F R AU N H O F E R I N S T I T U T E F O R M A N U FAC T U R I N G E N G I N E E R I N G A N D AU T O M AT I O N I PA

PRESS RELEASEPRESS RELEASE
27 July 2022 || Page 1 | 2Strategic partnership with Japanese engineering
firm Sugino
Expansion of German-Japanese network on research and industrialization ofbiopolymers
Fraunhofer IPA maintains close partnerships with research institutes andbusinesses in the Far East. On July 25, 2022, a collaboration with Sugino
Machine Limited was officially launched during a symposium.
The Japanese engineering company SUGINO has entered into a strategic partnershipwith the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. Overthe next two years, colleagues from Fraunhofer IPA and Sugino will collaborate on
research projects in the Dispersing Technology Center and Center for Particle Technology. The focus will be on industrial processing of biopolymers. Ivica Kolarić, Head ofBusiness Unit Process Industry at Fraunhofer IPA, says: “Sugino has extensive expertisein the manufacturing of pastes and slurries for coating agents and storage technology,
as well as in the processing of biopolymers. This cooperation offers the opportunity tobring the research insights gained into application and to implement them profitably.
This expertise can also support regional users in particular, for example in the approvaland certification of new plants.”
Fraunhofer IPA bundles competencies in this area of surface technology in its Dispersing
Technology Center. With its comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, the center
covers the entire dispersing technology process chain, from the development of scientific principles to industrial applications. For example, the scientists conduct research into
the safety of processes and plants, as well as energy and resource efficiency. Dr. Marc
Entenmann, Head of the Dispersing Technology Center, comments: “As a cooperation
partner, Sugino is symbiotically supplementing our competencies in the field of surface
technology.”
In this cooperation project, IPA scientists are assisting Sugino in the development of
their applications and offering their support in the design of the overall process, inaddition to helping the company make the right choices in terms of materials. This

Press communication
Hannes Weik | Phone +49 711 970-1664 | presse@ipa.fraunhofer.deFraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA | Nobelstrasse 12 | 70569 Stuttgart | www.ipa.fraunhofer.deF R AU N H O F E R I N S T I T U T E F O R M A N U FAC T U R I N G E N G I N E E R I N G A N D AU T O M AT I O N I PA

means that key aspects such as the degree of automation, energy efficiency andcost-effectiveness are taken into consideration right from the start and are managed
over the course of the project.

PRESS RELEASE
27 July 2022 || Page 2 | 2At the same time, this cooperation project also renews the collaboration between
Fraunhofer IPA and the leading Japanese research institute for applied research, theNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Kansai (AIST Kansai).
At the opening symposium, key representatives and scientists from AIST spoke about
the collaboration, biopolymers and polymer processing.
Further information:
https://www.ipa.fraunhofer.de/de/zusammenarbeit/industry-on-campus/zentrumfuer-dispergiertechnik.html

Tomoyuki Kishi, Consulate General for Japan in Munich, Dr. Marc Entenmann, Fraunhofer IPA, Naoki Samawura, Sugino Machine Ltd.,
Prof. Thomas Bauernhansl, Fraunhofer IPA, Claus Mayer, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg,
Dr. Michael Hilt, Fraunhofer IPA.
Source: Fraunhofer IPA, Photo: Rainer Bez

Expert contact
Ivica Kolarić | Phone +49 711 970-3729 | ivica.kolaric@ipa.fraunhofer.de | Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineeringand Automation IPA | www.ipa.fraunhofer.de
Press communication
Jörg-Dieter Walz | Phone +49 711 970-1667 | joerg-dieter.walz@ipa.fraunhofer.deWith nearly 1 200 employees, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, Fraunhofer IPA, is one of thelargest institutes in the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The total budget amounts to € 82 million. The institute’s research focus is on organizational andtechnological aspects of production. We develop, test and implement not only components, devices and methods, but also entire machines andmanufacturing plants. Our 19 departments are coordinated via six business units, which together conduct interdisciplinary work with the following
industries: automotive, machinery and equipment industry, electronics and microsystems, energy, medical engineering and biotech­nology as wellas process industry. The research activities of Fraunhofer IPA aim at the economic production of sustainable and personalized products.