Fraunhofer Center HTL optimizes thermal processes for the production of ceramics and metals with regard to energy and cost efficiency as well as product quality. Relevant processes are drying, debinding, pyrolysis, sintering, melt infiltration and various processes in the field of molten metallurgy. Potential for improvement often exist with regard to temperature-time profiles, furnace atmosphere or arrangement of the charge in the industrial furnace. The optimization goals are high and reproducible product quality with good material, energy and cost efficiency of the processes (see EnerTherm project). Both the furnace perspective and the perspective of the heated material are taken into account simultaneously.