ceramitec conference program: Focus on international expertise

Professional exchange and networking are crucial for the further development of industrial ceramic solutions. The conference program at ceramitec, taking place in Munich from March 24 to 26, offers a comprehensive range of information and opportunities to exchange on current topics and developments in the industry.

“The conference program is an integral part of ceramitec. It adds technical content to the exhibition, promotes dialog between industry and research, and provides orientation on current developments in the sector,” explains Maritta Lepp, Exhibition Director of ceramitec.

A finger on the pulse of the industry

This year, the ceramitec conference program will once again cover a wide spectrum with an international focus. On the two “ceramitec talks” stages in Halls A4 and A6, visitors can expect an extensive range of panel discussions and specialist lectures on all three days of the trade fair. Industry insiders, experts from application areas and representatives of the younger generation will discuss current challenges and technological developments.

The program is organized by renowned partners, including the American Ceramic Society (ACerS), the Bundesverband der Deutschen Ziegelindustrie e. V., Ceramic Applications, the Deutsche Feuerfest Industrie e. V. (DFFI), the Deutsche Keramische Gesellschaft (DKG), Ecocerâmica e Cristalaria de Portugal (ECP), the European Ceramic Technology Suppliers (ECTS), the Pôle Européen de la Céramique and VoxelMatters. Visitors can also enjoy company presentations in the Speakers’ Corner in Hall A5, where the latest ideas, applications and solutions relating to the high-performance material ceramics will be presented.

Technical highlights and current key topics

One of the highlights will be the Activated Clay as Cementitious Supplementary Material for the Reduction of CO₂ conference, organized by ECTS, which will take place on March 26 in the Forum of Hall A4. The aim is to offer clay producers, machine manufacturers and cement plant operators an opportunity to network. Speakers will include Simone Schulze from VDZ Technology, Daniel Adedokun, Head of Geocycle at Lafarge Africa Plc, Christoph Piribauer from the Stephan Schmidt Group, Leo Fit from ThyssenKrupp Polysius and Jan Böhringer from Händle.

Another focus is on promoting young talent: On the first day of the trade fair, CareerDay will offer students and graduates a wide range of insights into the transition from university to working life. The program, organized by the DKG in the ceramitec talks forum in Hall A4, includes a range of lectures on specific topics, a poster slam with research results at the DKG Agora in Hall A5 and guided tours of companies from the silicate and technical ceramics sectors.

On March 25, the DKG Agora will address Ceramics for Extreme Conditions and Ceramics for Eco-Applications, hence highlighting two very specific topics. In addition, the Powder Metallurgy Day, organized by the Institute for Application Technology Powder Metallurgy and Ceramics at RWTH Aachen (IAPK), will take place on Wednesday afternoon in the Forum in Hall A6.

The roundtable “Scaling 3D Printed Technical Ceramics in Advanced Production”, which will take place on March 26 in the Forum in Hall A6, will focus on additive manufacturing. Technology developers and industrial users will use specific examples—from ceramic casting cores and high-temperature components to patient-specific medical implants—to discuss current possibilities, conditions for industrialization and existing limitations. Participants include Frank Reinauer from the KLS Martin Group in the medical technology sector and Carole Blazik from Avignon Ceramic in the aerospace sector.

The conference program will be supplemented by a series of practice-oriented lectures on the topics of digital readiness, simulation, AI applications and process optimization in ceramic production. It will take place on March 25 in the Forum of Hall A4. Speakers will include Florian Bliesch from Adesso and Tobias Steffen from the Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e.V.

Broad thematic focus

In terms of content, this year’s contributions focus on areas such as the use of technical ceramics in aerospace, defense technology, medical technology, and energy generation and storage.
Other topics include the circular economy and the use of recycled raw materials, the possibilities of additive manufacturing and the integration of digital processes in ceramic production. The high technical relevance is underlined by speakers from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), among others.

Lectures will be held in English, and participation in the entire conference program is free of charge for trade fair visitors.