Konferenz  /  January 14, 2026

Felix Kugler and Dr. Thomas Fehn give presentations on CO₂-neutral brick production, storage technologies, and recycling technology for tar-containing road rubble.

Fraunhofer UMSICHT is participating in »Infratech 2026« in Essen.

Felix Kugler's presentations provide information on current research into CO₂-neutral brick production, where a wood gasifier has been successfully integrated, and also offer an insight into various storage technologies.

Dr. Thomas Fehn will present the innovative INNOTEER process for recycling and decontaminating tar-containing asphalt and road rubble.

At Infratech 2026, the infrastructure industry will once again gather at Messe Essen to discover groundbreaking innovations, sustainable solutions, and new technologies. The InfraTech Germany trade fair is the platform where public and private players come together—from municipalities and construction companies to engineering firms and start-ups.

Scientists from Fraunhofer UMSICHT will present various research findings:

  • Biobrick 2: This project successfully demonstrates CO₂-neutral brick production by integrating a wood gasifier into the manufacturing process. Following the commissioning of the wood gasifier at ABC-Klinker, it has been shown that fossil fuels can be effectively replaced without compromising the quality of the bricks. Building on the results of the previous BioBrick project, the successful integration of a wood gasifier into the brickworks' actual operations was demonstrated in the Biobrick2 project.
  • Storage technologies: Heat storage systems (thermal energy storage, latent heat storage), especially metal-based high-temperature storage systems, can make the operation of industrial cogeneration plants more flexible by storing process heat and providing process steam. This enables operators to save on fuel costs in auxiliary boilers.
  • INNOTEER: The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT has developed a low-temperature process for treating tar-containing road rubble. A demonstration plant financed with Fraunhofer's own funds has been in operation at the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT in Sulzbach-Rosenberg since April 2024. The presentations will provide insights into the current state of research.