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Millions Invested in Research Infrastructure Print
The Montanuniversitaet Leoben had reason to celebrate on Monday, September 19th: In the presence of Dr. Hannes Androsch, Chair of the University Council, Wolfhard Wegscheider, Rector of the Montauniversitaet, Landtagsabgeordnete Ing. Eva Maria Lipp, Dr. Matthias Konrad, the Mayor of Leoben, and a number of representatives from industry, a unique injection-moulding compounder, worth 1 million euro, was officially launched at the Department of Polymer Engineering and Science. „In the last eight years – the term of office of the outgoing Rectorate and University Council – a total of 60 million euro was spent on the remodeling and expansion of the campus. Approx. 30 million euro were invested in facility infrastructure, of which 22 million euro alone were given to the Department of Polymer Engineering and Science”, Androsch said.
Androsch urged Austrian universities to further promote Austria as a science and business location, and recognize their responsibility as hubs for excellent science and research.
Dr. Androsch then congratulated the Montanuniversitaet Leoben on its latest research facility. "It is planned to evolve into an internationally recognized 'Center of Excellence'”, Androsch further said, who also listed the development of the PCCL (Polymer Competence Centers Leoben) toward a Comet-Centre in cooperation with the study programme Polymer Science and Engineering as a goal.

Injection-moulding compounder

The injection-moulding compounder, developed by Engel and worldwide unique in its concept, will be used for cooperative research and the development of hybrid components. The compounding plant of the research unit is customized for the production and processing of nano-reinforced polymers. The facility consists of an 27mm/44 to 52D Leistritz-compounder and a fully electronic 1800 kN Engel injection moulding machine, designed for multi-component injection moulding and for the production of polymer-nanocomposites on the basis of conventional as well as high-temperature resistant thermoplastics. The complete plant is equipped with a 3-way valve and can be used as an injection-moulidng compounder as well as a separate compounding plant or injection-moulding machine.

New horizons in research and development

Prof. Walter Friesenbichler, Chair of Injection Moulding of Polymers, as well as Dr. Peter Neumann, CEO of Engel Holding GmbH, pointed out the importance of the new research facility for Austria as a center for polymer science and technology. "This unique research plant in small industrial scale fast and application-oriented product development at the highest level of energy efficiency", Neumann said and referred to the fact that around 25 percent of the entire plastics production is done via injection-moulding.

Further information:
Erhard Skupa
Tel.: +43 3842 402 7220
E-Mail: erhard.skupa[at]unileoben.ac.at


(from left to right) Mayor Dr. Matthias Konrad, Dr. Hannes Androsch (Head of the University Council), Univ.Prof. Dr. Walter Friesenbichler (Chair of Injection Moulding of Polymers), Landtagsabgeordnete Ing. Eva Maria Lipp, Engel Holding GmbH-CEO Dr. Peter Neumann, Rector Wolfhard Wegscheider, Univ.Prof. Dr. Clemens Holzer (Head of Department Polymer Engineering and Science), Harald Tischhardt (Councillor of Finance of the City of Leoben)