AI and digitalisation in focus at RWTH Aachen’s 2026 Colloquium

The Institute for Materials Applications in Mechanical Engineering (IWM) at RWTH Aachen University and the Institute of Applied Powder Metallurgy and Ceramics at RWTH Aachen University (IAPK) have opened invitations to the annual IWM-IAPK Colloquium. The event is scheduled to take place March 12, 2026.

Centred on ‘Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in Materials Engineering’, the event aims to provide a platform to discuss current challenges, identify trends and develop actionable recommendations for the industry. This year’s programme includes nine presentations:

• ‘Machine Learning in Physical Sciences & Engineering – Challenges and Opportunities’ – Prof Dr Stefan Sandfeld, Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich
• ‘Predictive Materials Engineering for Large Castings: Data-Based Models for Microstructure and Property Prediction’ – Lutz Horbach MSc IWM, RWTH Aachen University
• ‘Micromechanical Experiments as a Basis for Digital Models’ – Tobias Sedlatschek MSc, IAPK, RWTH Aachen University
• ‘Use of Deep Learning to Quantify Solidification Structures in Tool Steel Powder’ – Dr Santiago Benito, IWT, Ruhr Universität Bochum
• ‘AI-based Process Chain Modeling in Powder Metallurgy’ – Oliver Schenk MSc, IWM/IAPK, RWTH Aachen University
• ‘Digital Transformation and Sustainability in Powder Metallurgy: Measurement Technology, Data Acquisition, Cloud Integration, and Dynamic CO₂ Footprint Calculation’ – DrIng Christopher Schaak, Bleistahl
• ‘Analysis and Modeling of the Binder Jetting Process using the Shell Printing Strategy’ – Ziping Sang MSc IAPK, RWTH Aachen University
• ‘Use of Computer Vision for Automated Density and Defect Analysis in Metal Binder Jetting’ – Dr Lennart Waalkes, Fraunhofer IAPT, Hamburg
• ‘Simulation in Powder Metallurgy and Ceramics – Current Status and Potential of AI Applications’ – Yuanbin Deng MSc, IWM/IAPK, RWTH Aachen University

Following the event, participants will have the opportunity to visit the laboratories and test halls of the IWM/IAPK institute network.

Those interested can register here.

iwm.rwth-aachen.de

iapk.de