Hufschmied Zerspanungssysteme GmbH invited attendees to a meeting on drones, and all 80 spots for the event were booked in no time. The Drone Day on November 27, 2025, was a complete success. With live demonstrations of machining and an interesting lecture program, participants gained knowledge and contacts. The event turned into a networking event, as many of the predominantly medium-sized participants were looking for ideas and partners to enter the growth market of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Hufschmied is well connected in the aviation industry and had secured Andreas Gundel, Managing Director of the Aerospace Cluster at bavAIRia e.V., for the keynote speech "Relevance of Drone Technology." Gundel made the participants aware of the wide range of application possibilities and the diverse designs of drones. He highlighted the growth potential and emphasized that in the context of dual-use, perception and actual demand often diverge.
Gundel addressed the importance of innovative multimaterial mixes and new machining solutions, leading into the practical demonstrations at the Hufschmied Technology Center.
Efficient Machining
The extent to which materials-specific tools from Hufschmied accelerate production was demonstrated using an aluminum base plate and a ureol mold for laying the CFRP fabric of a flying wing drone. In addition to machining, there was also an insight into ultrasonic cutting. The plant technologies that can be used for drone manufacturing were also a topic in Wolfgang Hinz's presentation, Head of Sales Business Unit Composites & Surfaces at KraussMaffei:
"Innovative lightweight and composite technologies for the mass production of drones." In addition to flexible mass production with openness for quick product adaptations, new materials also played an important role in the "Defense Applications" of the presenter Florian Krebs from DLR. He spoke, among other things, about the use of fiber-reinforced
ceramics (e.g., C/C-SiC) in the high-temperature range, whose difficult post-processing is also an important development focus at Hufschmied. Patrick Pulendran, Business Development Manager at Hufschmied Zerspanungssysteme GmbH, explained where his company's approaches lie.
Not a classic aviation industry
The extent to which the development and production of drones differs from processes in the aerospace industry was clearly outlined in the presentation "Aviation Production in the Age of Drone Warfare" by Andreas Pilz, Key Account Director DACH of Skyeton Germany GmbH. Long certification cycles, low manufacturing flexibility, and necessary
adjustments to EU regulations and standards still need to be mastered in order not to fall behind in global competition. As a representative of a company that has already successfully completed the entry into drone production considered by many participants, Dr. Andreas Erber from Mubea Aviation GmbH spoke about "High-Volume Production for Composites."
"Drones are needed in large numbers for countless civilian and military applications, and the overwhelming interest in our Drone Day shows me that many companies want to take on the challenge," says Christel Hufschmied, Managing Director of Hufschmied Zerspanungssysteme GmbH. "When aviation industry technologies and materials encounter the demand for extremely flexible and cost-effective mass production, production processes play a key role. Here we are working together with our partners on more effective and efficient methods."
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