International Symposium on Wood Science and Technology 2025 

The Japan Wood Research Society invited all scientists interested and involved in various aspects of wood to the International Symposium on Wood Science and Technology 2025 (ISWST2025). The symposium was held from March 17-19 in Sendai, Japan. The aim of the symposium was to bring together scientists working on this sustainable and promising biomaterial for the 21st century. The approximately 400 papers and posters presented ranged from timber engineering to wood cell formation and biodegradation to wood-based composite materials. Josef Domitner and Eva Graf from the Partner Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming Technology (IMAT) at Graz University of Technology presented their work on the mechanical performance of aluminum-wood composites in the event of a crash as part of the “CARpenTiER” project. In their presentations „Impact Performance of Adhesive-Bonded Aluminium-Wood Lightweight Composites” and “Methodology for Forming Lightweight Wood-Metal Composites”, they demonstrated the significant lightweight potential of these composites, even after prior forming, using pendulum impact and drop tower impact tests.

Sendai, Japan

17.03.-19.03.2025

Pictures: © TU Graz/IMAT

"CARpenTiER" at MotionExpo 2025

From 14th to 16th of March 2025, Graz once again hosted MotionExpo. With over 21.000 visitors this year, MotionExpo is the number one mobility platform among vehicle trade fairs in Austria. The high level of acceptance and the highest level of visitor quality provide a perfect basis for further developing this public trade fair with a specialist character in the future and for engaging the public with numerous exhibitors.

This year, the numerous visitors were once again able to gain personal and hands-on insights into the research work of the "CARpenTiER" project over three days.

The technology exhibition at MotionExpo offers a look behind the scenes of various technologies in science and research and thus a glimpse into the future of mobility. Drive technologies, vehicle construction, autonomous driving as well as intelligent materials, innovative components and sustainable concepts for individual and public mobility were just a few of the exciting perspectives presented at this year's MotionExpo.

Graz, Austria

14.03.-16.03.2025

Pictures: © HCS / Virtual Vehicles / W.E.I.Z.

Landshut Lightweight Construction Colloquium 2025

The Landshut Lightweight Construction Colloquium, held from February 26th to 27th of February 2025, focused on sustainable lightweight construction. The consortium leader Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. and its partner, the Styrian Wood Cluster, have been in Landshut to represent the project and its consortium!

This provided participants with in-depth insights into the COMET-funded research project "CARpenTiER." The presentation, which included a specialist lecture and an exhibition booth, focused on wood as a pioneering lightweight construction material, focusing on reproducibility, innovative adhesive systems, and digital processes. 

Landshut, Germany

26.02.-27.02.2025

Pictures: ©Hochschule Landshut

"CARpenTiER" at WerkstoffPlus Auto 2025

The "CARpenTiER" project was represented at this year's WerkstoffPlus Auto 2025 in Stuttgart, where its extensive research activities on the use of wood as a sustainable lightweight construction material in the automotive industry was presented. The presentation, based on a conference paper, took place in the closing session "Wood as a New Automotive Structural Material" on 20th 0f February 2025.

The focus of the conference paper was primarily on wood as a sustainable lightweight construction material for the automotive industry, using various demonstrators (e.g., crash management systems) as well as reproducibility in ensuring consistent quality in lightweight wood components.

WerkstoffPlus Auto offers a platform for the exchange of new vehicle and material concepts and promotes networking between experts from automotive technology, the supplier industry and mechanical engineering.

Stuttgart, Germany

19.02.-20.02.2025

Pictures: ©Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

11th Consortium Meeting at Pfeifer's Partner Site in Tyrol

On 4th and 5th December 2024, the consortium of the "CARpenTiER" research project met for its 11th consortium meeting at Pfeifer in Kundl, Tyrol.

The focus of the consortium meeting was the exchange between the research and business partners on the individual research activities. Key progress was made in the forming simulations of wood-hybrid lightweight construction applications made of veneer wood. These make it possible to test the influence of processing steps and other factors on mechanical properties and to precisely predict them in the future. The effects of adhesives on material and component properties were also comprehensively examined. Exciting progress was also made in the simulation of social and ecological impacts in the manufacturing process.

Another highlight of the consortium meeting was a factory tour of Pfeifer's production facilities.

Tyrol, Austria

04.12.-05.12.2024

Pictures: ©CARpenTiER / W.E.I.Z.

Project “CARpenTiER” part of the Faculty Day of the Graz University of Technology

Two times per year, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Economic Sciences organizes the Faculty Day. As part of this event, research lectures and scientific presentations are given on current research topics at the various institutes of the faculty. 

On the 6th Faculty Day, Josef Domitner from the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming presented insights into the testing and simulation of wood-metal components as part of the project “CARpenTiER”. The advantages of these components, such as lightweight potential and increased energy absorption in the event of a crash, were emphasized and demonstrated, among other things, in the form of high-speed videos during a pendulum impact. The possibility of simulation models and their agreement with real tests was also presented.

