News

07.04.2025 | Awards
The 29ᵗʰ national SAMPE Symposium highlighted composite technologies for a sustainable future

Around 80 experts from science and industry came together in the university’s main building to discuss current developments in the field of composite materials. The event was organized by RWTH Aachen University in cooperation with SAMPE

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Research

Research Shaping the future through innovative plastics technology

The research and development of new methods for processing innovative materials forms the basis for the technological development of tomorrow. Plastics technology plays a key role here, as it develops innovative processing methods to adapt plastics specifically to technological and sustainable requirements. It combines materials science with cutting-edge production technology to create pioneering products – from lightweight, high-strength structural components to functionalised surfaces and recyclable plastic solutions.

Cutting-edge research in Aachen

At the heart of RWTH Aachen University, the IKV – Institute of Plastics Processing has been a bridgehead between basic university research and industrial applications in plastics technology since 1950. This is where science and industry merge to form a central research centre.

Excellence in science and practice

At IKV, highly qualified scientists continuously work on innovative solutions for application-technical, technological, and materials engineering challenges. Their work covers a wide spectrum of various plastics sectors and significantly contributes to technological advancement. The symbiosis of academic knowledge and industrial practice paves the way for the future of plastics technology.

Key research areas

The guiding themes of additive manufacturing, digitalization, circular economy, and lightweight construction are of central importance at IKV. They not only shape the future of the plastics industry but also significantly influence research and teaching at the institute.

Research profile

As a link between university and industry with excellent technical facilities, IKV offers the best conditions for promoting new research ideas and providing practical results for the plastics industry.

Research fields

Research at IKV can be divided into research areas that deal with different materials, processing procedures and methods.

Research infrastructure

11,800 square metres are available for plastics technology research and academic teaching on the Melaten campus.

Award-winning research results

IKV has won numerous awards and honors in the scientific field, recognising our outstanding achievements and innovations in materials research and plastics technology. These accolades underscore our leading role in developing future-oriented technologies and confirm the high standard of our research work. Discover why our work is recognised nationally and internationally.

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Forschung-Preise-und-Auszeichnungen-1 — Award ceremony of SAMPE Prize

Become part of our research team

We offer research engineers from around the world a great perspective.

Research projects

We tackle a large number of research questions from diverse areas of plastics engineering and develop innovative solutions for the future.

Vacancies

IKV offers graduates of technical and scientific degree courses the opportunity to do a doctorate as well as a variety of apprenticeships and positions in the fields of technology and administration.

Doing a doctorate at IKV

A career as a research engineer at IKV with the possibility of a doctorate offers graduates an opportunity for their further career, within or outside science.

Become a guest researcher

We offer the opportunity to work on a specific project, conduct research or teach at IKV for a limited period of time. Contribute your expertise and perspective and benefit from our excellent research infrastructure.

Outstanding research infrastructure

Discover our world of research at IKV: Each of our research areas has its own technical center or laboratory. These are equipped with state-of-the-art machines and facilities, largely provided to IKV by industry for research purposes. On a total area of more than 11,000 m², more than 300 people at IKV research, teach, learn, and live the plastics technology of the future.