The Thuringian Institute for Textile and Plastics Research e. V. (TITK), one of four affiliated institutes of the Ilmenau University of Technology, had two reasons to celebrate on August 9. As part of the anniversary celebrations "30+3 years of TITK = 70 years of research institutes in Rudolstadt-Schwarza", the institute not only celebrated over thirty years of successful materials research in the Bad Blankenburg town hall, but also the founding of a new innovation center for the textile circular economy under the name DICE (Demonstration and Innovation Center for Textile Circular Economy). The aim of the largest single investment in TITK's history to date is to develop solutions for practical, integrated textile recycling.
Transfer
Sustainable innovations for the plastics industry: Affiliated institute celebrates its birthday
Prof. Jens Müller, Vice President for International Affairs and Transfer at TU Ilmenau, was also among the well-wishers:
We congratulate the TITK on this success story and look forward to further lively cooperation in joint projects and the training of young scientists. It not only expands our transfer and innovation potential, but also makes us an attractive place to study for prospective engineers.
Founded in 1991 as the first private and non-profit research institute in Thuringia, TITK has developed into one of the leading private materials research institutes in the field of polymer functional and construction materials. The aim of the long-standing collaboration between TU Ilmenau and TITK in basic and applied industrial research is to translate innovative material concepts and ideas into new products, processes and services as quickly as possible in order to make them usable for industry - from automotive components, packaging materials and bio- and medical technology to energy technology, micro- and nanotechnology and lifestyle products. To this end, the TITK and the university also invest jointly in modern facilities and participate in regional, national and even EU-wide initiatives to create networks and clusters.
Growing demand for sustainable materials
Since the increasing ecological demands on industry are leading to a growing demand for sustainable materials, another important part of the collaboration between the two partners is the training of young scientists in materials development for plastics and plastics process engineering. Therefore in 2021, Prof. Florian Puch was appointed university professor and head of the Plastics Technology Group (KTI) at TU Ilmenau and Scientific Director at the TITK. The KTI offers courses in plastics technology for the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Materials Science and Mechatronics and is the initiator of the interdisciplinary lecture series on the circular economy. From the winter semester 2024/25, students on the Master's degree course in mechanical engineering will also be able to focus on the topic of "sustainable lightweight construction", a core area of expertise of the Thuringian Innovation Center for Mobility (ThIMo) at TU Ilmenau - also as part of theses on joint research projects. In addition to lightweight construction technology, modern manufacturing processes and materials, product development and the latest simulation methods are also part of the new study focus.
The basic research at TU Ilmenau and the industry-oriented research at TITK Rudolstadt complement each other perfectly in order to map the entire innovation chain for the plastics industry in Thuringia and beyond
Benjamin Redlingshöfer, Managing Director of TITK, is convinced. "Furthermore, the collaboration with the TITK serves to offer students unique insights into practice and expertise in sustainable technologies such as the recycling of plastics, the processing of bioplastics and lightweight construction at an early stage of their studies," adds Prof. Florian Puch:
'This can only be offered in this way at very few universities in Germany.
Environmentally friendly alternatives to the water-intensive production of cotton
The scientific and technical challenges associated with the increasing ecological demands on industry and a growing demand for sustainable materials will also be addressed by the DICE. The newly founded innovation center at TITK will primarily research and develop innovative cellulose-based fiber technologies. They offer the potential to create environmentally friendly alternatives to the water-intensive production of cotton and a partial alternative to synthetic fibers, thereby reducing water consumption and microplastics in the environment. Benjamin Redlingshöfer:
Within a very short space of time, over 60 companies, including Adidas, Vaude and Head, have pledged their support for this project. This means that business-oriented research is making a further significant contribution to the transfer of research results into innovations available on the market.
Contact
Prof. Florian Puch
Head of Plastics Technology and Scientific Head TITK
Benjamin Redlingshöfer
Managing Director TITK