Polymer Processing
In 1970, the Institute of Polymer Processing (Institut fuer Kunststoffverarbeitung KV) was one of the two founding institutes of the Department of Polymer Engineering at the Montanuniversität Leoben. Within the last 50 years it has developed into a modern, efficient and recognised research institute. The basis for this is a team of highly quali-fied and motivated employees.
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The Institute of Polymer Processing holds basic funding from the Montanuniversität Leoben for one full professor, three scientists and four non-scientific staff members. The total number of staff, excluding study assistants and research fellows (typically five to ten Austrian and international students or researchers support us), is currently 18; thus, more than 50 % is financed by third-party funds.
In order to be able to optimally manage the rapidly growing institute, a sustainable institute structure was created with three working group leaders:
- Injection Molding & Recycling, Assoc.Prof. Dr.mont. Thomas Lucyshyn
- Extrusion & Additive Manufacturing, Dipl.-Ing. Stephan Schuschnigg
- Material Data, Dr.mont. Ivica Duretek

Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Clemens Holzer
clemens.holzer(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3500

Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Ivica Duretek
ivica.duretek(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3518
Profil (Pure)
Groupleader Extrusion & Additive Manufacturing
Research: Material Data for Injection Molding and Extrusion Simulation, Rheology,
Powder Injection Molding(PIM)

Dipl.-Ing. Stephan Schuschnigg
stephan.schuschnigg(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3511
Profil (Pure)
Groupleader Extrusion & Additive Manufacturing
Research: Extrusion, Additive Manufacturing (FFF), Simulation

Assoz.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Thomas Lucyshyn
thomas.lucyshyn(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3510
Profil (Pure)
Groupleader Injection Molding & Recycling
Research: Mechanical Recycling of Thermoplastics, Compounding/Material Development,
Thermoplastic Ijection Molding, Injection Molding Simulation

Dipl.-Ing. Philipp Beier
philipp.beier(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3501
Profil (Pure)
Forschungsschwerpunkte: Additive manufacturing, material selection

DI (FH) Nina Krempl (materinity leave)
nina.krempl(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3521
+43 664 808983521
Profil (Pure)
Research: Mechanical Recycling, Circular Economy, Injection Molding & Compounding,
Injection Molding Simulation

Annika Lenger, Dipl.-Ing.
annika.lenger(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3512
Profil (Pure)
Research: Injection molding simulation, in-mold electronics

Mag. Ing. Mech. Ivan Raguz
ivan.raguz@unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3521
Profil (Pure)
Research: Additive manufacturing, automation technology, soft dielectric actuators

Zahra Shahroodi, MSc.
zahra.shahroodi(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3524
Profil (Pure)
Research: Recycling, Injection Molding Compounding, Lightweight Construction, Material Data Analysis

Dipl.-Ing. David Zidar
david.zidar(at)unileoben.ac.at
+43 3842 402 - 3508
Profil (Pure)
Research: Projekt Management R&D, Recycling & Sustainability
Teaching


