Research for the future - Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung introduces itself
16.01.2019 | Initiative Automotive
Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH (SZMF) is one of the leading steel research institutes in Europe. Some 280 employees are developing the future of this unique material at sites in Salzgitter and Duisburg. The objective is to improve the steel's material characteristics and processing technologies and to open up new applications and uses. We are presenting Salzgitter Flachstahl's sister companies in a series of articles.
Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH
Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH (SZMF) is the Salzgitter Group's central research company. It grew out of the merger of the research activities of the Mannesmann Forschungsinstitut (MFI) and the Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH Materials Center and is one of the steel sector's leading European research institutes. At the site in Salzgitter, the focus is on research into warm- and cold-rolled strip. The Duisburg site is dedicated to the areas of tube, profile and heavy plate. The competence spectrum for pipes and tubes ranges from welded or seamless precision and line pipes to large-scale pipelines. New steels and processing technologies along the complex process chain are developed with experimental trials and numerical simulations at both sites.
SZMF is tightly networked with universities, research institutes, and companies in Germany and Europe. In addition to classic materials development, the main tasks are product and process development, surface and application technology, and the conceptualization and construction of test systems, as well as the provision of many services.
The customers
In addition to the group companies, SZMF customers include many companies of all sizes and from various industrial sectors, such as the automotive industry, machine and plant construction, energy technology and the construction industry. SZMF offers these customers industrial contract research for the development and characterization of metal and composite materials. Using accredited test laboratories, the group's researchers also conduct error and loss analyses for customers and they prepare the corresponding reports.
"We have a broad array of the latest technical equipment in our development and test laboratories," reports SZMF managing director Dr. Benedikt Ritterbach. But he wants to avoid misunderstanding. "However our experts, with all their knowledge, skill and ingenuity, play the most important role." They have access to the latest scientific findings and to knowledge about products, processes and applications gained in a company history going back more than 75 years.
SZMF has divided all research and development activities into six key areas to assist the researchers and developers in Salzgitter and Duisburg in mastering the diverse tasks they face.
We inform you about Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH's core areas in the second part of the series.