Zwick and IPMT at JKU Linz (AUT) – partners for the future

The Johannes Kepler University (JKU) at Linz, Austria, has been providing courses in plastics technology in the Science Park on the JKU campus since 2009. Home to the biggest plastics industry in Austria, Linz is a perfect location for these studies.

Zwick and the Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing (IPMT) at the JKU are both committed to a level of collaboration which goes far beyond the scientific activities of this successful materials testing institute. The IPMT, which enjoys excellent contacts with the plastics industry, is pursuing its aim of achieving an optimum level of equipment infrastructure, including numerous test instruments by Zwick. 

However, the IPMT also feels that it must play its part in ensuring that the increasing number of specialist engineers required in future will be available; initially, for example, by offering pupils with an interest in technology an insight into plastics technology studies and the attractive research opportunities in this specialist area. 

Several times a year the IPMT attends fairs, conventions and schools with an easily transported zwicki testing machine. Mr. Lovas of the IPMT: “The zwicki is quite clearly an attraction and a highlight of our student recruitment. Using it to provide practical examples of plastics testing helps us to show the technicians of tomorrow what an interesting field this is.” Many of the 400 or so female pupils who thronged the SIM 2011 study fair in autumn 2011 took the opportunity to visit the plastics stand and operate a modem tensile testing machine themselves.

More information about the IPMT