Biology

  • Wood species identification
  • Wood knowledge; Determination and assessment of wood properties and quality
  • Wood protection; Damage analysis and expert reports
  • Microscopic determination of harmful organisms (fungi, insects, bacteria)
  • Microscopic/microstructural investigations (coatings, glue lines, compartments)
  • biomolecular diagnostics of fungi by DNA array (proof of 24 building rot fungi) and ITS sequencing
  • biomolecular yes/no proof of soft dry rot fungus (Serpula lacrymans)
  • thermal modification (wood, veneers, wood-based materials) in pilot scale
  • technical kiln-drying (up to 3 m length)
  • Moisture-controlled warm air pest-control acc. to WTA 1-1 (stationary chamber)
  • Training and seminars (wood species, wood in exterior applications)
  • hygienic and building-biological assessment of materials and indoor rooms

Materials

  • Manufacture of defined wood particles like strands, flakes, chips and fibres
  • Morphological analysis of particles by screening (vibrating sieve for flakes, chips and strands , air jet sieve fibres and fines) and digital image analysis (Camsizer)
  • Evaluation of bonding systems by ABES
  • Manufacture of wood-based composites applying various adhesives and additives
  • Process analysis via PressMAN®
  • Optimisation of production technology for e.g. combination gluing, raw material use, fibre pulping grade, chip and strand geometry, press conditions
  • Evaluation of duration of load and creep behaviour of wood based materials
  • Evaluation of dimensional stability of wood based materials in different climatic conditions
  • Determination of density profile
  • Determination of characteristics values

Chemistry

  • Damage analyses (e.g., chemic al causes of faults in adhesion joints)
  • Bonding agent analytics
  • Contaminant emissions in residential and public buildings
  • Determination of wood preservatives in historical building materials and pieces of art

Surface

  • Performance of investigations and analyses on quality assessment and the evaluation of damage patterns in various materials and products
  • Elaboration of product-specific test concepts
  • Characterisation and testing of new powder-lacquering systems and application techniques
  • Evaluation of the application behaviour of lacquers and other coating formulations
  • Selection of suitable technological parameters in UV, UV-LED or electron-beam crosslinking as well as characterisation of uniform curing
  • Modification of coatings by adding suitable additives, e.g., regarding protection from light or scratch strength, and their proof of effectiveness
  • Development and characterisation of suitable printing base materials for various substrates as well as evaluation of the printing quality
  • Selection, application and characterisation of protective layers for printing on various substrates
  • Structural design of floorings and wall claddings with enhanced fire behaviour

Physics

  • Literature and proprietary right research
  • Preparation of workplans
  • Testing during development
  • Appraisal of data obtained in our work for publication purposes
  • Preparation of damage analyses and expert opinions
  • Design of structural parts
  • Support in building demonstrators
  • Tutorship for apprentices
  • Project coordination
  • Project planning for training courses

Furniture

Within the scope of research projects, we offer development-related services in the fields of requirement research, concept and design as well as technology development and testing.

User-oriented Product Development

  • User analysis and requirement research
  • Concept design, conducting and evaluation of interactive experiments
  • Target-group-oriented product design
  • Determination and implementation of design requirements

Furniture Development and Technology

  • Development of technologies
  • Development of modular product architectures
  • Parameter determination of components and assemblies
  • Support in design and dimensioning
  • by means of CAD and FEM
  • FEM simulation of various load situations

Furniture Testing and Evaluation

  • Development-related testing
  • Strength, long-term performance and durability testing
  • (microclimatic) Upholstery testing
  • Simulation of use

Processing

  • Recording, measuring, documenting and evaluating damages
  • Identifying causes for damage/failure
  • Simulating images and mechanisms of damage/failure
  • Determining harmful organisms
  • Assessing hygiene
  • Elaborating suggestions for removal of damage and remediation
  • Elaborating suggestions for preventing and estimating consequential damage
  • Preparing investigative reports and expert opinions on damage