Graz, Austria

20.11.2024

Pictures: ©TU Graz/ IMAT

Summit in Helmond: The future of mobility

The European Lightweight Association (ELA) extended invitations to the "Lightweight Materials Summit: The Future of Mobility" in Helmond (Netherlands) on 14th of 2024. The Innovation Center W.E.I.Z., as consortium leader of the COMET project "CARpenTiER," also accepted the invitation on behalf of the entire consortium. Thomas Krenke, the project's scientific leader, gave the expert audience an overview of the project's research work and findings and introduced the consortium's participating partners from research and industry.

The key technology of lightweight construction was also the focus of the summit's accompanying discussions.

Helmond, Netherlands 

14.11.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

10th International Hardwood Conference 2024

Representing the entire "CARpenTiER" consortium, the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z., in its role as consortium leader, had the honor of participating in the world's largest conference for hardwood and presenting innovative solutions for the use of hardwood in lightweight construction to an international audience of 120 experts from 26 countries. A fascinating presentation on the "CARpenTiER" project highlighted new approaches to using hardwood as a sustainable material in lightweight construction, particularly in the mobility sector.

The presentation offered a comprehensive insight into the potential of hardwood as a high-tech material and served as a best-practice example for the conscious use of natural resources. It became clear how innovative technologies and processes make it possible to further develop the properties of hardwood and establish it as a sustainable material for the mobility of the future.

The use of hardwood as a sustainable material in lightweight construction is a decisive step towards mastering the ecological challenges of the mobility industry and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in lightweight construction. 

Vienna, Austria 

08.11.-10.08.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

Open Doors of the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. for the Public

As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z., the technology center opened its doors. Part of the 25th anniversary celebrations was the participation in the “Weiz City Hike”. This gave the inhabitants of Weiz and the surrounding areas the opportunity to gain insight into the research behind the scenes of the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. the whole day long during the national holiday.

Many of the visitors were truly unaware of the areas of application and new uses for the renewable and popular resource wood. The researchers at the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. offered exciting insights and the latest findings, including from the COMET prokject "CARpenTiER." A highlight for the children was a hands-on station where they could make and design their own wooden spinning top.

Weiz, Austria 

26.10.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

Open Doors of the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. for Students of the City of Weiz

As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z., the technology center also opened its doors to a wider public. On 25th of October 2024, a station-based workshop was organized for students aged 14 to 18 years of the city of Weiz, which also provided exciting insights into research into wood as a high-tech material for new applications in mobility and mechanical engineering. Around 150 students from the BG/BRG Weiz, the HLW FSB Weiz and the HAK HAS Weiz accepted the invitation and were actively involved.

Weiz, Austria 

25.10.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

AC Styria Lightweight Construction Day 2024

The traditional ACsytria Lightweight Construction Day 2024 once again offered a comprehensive program. The exhibition area featured also this year the presentation of the "CARpenTiER" project. During the event, the audience was able to discover innovative demonstrators and detailed information materials demonstrating how wood is becoming increasingly important as a lightweight construction material.

Traditionally known as a sustainable material, wood opens up new possibilities in lightweight construction, particularly in the mobility of the future. Thanks to state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and virtually unlimited application possibilities, wood is becoming a key material for efficient, resource-saving components.

The Lightweight Construction Day 2024 offered an excellent opportunity for exchange with experts and interested parties from the industry and provided valuable insights into how wood, as a versatile and sustainable material, can advance the development of lightweight components and mobility solutions.

Lannach, Austria 

15.10.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

Insight into the Future of Lightweight Construction!

At the Future Day in Graz, organized by the Styrian Business Promotion Agency (SFG) and the research company JOANNEUM RESEARCH, the “CARpenTiER” project was presented to a broad audience from science, business, interest groups and politics, with a dedicated exhibition dedicated to the innovative uses of wood. The exhibition showed how wood is not only ecological, but can also play a central role in mobility and lightweight construction of the future.

Vivid exhibits and interactive information material were used to illustrate how wood can be used as a material in the production of components and products to create more environmentally friendly and efficient solutions. Wood opens up new perspectives, particularly in lightweight construction, which are being further expanded by modern production techniques.

The presentation at the Future Day 2024 with its motto “Better Together” offered an excellent opportunity to make the research results to date visible to around 1.500 visitors.

Graz, Austria 

09.10.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z. / SFG

Project Presentation at the Weiz Mobility Forum - Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Mobility

The Mobility Forum Weiz took place at the Kunsthaus Weiz in 2024 and brought together experts from the mobility industry, politics and research to discuss the future of mobility and present innovative solutions. The focus was on sustainable mobility concepts and pioneering technologies that could shape the industry in the coming years.

The CARpenTiER project, which focusses on the use of wood as a sustainable material in lightweight construction, was presented as part of this event. Various demonstrators showed how wood can be used in the mobility of tomorrow to achieve both ecological and technical progress. The project includes a variety of applications that integrate wood into vehicle components and structures and thus contribute to resource-saving and efficient mobility.

Visitors to the mobility forum were able to find out about the innovative approaches of the CARpenTiER project on site and discover the potential of wood as a material in the mobility sector. The forum provided a valuable opportunity to share the vision of more sustainable mobility and further establish the role of wood as a sustainable high-tech material in the industry.

