AT THE PULS OF TIME.
Please also visit our Linked In page, with the latest developments:
FORWARD INSIGHTS™ REPORT: “HUMANOID ROBOTICS – TREND ANALYSIS”
This trend report provides an in-depth analysis of the current development dynamics in humanoid robotics, focusing specifically on materials, components, and hardware architectures. While the public discourse remains heavily centered on advances in Artificial Intelligence, this report highlights a different reality: critical decisions regarding materials and hardware are already being made today at the transition from prototypes to early series production. These strategic choices will impact multiple product generations and significantly determine the competitiveness of future systems.
The report provides a compact analysis of:
⬞ Emerging Mass Production: Where early large-scale manufacturing approaches are surfacing, with a specific focus on China.
⬞ Scalability Bottlenecks: Which hardware, material, and component challenges currently limit system robustness and scaling.
⬞ Market Opportunities: Where concrete potential arises for material, component, and technology providers.
The Forward Insights™ Report addresses companies across the industrial value chain and serves as a strategic foundation for deep-dive discussions on development, investment, and partnerships. In addition, FORWARD is currently conducting a technical tear-down of a scaling humanoid system (AGIBOT X1). The upcoming report will further substantiate the identified trends by analyzing a concrete series-production architecture.
The report “Humanoid Robotics – Trend Analysis” is available for purchase as of now
Forward Engineering at K 2025 | Innovation Driving Circular Plastics
How can plastics enable cost efficiency, circularity, and innovation across industries? At the K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Forward Engineering will showcase solutions that combine design, materials, and process expertise to unlock new opportunities for future growth.
MegamoldingTM – With advanced simulation-driven design, we demonstrate how large and complex components can be realized in injection molding. The Sabic Battery Case highlights how this approach simplifies production, integrates functions, and sets new benchmarks for performance and cost efficiency.
Circular Plastics – Which factors truly enable circularity? The MAIC ECOCOM PCR PP compound exemplifies how circular plastics can deliver real business impact.
Innovation Management & Transformation – Together with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. we support our industry customers and partners in navigating transformation — minimizing risk and securing business potential for the future.
Visit us at K 2025, October 8–15, Messe Düsseldorf
Hall 7a | Booth D32
Forward Engineering at IAA MOBILITY 2025: Lower costs, higher innovation
How can electric cars become more affordable? At IAA MOBILITY 2025 in Munich, we will be presenting a new type of vehicle Battery Housing made from just two large polypropylene PP injection-molded components – quick to produce, easy to assemble, and technically state-of-the-art. This “Megamolding” construction technique shows how innovative vehicle construction methods can reduce costs and increase the acceptance of e-mobility.
Visit us from September 8–12 at the IAA Summit at the Bayern Innovativ joint stand, Hall B2, Stand B13.
Secure your trade fair appointment and ask for a ticket to the IAA Mobility Summit.
JEC World 2025 - How composites help to transform the industry
Join Us at JEC World 2025 in Paris!
The industry is undergoing a transformation towards sustainability and a circular economy. New materials and technologies are often the key and starting point for innovative applications and sustainable value chains.
Over 3 days, experts from all over the world will come together in Paris to learn about and exchange current trends and highlights from various industries and applications. Engineering plastics and composites are making a decisive contribution to the electrification and decarbonization of future mobility applications in particular.
Highlight MegaMolding Batterycase:
Discover the world’s first injection-molded battery case in large format (1.8 x 1.4 m).
Cost and weight savings combined with significant component reduction and increased safety compared to conventional construction methods.
Hall 6, Stand R14
Find out more about Forward Engineering and how your company can learn and benefit from our global network and access to experts.
Foundation of Forward Engineering Shanghai Co.,Ltd. 飞沃达(上海)科技有限公司
After many years of doing business in China, we have decided to establish our own national company 飞沃达(上海)科技有限公司. We are doing this because China is the largest automotive market in the world and is now a driver of innovation and progress in the entire mobility industry.
Our strategy is based on three pillars in order to grow successfully in China Forward Engineering:
- Advanced engineering of new platform structures with the use of new materials and new production technologies and consulting for the sustainable transformation of Chinese car manufacturers for their entry into the European market
- Insights into battery storage systems at New Energy Vehicles from China, in the form of market assessments and teardowns for our customers in Europe, Japan and North America
- Engineering support with talented and well-trained engineers for our global customer requirements
With the nomination of Dr.-Ing. Fan Zhang, we have the ideal person to advise our customers and partners on site with competence and a wealth of experience. With his many years of experience, starting with his studies and Phd in Germany in the field of lightweight structural design to leading development teams at international OEMs, he stands for everything that defines Forward Engineering: Innovation through Material & Simulation driven Design combined with Manufacturing based Engineering.