Comprehensive training
Apart from the introductory lectures, teaching at the Institute of Plastics Processing takes place primarily in the higher semesters. Students receive a comprehensive education in plastics processing, from the basics to special areas, which can be deepened in the extensive range of electives and optional subjects. The focus is on the processing of thermoplastics in the classic processing methods of injection molding and extrusion, supplemented by basic knowledge of blow molding and thermoforming.
In the fundamentals, students gain an in-depth understanding of the material behavior of polymers with regard to flow behavior and thermodynamic processes such as melting and cooling processes. The mutual influence of material behavior and process conditions is strongly emphasized in order to be able to solve existing processing problems or develop new processes in professional life through in-depth understanding of materials and processes.
Exercises & practicals
In addition to the lectures, exercises and practicals take place in which the use of processing machines and measurement technology as well as modern simulation software is practiced. This enables students to learn how to work independently on the systems and simulation programs.
In the Bachelor's and Master's theses, the skills from the lectures and practical courses are further consolidated. In most cases, the scientific work involves activities in projects together with our industrial partners. In this way, students learn how to participate in projects and become familiar with the basics of project management and manage small projects themselves.
For an institute dealing with polymer processing, appropriate equipment and machin-ery are essential for training and project work. In the new laboratories, an exemplary and internationally renowned processing technology center has been set up, and thanks to our close cooperation with the polymer industry in Austria and Germany, it has been equipped with state-of-the-art machinery. Over the last few years, new ma-chines and systems worth more than € 1 million have been installed. In addition, we have a network of partner companies and partner institutes, where we can carry out experiments on various machinery. Thus, we are able to scale up from the smallest quantities to industrial production and produce from lot size 1 to thousands of pieces.
We would like to thank the following companies in particular for their generous dona-tions and cooperation:
- ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG, Hard / A
- ARBURG GmbH + Co KG, Loßburg / D
- battenfeld-cincinnati Austria GmbH, Vienna / A
- ENGEL Austria GmbH, Schwertberg/ A
- Hage3D GmbH, Obdach / A
- Leistritz AG, Nuremberg / D
- ROSENDAHL NEXTROM GmbH, Pischelsdorf / A
- WITTMANN BATTENFELD GmbH, Kottingbrunn / A
Wissenschaft
- Academy of Sciences Brno (CZ), Institute of Physics of Materials
- Christian-Doppler Laboratory (CDL), on Particulate Flow Modelling, Johannes Kepler Universität, Linz, Austria
- ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH (AT)
- FOTEC Forschungs- und Technologietransfer GmbH (AT)
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Fertigungstechnik und Angewandte Materialforschung, IFAM Bremen (D)
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Keramische Technologien und Systeme, IKTS Dresden (D)
- JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH
- Johannes Kepler Universität (AT), Linzer Institut für Organische Solarzellen (LIOS)
- Linz Center of Mechatronics GmbH (AT)
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen (CH), Labor für Mikro- und Nanotechnologie
- Polymer Technology College (SLO), Slovenj Gradec
- TCKT - Transfercenter für Kunststofftechnik GmbH (AT)
- Technische Universität Wien (AT)
- Università degli Studi di Salerno (I)
- University of Akron (USA), Department of Polymer Engineering
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- University of Bradford (GB), Research Centre in Polymer Science & Technology
- University of Zagreb (HR), Chair of Polymer Processing
- University of Zagreb (HR), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Industrie
- AgfISS Agentur für Industrie-Software & Services
- AMiSTec GmbH & Co. KG
- Amsonic AG / SA
- Arburg GmbH + CoKG (D)
- AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG
- battenfeld-cincinnati Austria GmbH
- BBF Sterilisationsservice GmbH
- Belimed GmbH
- BMW Motoren GmbH
- Bodo Möller Chemie GmbH
- Borealis AG
- Business Upper Austria – OÖ Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH, Gesundheitstechnologie - Cluster
- Camo Formen- und Werkzeugbau Ges.m.b.H.
- Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH
- Cleanpart Healthcare GmbH
- Clever Contour GmbH
- Croma-Pharma GmbH
- Datwyler Sealing Solutions (Dätwyler Schweiz AG)
- Dietzel GmbH
- DMB-Apparatebau GmbH
- Dow Chemicals
- Econ GmbH
- Endoscope Complete Services GmbH & Co.KG
- EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen Ges.m.b.H.
- Evonik Industries AG
- Extrutherm Kunststofftechnik GmbH
- FeyeCon B.V.
- FOTEC Forschungs- und Technologietransfer GmbH
- FRT- Europäische Forschungsgemeinschaft Reinigungs- und Hygienetechnologie e.V.
- Fujinon Europe
- Gabriel-Chemie GmbH
- Geoplast kunststofftechnik GmbH
- GWK Präzisionstechnik GmbH
- Hage Sondermaschinenbau GmbH & CoKG
- HOERBIGER Ventilwerke GmbH & Co KG
- Huber+Suhner AG
- Hueck Folien Gesellschaft m.b.H.
- Hybeta GmbH
- HygCen Austria GmbH
- IM Polymer
- Lenzing Plastics GmbH
- Lithoz GmbH
- Lugitsch-Strasser GmbH
- Magna Auteca AG
- Mahle Filtersysteme Austria GmbH
- MAS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Schulz GmbH
- MBA Polymers Austria Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH
- Meister-Quadrat Kunststoff- und Automatisierungstechnik GmbH
- MicroMed Mittermayer Dienstleistung und Beratung GmbH
- Miele Gesellschaft m.b.H.
- next system Vertriebsges.m.b.H.
- NGR-Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH
- Niebling GmbH
- OBE GmbH & Co. KG
- Olympus Europa SE & Co. KG
- Pentax Europe GmbH
- plastic electronic GmbH
- Profactor GmbH
- Pro-Weld Schweißtechnik GmbH
- Richard Wolf GmbH
- Rosendahl Nextrom GmbH
- RUAG Space GmbH
- Schöfer GmbH
- SCIO Holding GmbH
- SEABEAR Diving Technology
- SIGMA Engineering GmbH
- simcon kunststofftechnische Software GmbH
- SLI - Sterilgut, Logistik und Instrumentenmanagement GmbH
- SMP GmbH Prüfen Validieren Forschen
- Sony DADC Austria AG
- spypach medical services
- Steinbacher Dämmstoff GmbH
- Teufelberger Holding AG
- Thermoplastkreislauf GmbH
- voestalpine Stahl GmbH
- W. H. U. GmbH
- Westcam Datentechnik GmbH
- wfk – Cleaning Technology Institute e.V.
- Wieland-Werke AG
- Zizala Lichtsysteme GmbH