Our business units (departments) are oriented to materials-related research and development topics and the impacts upon a product's life cycle. In each phase the Fraunhofer IWM provides sustainable and innovative solutions for product and technology development processes. Each business unit has a clearly defined contextual focus, these being Materials Design, Manufacturing Processes, Tribology, Component Safety and Lightweight Construction and Assessment of Materials, Lifetime Concepts. The Fraunhofer IWM business units address central research themes which are related to energy and resource efficiency.
At the end of 2024, a total of 314 people were employed at the Fraunhofer IWM. Of these, 253 employees were permanent staff and 61 employees were employed as support staff. The permanent staff consisted of 165 scientific employees, 29 technical employees and 59 employees in administration and institute management. 12 apprentices were trained in four professions.