Research Activities in the Field of Fiber-Reinforced Composites Consolidated at the SKZ in Würzburg
The SKZ Plastics Center will consolidate its research activities in the field of fiber composites at its Würzburg location going forward. The activities previously based in Halle an der Saale will be relocated there in order to specifically leverage synergies with the Würzburg-based “Networked Materials” group.
[Translate to Englisch:] Gemeinsame Workshops garantieren den Austausch zwischen Forschung und Bildung im Bereich Composite. (Foto: Carina Heinze, SKZ)
Cross-site collaboration will strengthen synergies between research and education in the future
The merger creates a high-performing unit that combines comprehensive expertise in materials and processes. While material expertise—for example, in the field of thermosetting systems—has already been systematically built up in Würzburg in recent years, the team from Halle is bringing its many years of experience in process engineering to the joint research effort.
“The merger enables us to integrate material development and processing technology even more closely. This allows us to develop new solutions much more efficiently and transfer them to industrial applications more quickly,” explains Thomas Zimmermann, Group Leader for Networked Materials at SKZ.
Halle Remains a Center for Education and Training
Educational activities in the field of composites will continue to be based at the Halle location. A large portion of the equipment will also continue to be operated in Halle, as it is used there for both research and education.
Halle thus remains the central hub for hands-on continuing education and training in fiber-reinforced composites and will be able to allocate more resources in the future to training skilled workers in order to meet the growing demands in the field of fiber-reinforced composites.
More Intensive Exchange Between the Locations
Cross-location exchange is being significantly expanded. Initial joint workshops have already demonstrated how effectively the two teams work together. The transfer of knowledge between research and education is to be further strengthened in the future so that scientific findings can be directly incorporated into training and continuing education programs.
Carina Heinze, site director of the SKZ in Halle, emphasizes: “Through close integration with research in Würzburg, we can continuously update our educational offerings and maintain them at the highest professional level. In this way, we ensure an excellent transfer of knowledge for our participants.”
Ideal Conditions for Innovation
The successful launch of the joint activities underscores the potential of the new structure. By making optimal use of the expertise at both locations—Würzburg and Halle—the SKZ creates ideal conditions for innovative developments in the field of fiber-reinforced composites and their efficient industrial implementation.
Further Information on the Composites Research Division
Further Information on the Composites Training Division
