{"id":16786,"date":"2026-01-19T10:56:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T10:56:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/?page_id=16786"},"modified":"2026-07-28T10:17:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T10:17:42","slug":"forschung-entwicklung","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/forschung-entwicklung\/","title":{"rendered":"Research & Development"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Research & Development at PFI<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Whether working on behalf of companies or as part of not-for-profit research projects, PFI has stood for scientific excellence, practical development and technological innovation for decades. Our work combines research, engineering and product development with in-depth industry knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about our research and development areas:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Automation technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Biomechanics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Biotechnology<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Biorefinery technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Testing technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Footwear technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Circular Economy & Material Flow Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Training & Further Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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R&D in the field of automation technology<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For high-wage countries<\/strong> such as Germany<\/strong> and most European countries<\/strong>, the key to competitive productivity<\/strong> in an international comparison lies primarily in the automation of processes<\/strong>. This is no longer essential solely for industrial production<\/strong>; it also plays a central role in testing technology<\/strong>, laboratory operations<\/strong> and planning, administration and documentation<\/strong>. With the rapidly growing number of fields of application for artificial intelligence<\/strong>, automation<\/strong> is receiving a further significant boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against this backdrop, the Testing and Research Institute Pirmasens (PFI)<\/strong> has, ever since its founding around 70 years ago<\/strong>, been working on making shoe manufacturing and laboratory processes more effective and efficient<\/strong>. Depending on the prevailing spirit of the times<\/strong>, these projects have gone by various names \u2013 from \u2018mechanisation\u2019<\/strong> to \u2018PLC control\u2019<\/strong> and \u2018CNC control\u2019<\/strong>, through to \u2018automation\u2019<\/strong> and, today, \u2018digitalisation\u2019<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of numerous customer and research projects<\/strong> for the footwear industry<\/strong>, PFI<\/strong> has developed, amongst other things, CNC punching machines<\/strong>, automatic sewing machines with tangential fabric guidance<\/strong> and clamp-free latex spray nozzles<\/strong>. A current focus<\/strong> is on laboratory automation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, PFI<\/strong> works with industrial customers<\/strong> to implement automation solutions<\/strong> even outside the footwear industry<\/strong>. For example, complete production lines for heating circuit distribution systems<\/strong> have been implemented, whilst individual process steps<\/strong> \u2013 such as the automatic welding of screens onto valve bodies<\/strong> \u2013 have been integrated into bespoke machines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are happy to support our customers flexibly<\/strong> in the development of tailored automation solutions<\/strong>, tailored to their specific requirements and tasks<\/strong>. Depending on the project, funding<\/strong> \u2013 for example through the <\/strong>ZIM programme run by the Federal Government<\/strong><\/a>, for funding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover our research projects in the field of automation technology.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Your Contact Person:<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Peter Schultheis<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Engineering<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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R&D in the field of biomechanics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our research area Biomechanics<\/strong> is dedicated to the experimental and analytical study of human movement and the interaction between the body, technical aids and the environment. In our institute\u2019s own biomechanics laboratory<\/strong> <\/a>, our experts in the fields of sports medicine technology and biomechanics carry out comprehensive analyses of the functional relationships between the foot, movement and footwear<\/strong>. This includes comparative studies of different shoe models with regard to standing and walking stability<\/strong>, pressure distribution<\/strong> and movement characteristics similar to those experienced when barefoot<\/strong>. In addition, we record a wide range of movement aspects of the entire body and develop innovative concepts for the objective assessment of movement quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key focus is on the development and testing of new measurement systems and demonstrators<\/strong> \u2013 such as prototypes of ergometers or fitness mats \u2013 which use cost-effective sensor technology to detect potentially unfavourable movement patterns and postures. This enables data-driven assessment of rehabilitation processes, training programmes and exercise profiles. The analysis is carried out using AI<\/strong> to automatically identify patterns and establish precise feedback systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether industrial commissions or non-profit research projects: the use of state-of-the-art measurement technology is an integral part of our biomechanical work. Our range of methods includes, amongst other things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n