  We discuss two projects exploring the integration of thin CMOS pixel sensors
in order to prototype ladders matching the geometry needed for the ILD vertex
detector. The PLUME project has designed and fabricated full-size and fully
functional double- sided layers which currently reach 0.6 % X0 and aim for 0.3
% X0 in mid-2012. Another approach, SERNWIETE, consists in wrapping the sensors
in a polyimide-based micro-cable to obtain a supportless single-sided ladder
with a material budget around 0.15 % X0. First promising samples have been
produced and the full-size prototype is expected in spring 2012.
