The International Motor Show or Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) is the world’s largest motor show. This year, in the event’s 63rd year, it also housed the most impressive concept cars and newest serial production cars all manufactured using the latest technologies.

One of the remarkable projects this year in Frankfurt was the comeback of the Trabant. In 2007, Herpa, manufacturer of high-quality vehicle- and airplane miniatures, had the idea of putting the Trabant back on the road again in a new shape. A first draft of the “newTrabi” obtained so much approval, that the idea became a project for the German motor industry. IndiKar, Nils Poschwatta Design and Herpa joined forces and decided to collectively focus on the new Trabant’s series-production-readiness.

Out of enthusiasm for the new Trabi, Nils Poschwatta decided to devote himself to the project on a full-time basis and came up with the entire design-work for the “Trabant nT”. Also thrilled by the “newTrabi” idea, IndiKar took care of the development of the “Trabant nT” concept car for the 2009 IAA show, supported by several partners, one of which was Materialise. Being aware of their good reputation as the largest rapid prototyping service provider in Europe, IndiKar involved Materialise for the production of both interior and exterior automotive parts with their fused deposition modelling technology.
The “Trabant nT” will be displayed at the IAA in Frankfurt until September 27.

“The German automotive industry is one of our largest customer groups. When we had the opportunity to take part in the ‘newTrabi’ project, we did not hesitate for a second to support the production of this vehicle that is so closely connected with the history of modern Germany. Also in the upcoming serial production we see a lot of potential for our additive manufacturing technologies, which are ideal for manufacturing vehicles in limited numbers”, says Patrick Lucht, Sales Manager Materialise Germany.

Materialise

www.materialise.com

MPF