Research institute for plastics technology at RWTH Aachen
and competent partner for the plastics industry
The Institute for Plastics Processing is an innovation driver and research partner for the plastics industry. Extensive knowledge and years of experience in all areas of plastics technology enable the IKV to hold a unique position in Germany. The possibilities for collaboration
with the IKV are diverse. In publicly funded projects of industrial collaborative research, in bilateral industrial research, through IKV services such as consulting, plastics testing, failure analysis, and much more, our partners utilise the competencies of the IKV.
»As much as we rejoice in a scientific discovery, we are only truly satisfied when it is put into practice.«
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hopmann, Institute Director
As part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen, the IKV is embedded in the RWTH and responsible for the academic training of young engineers in plastics technology. In interdisciplinary collaboration with other institutes, the IKV conducts basic research. This often forms the basis for further industrial collaborative research. The IKV orients its research on the key research areas of additive manufacturing, circular economy, digitalisation, and lightweight construction.
In its research projects, the IKV considers not only individual processes and products but entire process chains as well as integrated processes and products. Through the integrative consideration of component design, materials technology, and processing, IKV scientists achieve optimal solutions in terms of research and for its industrial partners.
The infrastructure of the Institute
Each research area of the IKV has its own test and laboratory spaces. The technical centers are equipped with machines and systems that the network of partners provides to the IKV for research purposes. On a total area of around 11,800 m2, more than 300 people research, teach, learn, and live the plastics technology of the future at the IKV.
© DF.Fotografie
Research for practice
Numerous research results have been adopted by industry and led to innovations in plastics processing. IKV research targets diverse plastics applications:
- Automotive manufacturing and its supply industry
- Construction technology household
- Electrical electronics
- Aviation
- Mechanical engineering
- Medical technology life science
- Microtechnology sensor technology
- Surface technology
- Optics precision technology
- Sports leisure
- Packaging
- Mould and die making
