For more than 60 years, the SKZ - German Plastic Center has been dedicated to research and development, testing, training and further education of specialists and managers, as well as the certification of management systems in the field of plastics. As a non-university research institution with more than 180 staff in 16 research groups, SKZ addresses all important research topics related to plastics – from materials to processing to quality assurance, including the topics of digitalization as well as sustainability and circular economy – and is currently working on more than 100 publicly funded national and international research projects per year.
Together with the excellent mechanical equipment in our own technical centres, this also supports a diverse and very practical technology transfer through professional training, conference and networking activities. Every year, for example, more than 10,000 participants take advantage of these SKZ information services at six locations in Germany and at in-house training courses worldwide.
AREAS OF ACTIVITIES
VALUE CHAIN
Project cooperation
Development eco-friendly polymeric/plastic materials; use of bio-based or recycled substrates, reversible adhesives; energy-efficient manufacturing e.g 3D-printing, thermoforming, injection molding; dispersions, inks; enhanced & measure material ...
Project cooperation
Develop/selection of materials that meet/exceed PFAS properties; ensure Safe and Sustainable by design criteria; improve recyclability & circularity; reduce environmental impact and energy consumption; processing; (non)destructive testing; LCA.
Project cooperation
Identify & fill gaps in LCA tools, methods, and data, especially for plastic processes and products; develop advanced, user-friendly LCA tools for comprehensive environmental sustainability assessment; use digital technologies; knowledge transfer;
Project cooperation
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-01: Integrated approaches for remanufacturing
Develop/integrate remanufacturing technologies, e.g. disassembly, separation, sorting; integrate automation, robotics, digitalization in processes; (non)destructive testing; data processing i.e. AI; develop or revise standards; improve circularity; LCA;
Project cooperation
Additive manufacturing; joining technologies; forming & material shaping technologies; surface processing; integrate automation, robotics, digitalization in processes; digital twins; (non)destructive testing; data processing; improve circularity; LCA;
Project cooperation
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-32: Green and resilient flexible production processes
Develop flexible and efficient production processes for plastics; increase material and energy efficiency; energy efficiency analyses; digitalization in processes; data determination and processing; improve circularity; LCA;
Project cooperation
Develop flexible and efficient production processes for plastics; increase material and energy efficiency; energy efficiency analyses; digitalization in processes; data determination and processing; improve circularity; LCA;
Project cooperation
Develop flexible and efficient production processes for plastics; increase material and energy efficiency; energy efficiency analyses; digitalization in processes; data determination and processing; improve circularity; LCA;
Project cooperation
Develop sensors, e.g. US, IR, THz, Radar, thermography; data acquisition; sensor- testing in-line during the production process, on components; manufacturing, quality control, increasing precision, automation through improved sensing, predict lifetime;
Project cooperation
Develop new/improved IAM i.e. plastics; develop smart material functionalities; increase & predict lifetime; improve circularity; safe and sustainable by design; (de)bonding; Integrating and scaling IAMs into leaner production; digitalization, LCA.
Project cooperation
Develop new/improved IAM i.e. plastics; develop smart material functionalities; increase & predict lifetime; improve circularity; safe and sustainable by design; (de)bonding; Integrating and scaling IAMs into leaner production; digitalization, LCA.