SKZ is establishing a Defense & Security business unit
The SKZ Plastics Center is continuing to expand its activities in the defense and security sector. Since July 1, 2026, Eugenie Schlesies has been responsible for establishing and coordinating this new business unit.
Eugenie Schlesies, the new head of the Defense and Security business unit, and Matthias Ruff, Head of Sales for Education and Research at SKZ and authorized signatory. (Photo: Luca Hoffmannbeck, SKZ)
New Point of Contact Strengthens Collaboration on Materials, Manufacturing Technologies, and Safety-Critical Applications
Modern security and defense systems place high demands on performance, reliability, and the technical evaluation of new solutions. Through its Defense & Security business unit, SKZ is consolidating its existing expertise and intensifying collaboration with industry, research institutions, and public sector stakeholders.
Expertise in Materials and Safety-Critical Applications
Many of the capabilities and technologies relevant to safety-critical applications have been established at SKZ for years. The range of services extends from material development and characterization through manufacturing technologies to material and component testing, damage analysis, and the evaluation of reliability and service life.
Central Point of Contact for Industry, Research, and Public Institutions
The new business division creates a central point of contact for companies, research institutions, associations, and public institutions regarding technical and technological issues. The goal is to strengthen professional exchange, identify current challenges early on, and initiate new development and research projects together with relevant partners.
“The demands placed on technical systems in the defense and security sectors are currently changing noticeably. With this new business unit, we aim to intensify our dialogue with relevant stakeholders, address challenges early on, and specifically apply SKZ’s expertise to this field,” explains Eugenie Schlesies.
Practical Expertise from the Defense Sector
“We were able to fill this position exceptionally well with Eugenie Schlesies. She herself held positions of responsibility in the German Armed Forces for many years and knows the requirements, processes, and challenges in this field from her own experience. As SKZ, we are creating an interface for and with industry in the plastics sector and beyond,” adds Matthias Ruff, Head of Sales for Education & Research.
The High Potential of Plastics
Plastics and polymer-based materials are now well established in numerous applications, such as lightweight construction, fiber-reinforced composites, housings and structural components, functional surfaces, and components for unmanned systems and electronics. “From the SKZ’s perspective, lightweight construction, fiber-reinforced composites, functional surfaces, additive manufacturing, and the qualification, evaluation, and service life of materials and components therefore offer particularly relevant points of reference for research and development in safety-critical environments,” Ruff concluded.
Further Information: Defense & Security Business Unit