Weiz, Austria 

19.09.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

Presentation at Airpower 2024 - Wood as a High-Tech Material for Lightweight Construction

 At Airpower 2024, the “CARpenTiER” project was presented with a special innovation: an aircraft landing gear door for a sports aircraft made of wood. This exhibit impressively demonstrated the potential of wood as a lightweight, sustainable and robust material in the aviation sector.

The aircraft landing gear door was presented as an example of the use of wood in lightweight construction. Modern production techniques and innovative materials make it possible to integrate the natural material wood into safety-relevant and technological applications such as aircraft components. The development of this landing gear door illustrated how wood is not only environmentally friendly, but can also be used as a high-strength material in the aviation industry.

Visitors to the Airpower 2024 had the opportunity to learn more about the latest developments in the project and discover how wood can serve as a key resource to create sustainable and efficient products in aviation and beyond.

This presentation emphasised the enormous potential of wood as an innovative material in lightweight construction and showed how the use of wood in the aviation industry can not only reduce the carbon footprint but also improve the performance of aircraft components.

Zeltweg, Austria 

06.09.-07.09.2024

Pictures: © ACstyria

Innovations for the Future of Wood Technology

From 28 to 31 August, the CARpenTiER project was presented at the International Wood Fair in Klagenfurt. The exhibition stand in the innovation area quickly attracted numerous visitors.

The project partners Innovation Center W.E.I.Z., Styrian Wood Cluster and Graz University of Technology presented a variety of demonstrators on site, including an innovative Crash Management System (CMS) and a wood-based aircraft landing gear flap. These exhibits highlighted the project's progress and innovations and sparked stimulating discussions about the future of wood technology. 

The International Wood Fair provided an excellent platform for presenting sustainable wood solutions. The encounters and discussions inspired and sparked anticipation for further exciting developments in the ongoing COMET project.

Klagenfurt, Austria 

28.08-31.08.2024

Pictures: © HCS / WWS / W.E.I.Z.

Conference contributions at the Society of Wood Science and Technology 2024

The Society of Wood Science and Technology, founded in the USA in 1961, aims to build a bridge between science, society, industry and politics to advance wood research worldwide. This year 2024, the society held its annual conference from June 30 to July 6 in Portoroz. Around 100 conference papers dealt with current wood research, building applications, sustainability, educational approaches, innovation and the role of wood in climate protection and digitalization. There were also 65 poster contributions and 12 presentations by young researchers.

Among the highlights were the findings of Johannes Painer from the W.E.I.Z. Innovation Center, a young researcher from the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z., who dealt with the formability of beech veneer and the validation of a simulation model for digital twins of wooden components and processes. Kevin Vitzthum, also from the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z., presented a new method for non-destructive measurement of the fiber orientation of beech veneer, the subject of his actual publication. This involves determining the speed of sound of a veneer, which can be used to accurately predict the fiber orientation and thus determine the most important properties of wood in component production.

Portoroz, Slovenia

30.06-06.07.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

IUFRO World Congress - an International Forum 

The IUFRO World Congress took place from 23rd to 29th of June 2024 in Stockholm. IUFRO World Congresses are among the largest global forest-related events and are interdisciplinary and integrative in scientific content. They are a forum for scientists and stakeholders to discuss technical and societal issues in forest-related research, policy-making and management. Theresa Boiger from the Institute of Environmental Systems Science at the University of Graz, scientific colleague of the “CARpenTiER” research project, presented an optimization of wood value chains with regard to climate protection, which is being carried out as part of the research project.

Stockholm, Sweden

23.-29.06.2024

Pictures: © CARpenTiER / TU Graz 

10th Consortium Meeting at Partner BASF in Ludwigshafen

On 19th and 20th of June 2024, the consortium of the "CARpenTiER" research project met for its 10th consortium meeting at its partner BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Once again, the scientific partners presented the project progress at the individual project level, which was discussed with the partners from industry. Furthermore, the focus was on further planning the research work for the final research year.

Special highlights of the consortium meeting included the presentation of the BASF Creation Center on the first day and a concluding plant tour on the second day.

Ludwigshafen, Germany

19.-20.06.2024

Pictures: © HCS / WWS

Bioeconomy Innovation Day 2024

Project Presentation at the Bioeconomy Innovation Day

The Bioeconomy Innovation Day took place this year on June 5 in Lemgo, Germany. The aim is to bring together forest innovators and leaders from industry, government, research and other key stakeholders in the forest bioeconomy. The exciting networking event offered participants forward-looking key notes and impressive presentations of innovative solutions as well as the opportunity to network. In a pitch session entitled "Advanced and circular bio-based solutions", the innovative CARpenTiER project and its content and results on wood as a sustainable lightweight material for the mobility industry were presented and introduced to an interested audience.  

Lemgo, Germany

05.06.2024

Pictures: © Bioregions

CARpenTiER Highlights Innovations at European Lightweighting Network Conference 2024

At the 4th European Lightweighting Network Conference in Liège, the research project “CARpenTiER” made a significant impression with its innovative use of wood-based hybrid structures. The focus was on how these advanced materials are transforming lightweight engineering in automotive, plant, and machinery sectors.

