.2019
