The Fraunhofer Institutes for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU and Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials Research IFAM have made a breakthrough in materials research. HoverLIGHT composite material is said to set new standards for the construction of machine tools: by combining aluminium foam and particle-filled hollow spheres, HoverLIGHT achieves a combination of lightness, stiffness, and vibration damping. Tests show that HoverLIGHT can dampen vibrations by a factor of three. All this comes with a weight saving of 20% compared with the original assembly.

More information www.iwu.fraunhofer.de