The Chair of Manufacturing Technology at the University of Duisburg-Essen provides students with both fundamental and advanced knowledge of modern manufacturing and production engineering. Already at the bachelor’s level, students are introduced to the essential manufacturing processes defined in DIN 8580 through the course Fertigungslehre/Technologie der Fertigungsverfahren. They also engage with material properties and with questions relating to quality, economic efficiency and the sustainability of manufacturing processes. Current topics such as robotics and Additive Manufacturing are integrated into the curriculum as well. Building on this foundation, the course Fertigungstechnik focuses on the design and evaluation of industrial manufacturing processes and develops a comprehensive understanding of modern production technologies.

The course Produktionstechnik extends these fundamentals by examining industrial production systems and their organization. Particular emphasis is placed on material and information flows within manufacturing and assembly processes, as well as on the planning of efficient production operations. Key topics include digitalization, process optimization, automation, sustainability and resilience.

A particular focus of the Chair lies on Additive Manufacturing. Several consecutive courses are offered in this field. The lecture Additive Fertigungsverfahren 1 – Grundlagen introduces the basic principles of Additive Manufacturing, different process classes, materials and design for additive manufacturing. Additive Fertigungsverfahren 2 – Kunststoffverarbeitung focuses on polymer-based processes and their industrial applications. The course Additive Fertigungsverfahren 3 – Metallverarbeitung provides advanced knowledge of additive processing of metallic materials and explores the relationships between process control, material behavior and resulting component properties. In addition, students study monitoring approaches and process strategies in order to make targeted use of the degrees of freedom offered by Additive Manufacturing.

With the course Schweißtechnische Fertigungsverfahren, the Chair also covers another central field of production engineering. Students gain insight into different welding processes, their fields of application, as well as materials-related and design-related aspects of welding technology. Complementary practical courses enable students to apply the methods and processes they have learned in practice.

In addition to lectures, practical courses, laboratory experiments and project work play a central role in teaching. Students have access to extensive technical infrastructure, including systems for additive and conventional manufacturing as well as a range of measurement and analysis methods. In particular, the Chair’s 3D FabLab provides direct and hands-on access to modern manufacturing technologies. Here, students can realize their own ideas, experimentally explore manufacturing processes and gain practical experience in an environment without assessment pressure.

Bachelor’s and master’s degree programs conclude with independently conducted scientific thesis work. Students work on current research and development topics of the Chair and deepen their knowledge in the areas of Process Fundamentals, Smart Monitoring, Adaptive Processing, Process Chains, Application & Transfer and the FabLab. Current thesis and project opportunities are listed under the Chair’s Open Topics.