In the session dedicated to Wood and Natural Material Solutions for Lightweight Applications, Thomas Krenke, scientific leader of the project, demonstrated how integrating wood can reduce component weight by up to 40% while maintaining high performance. The discussion highlighted wood's role in automotive production, its advantages for the mobility sector, and its ability to meet stringent industry standards.

The conference emphasized the need for international collaboration to advance sustainable technologies. “CARpenTiER” showcased the impact of cross-sector partnerships in promoting lightweight solutions and supporting the European Green Deal.

28.-29.05.2024

Liège, Belgium

Pictures: © Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

Long Night of Research 2024 the First Time in the City of Weiz 

The popular "Long Night of Research" took place in Weiz for the first time on 24th of May 2024. The Long Night of Research takes place every two years across Austria and is the largest event on science and research in Europe. 15 organizations and companies from Weiz took part, opening their doors at 11 locations in the city of Weiz to present their research, development and innovation achievements to a wide audience of around 1.600 visitors. Among the companies was the Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z., which impressed over 900 visitors with its research on wood in new applications. The "CARpenTiER" project was also presented, and the results and content shared with many interested parties. One highlight was the hands-on station for children, where they could manufacture their own spinning top out of wood. The different properties of the different types of wood were conveyed through the selection of disks made from different types of wood. The question arose: Which spinning top would spin the longest?

Weiz, Austria

24.05.2024

Pictures 1-3: ©Stadt Weiz / Pictures 4-6: ©Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

Graz Spring Fair Presented "CARpenTiER"

This year, the Graz Spring Fair focused on the versatile material wood. As one part of this, the “Styrian Wood Day” took place on 29th of April 2024 in the Graz City Hall. The organizer proHolz Steiermark was able to inspire the audience with exciting presentations about and interactive hands-on experiences about forests, wood and innovations. Also partner of the project “CARpenTiER” have been part of this extensive presentation and took the chance to make the previous research results visible and accessible to the general public and inform them that wood is an important raw material of the future for many areas of application. 

29.04.2024

Graz, Austria

Pictures: ©Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

"CARpenTiER" @ 20th Wood Technology Colloquium 2024

 The Wood Technology Colloquium is a classic conference in wood research that focuses on wood in mechanical engineering. In addition to presentations on topics such as wood in mechanical engineering, calculation and safety concepts and process influencing variables for flow punch forming in wood-based materials, the Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z. (Thomas Krenke, scientific leader) and the Weitzer Woodsolutions GmbH (Wolfgang Knöbl) were also able to give two exciting presentations entitled "Ecologically sustainable lightweight construction" and "The transformation from a classic wood processor to a sustainable system supplier". With these presentations the audience got deeper insight views to present the research work of the “CARpenTiER” project and previous results and findings.

28. - 29.04.2024

Dresden, Germany

Pictures: © Weitzer Woodsolutions

Presentation of the Project “CARpenTiER” at MotionExpo 2024

From March 8th to 10th March 2024, Graz was the host of the motionExpo, a significant trade fair and conference focusing on innovations and technologies in the field of mobility. Among the prominent participants was the "CARpenTiER" project, which showcased its latest achievements. The motionExpo provided an ideal platform for the research project and its partners from industry and scientific to present the progress made in the project to a wide audience and receive valuable feedback from experts and enthusiasts. With the Crash Management System (CMS) being one of the highlights of these presentations, "CARpenTiER" solidifies its position as a pioneer in the development of cutting-edge technologies, utilizing wood as a lightweight application for safer and more sustainable mobility.

08.-10.03.2024

Graz, Austria

Pictures 1-6: ©Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

International Conference on Industrial Applications of Adhesives 2024

The "IAA – International Conference on Industrial Applications of Adhesives" is held every two years and in 2024 it took place in Cascais, Portugal. The focus of the conference is on applications of adhesive bonding in the industry such as automotive, aeronautic, railway, marine, energy, electronics, etc. The idea is to bring together the adhesive makers and the adhesive users to exchange experiences and facilitate potential synergies and partnerships. Eva Graf from the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming at Graz University of Technology presented in this conference frame the research of the project "CARpenTiER" on the mechanical performance of adhesive-bonded aluminum-wood joints with different adhesive types.

07.-08.03.2024

Cascais, Portugal

Pictures 1-3: ©TU Graz

Anniversary Celebration 25 Years of VHÖ / 50 Years of Wood Studies at BOKU

On17th of November 2023, the project partner BOKU hosted the 25th annual general assembly of the Association of Graduates of Wood Management and Wood and Natural Fiber Technologists (VHÖ) and celebrated 50 years of wood management studies. During the event, the manufactured showpieces from the COMET-projects "WoodC.A.R". and "CARpenTiER"  were exhibited and presented to graduates and invited guests. The evening event was hosted by DI Christian Tippelreither from the project partner Holzcluster Steiermark. In a video message, Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig, MSc pointed out the importance of the "wooden" branch of study for the Austrian economy and the key role of wood as a raw material in overcoming the climate crisis, which was taken up again and further deepened in the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Andreja Kutnar, University of Primorska in Koper, Slovenia, entitled "Wood and Climate Crisis". Finally, the anniversary brochure 50 years of the timber industry and 25 years of the VHÖ was presented by Johannes Plackner, Chairman of the VHÖ, and the ceremony ended with a photo review.

