Axel Spickenheuer

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Axel Spickenheuer is the head of the Tailored Lightweight Composites Department at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF). He also serves as an Honorarprofessor (Honorary Professor) at the Faculty of Design of Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW Dresden), teaching modules such as Technologie und Werkstoffe and Faserverbundkonstruktionen at TU Dresden.

• Department: Tailored Lightweight Composites
• University: Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden
• Secondary Affiliation: HTW Dresden (Faculty of Design)

His research focuses on variable-axial fiber-reinforced composites, with applications in automotive lightweighting, biomedical textiles, and sports equipment. He specializes in finite element simulation, design optimization, and experimental validation of composite structures. Key contributions include non-pneumatic tire development, TFP-based additive manufacturing, and hybrid wood-composite systems.

His publications span 2025-2019, emphasizing composite modeling, mechanical testing, and sustainable manufacturing. Recent awards include the 2022 Förderverein Innovationspreis for variable-axial composite methods and the 2015 Innovationspreis for computational design frameworks.

• Scientific Awards
  • Innovationspreis 2022 (FKV Process Innovation)
  • JEC Innovation Award 2017 (Sports Category)
  • Innovationspreis 2015 (Computational Design)
  • Oechsler Preis 2014 (Best Dissertation)
• Collaborations
  • HTW Dresden (Teaching)
  • TU Dresden (Lectures)
  • Leibniz IPF (Research Leadership)