We look forward to continuously developing the state of technology together with our global customers and partners and to support in building bridges between regions and markets to support your business.
JEC 2024 - Material & Simulation Driven Design as a driving force for aviation, new space and automotive innovations
The new developments in aviation require a clear increase in the production volume of composite components. The sector can benefit from the experience of other industries, such as the automotive industry, in order to produce components in a more automated and cost-effective way.
Similarly, the automotive industry has been undergoing a significant shift towards electrification for years. The growing demands on future battery storage systems and the entire e-drive train are at the heart of this change. As a result, the use of high-pressure RTM (HP RTM) with glass fiber-reinforced plastics in the growth market of China, for example, has proven to be extremely competitive compared to other technologies and materials.
However, new material systems such as wood and wood-based products are also entering the market and are being rapidly enabled for new applications. Here, recyclability plays a decisive role for future value chains.
New markets, technologies and applications are paving the way for future innovations in large-scale production with composite materials. Material & Simulation Driven Design from FE supports your company in developing the right products for your success.
Let’s find out together what opportunities are available for your company and visit us in Hall 5/K110.
CAN WOOD MAKE THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY GREENER?
Join us at the IAA 2023 where Forward Engineering dives into this exciting question. With the industry’s shift towards sustainability and reduced carbon footprint, challenges appear for all stakeholders. Could a renewable, carbon-sequestrating material meet the complex needs and requirements of the automotive sector?
Prepare to be amazed by wood’s potentials and possibilities – shown in a door impact beam, together with our partner Weitzer Wood Solutions. Our collaboration sets the focus on the entire value chain: from conceptual multi-material-design and simulation to automated mass production and end-of-life recycling with wood as a material!
Let’s discuss your future opportunities together! Visit us in hall B1 booth E30.1 to learn more.
FORWARD ENGINEERING PRESENTS FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE FIELD OF „DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY”, FUTURE BODY & BATTERY DESIGN AT JEC WORLD 2023 - SPECIAL: BOX THERMAL RUNAWAY TESTING ACCORDING TO UL2596
Meet our team and learn more about the latest developments and trends in sustainable product development with engineering plastics and how extensively real sustainability needs to be considered in the early phase of product development.
Another topic is the holistic battery development, its integration into the vehicle structure and the ever-increasing demands on the overall system. Forward Engineering will present a testing program developed in partnership with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and Hyundai North America and how these materials tests help to improve battery safety and performance in line with the UL2596 test standard.
This standardized “box thermal runaway test” provides reliable predictions of material behavior under the influence of temperature, pressure and particle flow and is increasingly required by automobile manufacturers worldwide.
We are looking forward to your visit in Paris.
FORWARD ENGINEERING LAUNCHES “FUTURE SUSTAINABLE CAR MATERIALS” (FSCM) PROJECT WITH BMW AND TOP-CLASS PARTNERS
Over the next three years, we will work with 19 industry-leading partners in the “Future Sustainable Car Materials” (FSCM) project, led by the BMW Group, to drive innovation and develop environmentally sustainable solutions for the automotive industry. The entire product lifecycle will be considered, with stakeholders from the value chain ranging from research institutes and material manufacturers to recycling specialists.
Forward Engineering, with its expertise in “Design for Circularity”, will take a leading role in the development of products for the circular economy, considering all product life cycles to create future sustainable design guidelines for automotive developments. In addition, we will lead the investigation and validation of the technical dismantling and recycling concept, furthering our commitment to a greener future.
SKYCAB PRESENTATION WITH CARBON LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURE FROM FORWARD ENGINEERING
More and more people around the world are living and working in cities. Particularly in large metropolitan regions, the question arises of future-oriented and proximity-based transportation concepts. In the SkyCab research project, we are investigating how air cabs can be a building block of modern mobility planning!
Forward Engineering is responsible for the lightweight development of the fuselage structure made of carbon fiber reinforced plastics in the project “SkyCab”. Both the development approach and the manufacturing technologies benefit here from the large-scale production solutions of the automotive industry.
We will be happy to explain our simulation-based, creative development approach using the demonstrator at the European Rotors in Cologne from November 8 to 10. Visit us in hall K 08 booth 828 to learn more.
What can you learn about the Circular Economy at the K-Show?
At the K-Show, held in Dusseldorf, Germany from October 19 thru 26, industry leaders will come together to share insights and present the latest in plastics technology.