17.11.2023

Vienna, Austria

Pictures 1-3: ©BOKU

Joanneum Research Conference "Green and Digital Transformation"

Yesterday, the impressive and with 700 participants very well attended conference of JOANNEUM RESEARCH under the title "Green and Digital Transformation" took place. In addition to an exciting program with keynotes by, among others, Univ.-Prof. DI Karl Rose, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Energie Steiermark AG and Member of the Supervisory Board of OMV AG and Ms. DI Jacqueline Erhart Lead of CC AD and Digital Infrastructure of ASFINAG MAUT Service GmbH and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of AustriaTech GmbH, the individual institutes of JOANNEUM RESEARCH, including the MATERIALS Institute, which has been located at the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. for 25 years, gave exciting insights into their research work. Interesting topic sessions, many discussions in the context of networking and an exhibition on the topic of "Wood in new applications" with partners from the CARpenTiER project sponsored by the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. rounded off the program. The CARpenTiER-Consortium congratulates JOANNEUM RESEARCH for this exciting day and their valuable contributions for society to the green and digital transformation.

16.11.2023

Graz, Austria

Pictures 1-6: ©JOANNEUM RESEARCH / Suppan

8th Consortium Meeting in Gurten 

The 8th consortium meeting for the project "CARpenTiER" took place on 13th and 14th of November 2023, this time at the location of the project partner Fill in Gurten. After introductory words, the participants were given an impressive tour of the company and a detailed introduction to Fill and its successful activities. The scientific partners then presented the status of their previous research activities to the consortium. 

On the second day, the focus was on the centrepiece of the project – the Function-Oriented Process Control (FOPC). The proof of concept for this was achieved, an important milestone in the research project. Finally, the results to date were discussed together and further steps in the project were defined.

13.-14.11.2023

Gurten, Austria

Pictures 1-3: ©Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

Bioeconomy Austria: A year of growth and innovation

Bioeconomy Austria, supported by the Austrian Forest Fund, has established itself as the central network for the Austrian bioeconomy in the past year. Over 230 organizations from business, research, politics and society are already part of this dynamic network. The aim is to exchange knowledge, exploit synergies and jointly develop projects along bio-based value chains.

A special highlight of the Bioeconomy Austria Summit 2023 was a poster session from the project "Sow questions. Reap answers." This session aimed to provide a platform for presenting and discussing the latest research results, innovative ideas, and practical solutions. One poster was designed by the COMET research project "CARpenTiER."

07.11.2023

St. Pölten, Austria

Pictures ©HCS/Schmid ©ORF/Nina Pöchhacker

Material Day 2023 hosted by the TU Graz

The Materials Day of Graz University of Technology, organized by scientific partner the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming (IMAT), takes place every two years at the Campus of the “Old Technic”. The theme of this year's Materials Day included presentations on smart materials and manufacturing processes by numerous researchers from Graz University of Technology, as well as companies working in this field. As part of the event, there was also the opportunity to present the “CARpenTiER” project to the audience in the form of demonstrators and a poster.

09.11.2023

Graz, Austria

Pictures ©IMAT TU Graz / Stefan Fortmüller

The Future of Aviation: "CARpenTiER" at the Aviation Forum Austria 2023

New developments are often met with skepticism which is known also the case with our material wood. However, current research surrounding the "CARpenTiER" project proves that wood has legitimate potential for use in the mobility and aviation sectors.

As part of the Aviation Forum Austria 2023, the project partner Holzcluster Steiermark, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation & Technology, invited partners from the Bioeconomy Austria network to the stage and engage in fascinating discussions about the simulatability of wood, the possibilities and needs of fire protection and the possible applications of wood structural components in lightweight construction. "Wood offers significant advantages for transitioning other industries to a green future. Our mission is to bring wood back into aircraft in the future," explained Martin Karner of the project partner Weitzer Woodsolutions in the panel "Circular Economy and New Technology Solutions for Aviation."

"International cooperation is essential when it comes to establishing new technologies in new areas. In order to play a legitimate role in the global market with developments in wood-based mobility, further joint collaborations must be implemented for sustainability," said Thomas Krenke from the project lead, the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z., summing up his findings in the panel "International Cooperation for Efficiency and Sustainability."

28.-29.09.2023

Vienna, Österreich

Pictures: ©Holzcluster Steiermark / ©FFG

Project-Presentation at the Science Day of the University of Technology Graz with the Topic  “New Worlds in Production”

The third science day of the University of Technology Graz “TU Graz – Science for Future” took place on-site at the Alte Technik Graz and consisted of various keynote lectures, pitch talks and poster sessions. In the frame of the Session “Biobased products and production” the "CARpenTiER" project was presented by Eva Graf from the TU Graz in terms of a poster, flyers and demonstrators about the forming, bending and joining of hybrid metal-wood components as potential application for the mobility sector. 

