On July 2, 2026, the two clusters AFBW and proHolzBW hosted a joint event at IntCDC´s Lange Scale Construction Robotics Laboratory under the theme “Cross-Cluster Innovation: AFBW & proHolzBW – Textiles Meet Wood.” About 40 experts from both fields took the opportunity to exchange ideas during presentations and networking breaks to exchange professional insights. The event concluded with a guided tour of the LCRL.
Prof. Jan Knippers and Nils Opgenorth covered the event’s two main themes with their presentations on fiber composite research and robotic manufacturing in timber construction at the IntCDC. Julia Mederus and Tzu-Ying Chen provided additional insights into the IntCDC’s knowledge transfer initiatives and presented the collaboration between research and industry partners. As a long-standing industry partner of the IntCDC, Jochen Friedel from Müllerblaustein contributed the practical perspective on robotic manufacturing in timber construction. The companies Voodin Blade Technology and Schöck Bauteile expanded their range of topics to include the manufacture of wooden rotor blades for wind energy systems as well as FRP reinforcement bars.
Afterward, Prof. Jan Knippers guided the participants through the production hall and introduced the robotic platforms and mobile manipulators. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Milwich from the German Institute for Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) moderated the program.
Cross Cluster Innovativ explores the intersections between different disciplines and demonstrates how the intelligent combination of wood, textiles, and fiber-reinforced composites can lead to new, high-performance, and sustainable solutions. The focus is on interdisciplinary projects that use textile structures as functional elements, reinforcements, or form-giving components in hybrid construction and lightweight building systems. Cross Cluster Innovativ is organised by the Baden-Württemberg Alliance for Fiber-Based Materials (AFBW) and proHolz BW.
