Sustainably and future-oriented: That is how THWS aims to progress plastics research by a new Technology Transfer Center in Haßfurt. Students will soon conduct application-oriented practical research there. Together with the industrial region Haßberge, THWS is becoming a driving force of innovations.
Published on 2 August 2023
"A TTZ is a research institute of a higher education institution, that is established in a certain region that has a high density of industrial companies with a certain focus area", Professor Dr.-Ing. Johannes Krückel explains. The former THWS student returned to his former higher education institution – as professor in the degree programme Plastics and Rubber Engineering. As endowed professor, he links THWS with the new Technology Transfer Center Haßfurt, TTZ-HAS in short. The research focuses in Haßfurt are mainly pipes and corrugated pipe extrusion. That is why until recently, the Technology Transfer Center was known as TTZ SPPS – short for "Smart Polymer Pipe Solutions".
The region surrounding the upcoming TTZ is the perfectly suited for future-oriented plastics research. The newspaper MainPost already called Haßberge the Silicon Valley of plastics. At least one third of the German plastics pipe industry is located there. According to Krückel, lots of renowned pipe manufacturers were located in the region, especially for corrugated pipes. "It is our aim and our wish, to collaborate closely with industrial companies so that innovations can emerge from the research topics", the endowed professor sums up the overall goal of the TTZ.
A new TTZ is being established
Currently, the establishing of TTZ-HAS is still at an early stage. In order to quickly dive into research topics on plastics innovations, you first need equipment: "A lot of our research is done experimentally", Krückel explains. "This means that we need the relevant plastics processing and extrusion machines to manufacture pipes."
The endowed professorship is supported by Tim Schülein, graduated master's student of plastics and rubber engineering. Together with Krückel, he is setting up the new project. Starting to build the research matrix of such a technology transfer center from the bottom up, you could directly estimate what was actually needed, says Schülein. He continues: "Errors known from the industry are eliminated from the start." Because it is of course beneficial to the efficiency of future research work if everything was done digitally and paper-based systems would not emerge at all.
Until the TTZ-HAS can be put to work, Schülein and Krückel still have many organisational tasks to complete. These include tenders and discussing funding, but also approaching the pipe manufacturing companies of the Haßberge region and exchanging with them. Krückel says: "In the beginning, you work on many tasks at the same time to enter research as quickly as possible." Currently, a research application on sustainability and circular economy was being filed.
The impact of a technology transfer center on research and beyond
The overall purpose of TTZs like the one in Haßfurt is to drive future-oriented technologies. Schülein and Krückel agree that a technology transfer center like the one in Haßfurt has a major impact on the region. "The Free State is currently investing a lot of many in different regions to strengthen TTZs and thus the research capacities at German higher education institutions", Krückel says. The main focus was to increase the innovational strength of medium-sized enterprises and to counter the shortage of skilled workers, in rural areas in particular.
With its research focus on pipes, TTZ-HAS will have major effects. Not only on further development of plastics processing itself but also on topics like smart pipe systems. These are important pillars of sustainable and efficient technology, especially regarding smart homes and reducing energy consumption. "It is a huge achievement if we manage to implement developments and innovations from a TTZ as products in the industry", the endowed professor informs. Such pipe systems and their positive effects would lastly also reach people's homes.
Schülein adds on this: "Plastics technology always has a somewhat bad image, but it has a huge potential which we have to use." It is vital that innovation for sustainability is also driven within the University. From October 2023, more contents in Krückel's and Schülein's former degree programme will change. While the name will stay, many previous contents will be scrapped and replaced by new, more current topics. In future, topics like recycling and circular economy will be in the focus.
TTZ-HAS offers prospective students of plastics and rubber engineering outstanding opportunities. It links studies with the industry and helps students to make contacts for starting their career. Schülein as well thinks the connection of the degree programme helpful on many levels. Instead of teaching from an ivory tower, in a TTZ the focus is on practice-oriented teaching. "There often is a field of tension between theory and practice. We are trying to close this gap", Schülein says.
From the degree programme to the TTZ
Students of plastics and rubber engineering at THWS will eventually all come into contact with TTZ-HAS. Also Schülein studied at the Faculty of Plastics Engineering and Surveying. After his bachelor's degree, he completed his master's in Product and Systems Development. After that, he started his doctoral studies. In addition to his organisational tasks regarding the establishment of the TTZ, he conducts research for his doctoral thesis. He is concerned with the impact of recycling on plastics properties. Some of his research, he also conducts in the facilities at Haßfurt. The important devices, however, are still at Röntgenring.
For other interested parties, there are multiple opportunities to go from THWS to TTZ-HAS. Students can, for example, participate in cooperation projects and research projects with the industry during their studies. Krückel adds that students could also write their final theses at the TTZ in cooperation with an industrial company. Of course, students could also follow Schülein's example and become research associates or research at the TTZ for a doctoral thesis. Even it will still take some time to complete the establishment, Krückel is already curiously awaiting the first innovative project results of the foreseeable future: "I am looking forward to building successes with our students."
The plastics mincer
To show students how recycling impacts the properties of plastics, the recycling process is simulated. For this, extruders are needed. An extruder can be compared to a mincer. The plastic is sent through the auger conveyor several times. At the same time, the plastic is impacted by hot temperatures and physical forces, which tear apart the plastic's spaghetti-like molecules. This time-intensive process is supposed to deliver new findings in the research on circular economy.