More information about the Science Day at TU Graz: Science Day TU Graz

27.09.2023

Graz, Austria

Pictures 1-3: ©TU Graz

Moving On - ACstyria Mobility Congress 2023

From 26.09. to 27.09.2023, the ACstyria Mobility Congress took place at the Seifenfabrik in Graz under the motto "Moving On". The cluster partner ACstyria placed special emphasis on its strategic topics of digitalization and digital business models, innovative drive and vehicle concepts, autonomous systems, mobility services and decarbonized value chain. In addition to exciting presentations and discussions, the project "CARpenTiER" was presented at the exhibition the progress of the project was shared with experts from the industry.

Graz, Austria

26.09. - 27.09.2023

Pictures 1-2: ©ACstyria

Midterm Review of the Project CARpenTiER

Half-time of the project "CARpenTiER" - on this occasion the Midterm Review took place on September 19th with a review team consisting of auditors of the FFG, external experts on the project topic as well as participants from the Federal Ministry for Climate, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) and the Province of Styria. In an online meeting all previous results from the COMET project have been presented by all scientific partners and with the active participation of the business partners. The external experts were impressed by the consortium with its interdisciplinary and well-integrated value chain from the different industrial and research areas.

19.09.2023

Weiz, Austria

Pictures 1-6: ©Stadtgemeinde Weiz

Presentation of the Research at the FEMS EUROMAT 2023 

The FEMS EUROMAT is the premier international conference for the latest advancements in materials science and technology in Europe. In 2023 the congress took place at the Goethe University located in Frankfurt, Germany. Eva Graf from the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming (Institut IMAT) at Graz University of Technology presented the research on the three-point bending behavior of hybrid aluminum-wood plates. Kevin Vitzthum from the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. demonstrated a preliminary study on the feasibility of joining wood and steel with flow drill screws. The congress was another possibility to present the project “CARpenTiER” to the scientific community.

More information about the conference: EUROMAT 2023

03.09. - 07.09.2023

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Pictures 1-3: ©CARpenTiER/W.E.I.Z. / TU Graz

The Last Mile Made out of Wood - Fresh Ideas for a Well-Known Raw Material

The TU Austria Innovation Marathon took place for the ninth time as part of the Europe in the World Days of the European Forum Alpbach. International students developed products and proposed solutions for future-oriented tasks for innovative mobility concepts. The consortium of the COMET project "CARpenTiER" also participated with the question: "Think the unthinkable and reduce the use of plastic and aluminum in the automotive industry, rail transport and mechanical engineering by replacing wood." The students were able to find many new ideas for wood applications in mobility, such as floor mats or grab handles, wooden bicycles or e-scooters and got an impression of how the substitution of plastics and metals by wood as a lightweight application can shape the future of mobility.

More Information about the TU Innovation-Marathon: Innovation Marathon - Video Holzcluster Styria

28.08 - 29.08.2023  

Alpbach, Austria

Picture 1-3: ©Holzcluster/Schmid

Event "evon up2date"

In the Garden of Generations in Krottendorf/Weiz the annual event up2date of the project partner evon took place on 21st of June 2023. During the event, Thomas Krenke from the Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z., representing the partner Weitzer Woodsolutions GmbH, was allowed to give a presentation on the topic: "Digital transformation as the basis of ecological lightweight construction and the change of a classic woodworker on the way to Tier 1". In addition to this presentation Bernadette Karner from the Consortium Leader Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z. presented the research field and the progress of the research project "CARpenTiER".

21.06.2023

Weiz, Austria

Picture 1-3: ©evon GmbH

Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. at the ISPIM Innovation Conference 2023

The ISPIM Innovation Conference 2023 in Ljubljana focused on "Innovation and Circular Economy". Thomas Krenke from the Innovation Center W.E.I.Z. presented the CARpenTiER project and showed how virtual processes and digital twins make wood usable as a sustainable, CO2-negative material for industrial applications.

How the natural variability of wood can be transformed into an advantage through digital modeling was discussed in depth with the expert audience. This enables quality-assured processing and the creation of functional, reusable assemblies.

The presentation highlighted the role of renewable raw materials and innovative technologies in the circular economy and offered conference participants valuable insights into a sustainable future with wood as a raw material.

04.06. - 07.06.2023

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Picture: ©Cankarjev dom

Geco Festival - Graz Becomes an Oasis of Sustainability

The Geco-Festival, Styria's largest sustainability festival, took place in the city centre of Graz from 02.06. - 04.06.2023. The programme ranged from a sales market on the main square and a clothes exchange to the annual Graz Environmental Circus, exciting panel discussions and a series of workshops. The "CARpenTiER" project was also presented to a wide audience by project partner Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz - Institute of Environmental Systems Science.

02.06. - 04.06.2023

Graz, Austria

Picture 1-4: ©Karl-Franzens-University Graz

“Wood in Mobility” at the SFG Future Day 2023

Numerous visitors were able to learn more about how wood is used in the areas of mobility, design, and innovation in urban areas at the information stand of the project partner Holzcluster Steiermark, and thus how it can be used as a sustainable raw material in the future. Leading the way in the question of how wood can be used in mobility is not only previous research projects such as "WoodC.A.R.", but also the COMET follow-up project "CARpenTiER." Reason enough to present the development at the Future Day together with partners from the consortium.