This year’s event will provide an important indicator of how far the industry has progressed on the road to a circular economy and a sustainable plastics industry. From raw materials through finished products and the advanced technologies to produce them, attendees will see first hand how the industry is responding to globel regulatory and market pressures.
Forward Engineering is excited to be a co-exhibitor at the Mitsui & Co., Ltd. booth where we will be sharing insights on how we support our clients to sustainably grow their business through the development and validation of sustainable solutions. From simple Life Cycle Assessments through comprehensive Sustainability Roadmap Development programs, our team is uniquely positioned to help you realize your growth goals.
Please plan on visiting with us in hall 7 booth 7AD32 to learn more.
FRTP Battery Enclosures, Sustainability and LCA/PEF Analysis to be featured at Forward Engineering’s collaborative presentations during this year’s JEC WORLD EXPO 2022
JEC World 2022 is only a few days away! The Forward Engineering team is happy to support the event with personal contributions. Plan to meet up with our colleagues to learn more about the latest developments in BEV structures and sustainability. Georg Käsmeier and Dana Miloaga/ Johns Manville will jointly present the use of new organosheets in future battery housings. At our booth we provide information on the latest trends and experiences in the field of “Design for Sustainability” and the correct use of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA/PEF) in product development or for balancing composite materials. CU there!
CHANGAN & FORWARD ENGINEERING PRESENT AT AACHEN BODY ENGINEERING DAYS ‘21
Together with CHANGAN Automobile, we will share the latest results of China’s first composite intensive multi-material Body-in-White development. The presenters will show how the team drove this successful program from concept development through, detailed design, local tier supplier development, series process prototyping all the way through vehicle builds for successful CNCAP crash validation testing.
Please join us Tuesday, Sept. 21st at 4:30pm CET for our presentation “Changan EADO ET – Composite Intensive Multi-Material Body in White Structure”.
FORWARD ENGINEERING JAPAN HAS MOVED TO THE “NAGOYA MITSUI NORTH BUILDING”
After two intense years and unimaginable circumstances, Forward Engineering Japan (FEJ) is excited to announce that we have moved to a new location. With the extensive resources available in Japan’s automotive industry center, Nagoya remains an excellent place for us to call home. Our new offices include enhanced multi-media conferencing which simplifies our ability to host multiple client meetings and workshops concurrently. The convenient location, adjacent to the Nagoya train station, will make it even easier for people to visit as we look forward to a post-covid return to in person meetings. We look forward to hosting you for a visit to our new location when conditions permit. In the meantime, please take note of our new address as outlined below and update our contact information in your files:
NAGOYA MITSUI NORTH BUILDING (8-18, Meieki 4-chome, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
450-0002, Japan)
FORWARD ENGINEERING IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS DEVELOPS A NEW COST-EFFECTIVE MODULAR CELL-TO-PACK HIGH VOLTAGE GFRP SMC BATTERY ENCLOSURE
Through close collaboration with industry leading partners, Evonik Industries AG, Lorenz Kunststofftechnik GmbH and LION Smart GmbH, Forward Engineering GmbH has developed an exciting new composite intensive high voltage battery enclosure.
This fresh new modular mixed material approach enables a cost-effective scalable solution for a range of vehicle applications. Featured within the design is a new high performance GFRP SMC compound which delivers the unique combination of exceptional mechanical performance, extreme fire resistance together with ease of manufacturing processability. Please see the attached release, or contact us directly, to learn more about this exciting program.
COLLABORATION BETWEEN FORWARD ENGINEERING AND LEHMANN & VOSS
Design, Materials and Processing. DfAM (Design for Additive Manufacturing) encompasses all of these elements. Forward Engineering North America´s collaboration with LEHVOSS Group of North America and the establishment of our Additive Manufacturing Labs in Detroit and Munich is helping to accelerate the development of functional structural 3D printed parts for the Automotive/Mobility industry. Together we are helping OEMs and Tiers leveraging the power of Additive Manufacturing
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE MIXED MATERIAL BATTERY ENCLOSURE
17 rd July 2020, 9:00 – 10:00, Webinar of Composites United e.V. Speaker: Denis Schmitz, Forward Engineering GmbH
Forward Engineering presents challenges and concepts for the development of mixed material battery enclosures. The presentation material is in English, spoken in german.
"(IT'S NOT EASY) BEING GREEN" - A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR A SUSTAIN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
3 rd June 2020, 9:00 – 10:00, Webinar of Composites United e.V. Speaker: Markus Beer, Forward Engineering GmbH
Forward Engineering will show the development framework “Design for Sustainability” with examples of applications how to adopt the methodology to your product portfolio.
