ceramitec with double emphasis on energy efficiency

Sustainable innovations will be the focus of ceramitec 2024, being held at the Munich Exhibition Center from April 9 to 12. Energy efficiency will be the hot topic at the world-leading trade fair in Munich. The ceramics industry will be showcasing new materials, technologies and processes in all areas.

The key topics at ceramitec 2024 will be the decarbonization of industrial processes, the circular economy for by-products and waste products, the role of the ceramics industry in energy generation and storage as a user and a provider, with the focus on hydrogen technology and the digitalization of the industry’s own processes. Exhibitors and research institutes will also be presenting numerous industrial applications in which technical ceramics make an essential contribution to success with innovative materials and processes. That applies especially to additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy.

Prospects for users and manufacturers

Processes and products are changing due to climate change and cost increases. The issues of sustainability and energy efficiency are right at the top of the agenda in all parts of the ceramics industry and its target markets. Raw material suppliers, manufacturers, technology providers, and users from all over the world will be discussing energy-efficient solutions at ceramitec 2024. This year, the leading international trade fair will therefore be even more of a platform for innovative materials, technologies and processes.

Zero emissions—a challenge for heavy clay ceramics

Rising prices for fossil fuels are hitting the energy-intensive heavy clay industry the hardest. In Halls A4 and A5, manufacturers and technology providers will focus specifically on the topic of decarbonization. Exhibitors and speakers will address, among other things, the use of alternative energies such as hydrogen, and the electrification of production processes. The industry will also discuss how energy-efficient systems and processes can save conventional energy, focusing, for example, on digitally controlled production processes or refractory materials in furnaces for more energy-efficient processes.

Technical ceramics as an innovative game changer

Light and yet robust, stable and flexible—exhibitors and speakers in Hall A6 will demonstrate in all their variations how individual and efficient products from the field of technical ceramics are. Research institutes, technology providers, and manufacturers of new materials, processes and systems for ceramic materials are creating a veritable treasure trove of solutions, with an emphasis on additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and powder metallurgy. New materials will be presented in applications ranging from wastewater filters to dentistry.

Wide range of ceramic applications

Various joint stands in Hall A6, including Pôle Européen (A6.226) from France, or Ceramic Applications (A6.323), and the special show Smart Materials and Energy Hub, will showcase the entire spectrum of technical ceramics. Researchers and exhibitors from GKN Sinter Metals, Dorst Technologies, and Fraunhofer IFAM will present solutions for resource-saving production of hard and soft magnetic materials for electric cars, among other things. Fraunhofer HTL will provide information on progress in high entropy materials for coatings in industrial furnaces or energy storage systems, and injection molding expert Kläger will demonstrate cost-efficient processes with new compound combinations and tools.

Technical ceramics break through paradigms

Additive manufacturing and 3D printing are proving themselves this year especially with innovative solutions. Exhibitors such as Lithoz, Rauschert, and Ceramet are showcasing ceramic 3D printing in analytical, environmental, and medical applications. Gas distribution rings for semiconductors from Alumina and Qsil with components for sensor technology illustrate the role of ceramic components in the megatrend of digitalization. High-performance materials via multi-material 3D printing, wear-optimized composite ceramics, or transparent ceramics for optical applications open up new worlds for users.

A sustainable future for all

The ceramics industry is contributing to the energy transition with a host of innovations. This year’s ceramitec will therefore be discussing a whole range of innovations that will bring climate-friendly energy generation and storage a whole step further. In the field of the hydrogen economy, for example, 3DCeram will be presenting ceramic components developed as part of the HyP3D project for stacks that convert electricity into hydrogen. Together with well-known partners such as Göller Verlag, Fraunhofer, RWTH Aachen, Bau Verlag, AM Ceramics, and VDMA, Messe München is planning a conference program that reflects the key topics.

“With many of its numerous innovations, the industry is not only helping its users, but also itself in the long term,” says Maritta Lepp, Exhibition Director of ceramitec. “With this double effect, the world-leading trade fair is an important platform for solutions for many exhibitors and visitors. From raw material suppliers and technology providers to manufacturers, the entire supply chain for ceramic products and many end customers is under great pressure to change. For four days in Munich, researchers, manufacturers, and users will find new ideas and solutions all close together.”