30.05.2023

Graz, Österreich

Pictures: ©Christof Hütter Photography

99th Digital Dialogue with the Fokus on “Smart Wood”

On 28th of March 2023, Weitzer Parkett-Welten in Weiz was transformed into a center for innovation and sustainability in the wood sector. The 99th Digital Dialogue, organized by JOANNEUM RESEARCH as part of the SILICON ALPS event series, brought together experts to shed light on the fascinating possibilities of wood as a high-tech material.

Thomas Puster from the Styrian Wood Cluster impressively highlighted the current opportunities and challenges facing the timber industry. Alfred Rinnhofer (JOANNEUM RESEARCH) presented groundbreaking applications of intelligent sensor technology that could revolutionize efficiency in wood processing. Thomas Krenke, scientific lead of the project “CARpenTiER” presented the project, which uses digital twins for the series production of wood-hybrid products. The project partner Weitzer Woodsolutions highlighted the potential future applications of wood-hybrid components.

The 99th Digital Dialogue was an inspiring format for the future viability of this valuable raw material and the innovative power of the wood industry.

28.03.2023

Weiz, Austria

Pictures: @CARpenTiER/W.E.I.Z. @Holzlucster/Puster

Presentation of the Project “CARpenTiER” at MotionExpo 2023

The MotionExpo is a symbol for the merging of innovation, information and emotion on the subject of mobility. One year after the premiere, this format entered the second round as the largest vehicle trade fair and mobility platform in Austria. Numerous innovations and further developments characterize the image of the MotionExpo2023. And among this year's exhibitors, the project "CARpenTiER" was also presented in hall C, where the latest technologies of the future could be found. The partners of the consortium were able to have many interesting discussions with trade fair visitors. In addition, Dr. Ulrich Müller, project manager of the scientific partner BOKU Vienna, could inform in the frame of the panel discussion “Innovative Vehicle Development” about the advantages of wood for use this renewable material in the mobility sector.

More information at: MotionExpo

10.03. - 12.03.2023

Graz, Austria

Picture 1-6: ©CARpenTiER/W.E.I.Z.

Exciting Lectures and Discussions in a Casual Location

That was the Green Tech Innovators Club on October 18th, 2022 in the MAKERSPACE Carinthia, where a wide variety of future makers from the Green Tech scene from Styria and Carinthia met and exchanged ideas about a wide variety of innovations, project ideas and opportunities for cooperation. To this event the consortium was also invited to present the "CARpenTiER" project and the existing partner consortium. Representing the entire consortium, Bernadette Karner and Thomas Krenke from the Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z. and Christian Tippelreither from Holzcluster Steiermark were discussing after the keynote speech why wood can be a very good alternative for many new applications in comparison to conventional materials. Many thanks to the Green Tech Cluster for the invitation and the excellent event.

More information at: Green Tech Innovators Club

18.10.2022

Klagenfurt, Austria

Picture 1-3: ©Helge Bauer

Moving ON - ACstyria Mobility Congress

Congratulations to the cluster partner ACstyria on their 25th anniversary. Around this anniversary, the two-day “Moving ON ACsytria Mobility Congress” took place on 11th and 12th of October at the Redbull-Ring in Spielberg. The congress was characterized by numerous visitors, various exhibitors, exciting lectures and many opportunities for networking and interesting discussions. The project "CARpenTiER" was once again presented to a broad audience in this context.

A review can be found here: Video - ACstyria Mobility Congress

11.10.- 12.10.2022

Spielberg, Austria

Picture 1-4: ©ACstyria Mobilitätscluster / Picture 5-6: ©Holzcluster/Schmid

CARpenTiER at the S-LCA Conference in Aachen

Claudia Mair-Bauernfeind from the partner institute for system sciences, innovation and sustainability research at the University of Graz (KFU) spoke at the 8th international conference of S-LCA about the sectoral social risks of the wood processing industries in Austria. As part of her presentation, she looked closer into the wood value chain and previous research results. In addition, Mrs. Dr. Mair-Bauernfeind gave an outlook on further research goals and possible applications for business, science and politics.

More information about the conference: SLCA Conference

05.09.- 08.09.2022

Aachen, Germany

Picture: ©KFU

CARpenTiER at the International Wood Fair in Klagenfurt

After a few years of a break due to Corona, the International Wood Fair “Wood & Construction” took place again in Klagenfurt from August 31st to September 3rd, 2022. In the exhibition area of the Innovation Area, co-organised by the network partner Holzcluster Steiermark GmbH, the project "CARpenTiER" was also presented. With "CARpenTiER" the consortium is driving further steps in the industrialization of bio-based, lightweight-optimized wood-hybrid construction concepts, which was presented in Klagenfurt by the industrial partners LEAN MC and Glanzstoff as well as the scientific partners Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH, the TU Graz and the consortium leader Innovation Center W.E.I.Z.

