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
- Continuous manufacture of defined wood particles (e.g. chips, strands, particles and fibres)
- Hydrothermal disintegration of lignocelluloses
- Defined disintegration of different raw materials with a horizontal turbo mill with the possibility of active cooling
- Continuous classification of fibres
- Morphological analysis of particles by screening (vibrating sieve for chips, strands and particles, air jet sieve fibres and fines) and digital image analysis (Camsizer) of particles and fibres
- Determination of the bulk density
- Analysis of the wettability of particles and different test fluids with a Force-Tensiometer (contact angel, surface and interfacial tension)
- Industrial analogue fibre production and adhesive application (blowline)
- Air stream fibre mat forming for the manufacture of thin uniform mats
- Manufacture of wood-based composites applying various adhesives and additives
- Optimisation of production technology for e.g. combination gluing, raw material use, fibre pulping grade, chip and strand geometry, press conditions
- Automatic particle mat forming station for single- and multilayer mats
- 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
- Outdoor weathering
- Micro tension device for single fibre measurement
- Determination of dielectric loss of particles, fluids and solids
Chemistry
- Damage analyses (e.g., chemical 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
Failure Analysis
- 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