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New testing infrastructure for the simulation of material behaviors
18. July 2016
New testing infrastructure for the simulation of material behaviors
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Christopher Eberl
Christopher Eberl is editorially responsible for the topics on the blog as well as for the apprentice website. With his stories he provides deep insights into the diverse world of the voestalpine Group.
A ceremony to mark the opening of the new testing infrastructure, attended by representatives from industry, research, and the media, including managing directors Thomas Starzer of the voestalpine Forschungsservicegesellschaft Donawitz GmbH and Martin Stockinger of Böhler Schmiedetechnik GmbH & Co KG, took place in June .
The new testing infrastructure at the mechanical testing laboratory belonging to the Materials Center Leoben (MCL) was presented at a press conference in June. MCL now has access to testing facilities which are unique in Europe. voestalpine is a cooperative partner to MCL, offering support in areas such as the development of modern materials testing at high temperatures. A total of 37 joint projects worth around EUR 35 million have been undertaken with MCL since 2008.
Industrial demand
Austria can boast strong industrial enterprises working in metallurgy, plant construction, mechanical engineering, and the mobility sector—particularly automotive, rails, and increasingly aerospace. They include globally active companies such as Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG, voestalpine Schienen GmbH, voestalpine Wire Technology GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG.
"Past projects have demonstrated that MCL is a reliable and competent partner to Böhler Schmiedetechnik. Due to extension of the testing infrastructure, projects ensuring strict adherence to the increasingly demanding specifications required by aerospace customers will continue to be realized."
Highly specialized expertise in materials and their behavior plays a key role in voestalpine success in manufacturing. With the new testing infrastructure materials can be analyzed under temperature extremes of between -150°C and +1,500°C. This provides the basis for optimizing existing materials for more extreme stresses, as well as for creating new materials. voestalpine Schienen GmbH and voestalpine VAE GmbH will benefit, particularly in the field of railway infrastructure.
"The continued enhancement of research and development enjoys utmost priority at voestalpine. One primary area of interest lies in processing steel materials for the automotive and transport infrastructure industries. Together with research partner MCL, the Group has been following this goal for years. "
Cooperation strengthens industrial location
Close cooperation between voestalpine and the MCL serves both to deepen expertise in materials development and testing, and to increase the attractiveness of the location. Cooperation on past and present projects has played an important contribution to making Styria an attractive industrial location.
Christopher Eberl