31.08 - 03.09.2022

Klagenfurt, Austria

Picture 1-4: ©Holzcluster / Picture 5-6: ©Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z.

Opportunities through digitalization and research at the Alpbach Forum

With the participation in the renowned Alpbach forum, the progress and future prospects in the field of lightweight timber construction could be presented on site. One highlight of the forum was the panel discussion on the topic of "Ecological Lightweight Materials - Performance and Sustainability". Representatives of the consortium - Horst Bischof (Graz University of Technology), Thomas Krenke (Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z.), Martin Karner (Weitzer Woodsolutions) and Christian Tippelreither (Wood Cluster of Styria) talked about the impact of science and basic research on new wood developments.

The discussion emphasized the use of digitalization and simulation tools and the vision of zero emissions. Practical examples from the mobility industry and other sectors were used to illustrate the potential of wood as a sustainable lightweight construction material. The participants were agreed that digital innovations and targeted research are crucial to drive forward the acceptance and use of wood in new areas.

25.08. – 27.08.2022 

Alpbach, Austria

Picture 1-2: ©HCS / Schmid

Bending Deformation of Hybrid Aluminium-Wood Sheets for Automotive Lightweight Applications

NUMISHEET- Conference 2022 in Canada

Hybrid sheets of 1-mm-thick EN AW-6016-T4 aluminum alloy and 4-mm-thick birch wood were produced by adhesive bonding. Wood fibre orientations parallel as well as perpendicular to the rolling direction of the aluminum sheet were considered. After curing the adhesive, the hybrid aluminum-wood sheets with overall dimensions of 250 mm × 60 mm × 5 mm were subjected to three-point bending.

Hybrid sheets (i) as fabricated at room temperature, (ii) moistened at room temperature, and (iii) moistened at approx. 100 °C were tested. Two bending modes were investigated, since either the aluminum sheet or the wood sheet was placed at the punch side. Moreover, a finite element model of the testing setup was built using the LS-Dyna software. Experiments were performed for determining individual properties of aluminum and wood which were used as input for the model. Punch forcedisplacement curves and deformation behavior observed in experiments and simulations showed good agreement.

10.07. – 14.07.2022 

Toronto, Canada

Picture 1-2: ©TU Graz/IMAT

How Much Wood is in a Car? CARpenTiER Live at the Long Night of Research

Every two years the “Long Night of Research” is carried out at 280 locations all over Austria. After a forced break in 2020, this year on the 20th of May 135 000 visitors took the chance again to get a live insight into science and research of various fields. The event aims to present the importance of scientific research for all ages and especially lets children and young people experience the daily works of scientists up close. From guided tours to live experiments and join-in activities the concept is led by a hands-on and easily accessible way of knowledge transfer.

The  "CARpenTiER" project team took the chance and presented the first results, goals and challenges in establishing wood and renewable materials in the mobility sector. With the sounds of cracking wood under a live bending test of a cars side impact beam, the attention of the audience was easily captured. Many were surprised to learn that the bio-based beam can reach the same standards as the steel version with the crucial benefits of weight savings, greenhouse emission reduction and lower primary energy use. 

The exhibition of the bus staircase and wooden chassis of a snowmobile from the predecessor project "WoodC.A.R". facilitated the transition to the current "CARpenTiER" research questions on enabling the use of wood and overcome the challenges of the variability of natural raw materials in a modern industrial production. On that night 1500 visitors at the BOKU-lab in Tulln learned about the projects approach via digital modelling of example units and function-oriented process control. Quickly, the interested discussion with the presenting team from BOKU and Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z. on the stations general question “how much wood is in a car?” turned into “how much wood could be in a car in the future?”.

20.05.2022

Tulln, Österreich

Picture 1-2: ©CARpenTiER/W.E.I.Z.

ACstyria Lightweight Day 2022

As in previous years, the “ACstyria Lightweight Day 2022” took place on March 30th 2022 at the RedBull Ring in the Austrian Spielberg, in cooperation with the A2LT – Austrian Advanced Lightweight Technology platform. All in all around 130 participants and around 20 exhibitors took part. This year again, current information about the "CARpenTiER" project has been presented.

In specialist lectures, the audience was informed about new trends, ongoing developments and projects on the major topic of lightweight construction. Across the three sectors of automotive, aerospace and rail systems, the speakers provided insights into topics such as materials, manufacturing processes and also testing techniques. In addition to insights into a wide variety of materials such as metals or composites, new insights into the use of sustainable materials such as wood or hemp in lightweight construction applications have been also presented.

"Wood will play an important role in the mobility industry in the future", this conviction of the CARpenTiER consortium was brought closer to the specialist audience by the lectures Christian Tippelreither, managing director of the cluster partner Holzcluster Steiermark and Thomas Krenke, scientific lead of the project and key researcher at the Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z. Thanks to the Cluster partner acStyria for providing this excellent platform year by year.

30.03.2022

Spielberg, Austria

Picture 1-4: ©Holzcluster/Schmid / Picture 5-6: ©ACstyria/Photoworkers

Second Consortium Meeting of the COMET-Project CARpenTiER

Scientific Workshop in the Innovation Centre W.E.I.Z.

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