Laser and plasma technologies are key economic drivers not only in Styria.
On July 7, 2021, Joanneum Research celebrated over 30 years of cutting-edge research at the Styrian site in Niklasdorf. The Federal Minister for Innovation and Technology, Leonore Gewessler, sent a message of greeting. Joanneum Research Managing Director Wolfgang Pribyl, Materials Director Paul Hartmann and Research Group Leader Wolfgang Waldhauser welcomed Provincial Councillor Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, the Rector of the University of Leoben Wilfried Eichlseder, Mayor Johann Marak and laser production specialist Elmar Brandstätter to the ceremony in the morning.
Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler: "Climate protection is a major project and always requires the entire range of measures and is a joint effort. The research work at the Niklasdorf site in the fields of production and materials science is an important part of this. The Ministry of Climate Protection has enjoyed a good working relationship for many years and provides long-term support for research activities. I wish Joanneum Research and the Institute Materials in particular continued success, innovative spirit and exciting research projects that will continue to contribute to climate protection in the coming years."
Science and Research Minister Barbara Eibinger-Miedl: "Decades ago, we started to establish locations in the Styrian regions in addition to Graz. This was first achieved with Niklasdorf and later with Weiz and has developed into a real success story. For this reason, this year we are not only celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Niklasdorf site, but also its most recent expansion. The research group's activities in the field of materials science provide significant support for the local economy and strengthen Styria as a location for innovation and research as a whole."
Managing Director Wolfgang Pribyl: "Production and material sciences have been part of the foundation of Austria's economic success for decades, especially in Styria. The Niklasdorf site with the 'Laser and Plasma Technologies' research group as part of the Joanneum Research Institute Materials contributes significantly to this success. Highly qualified employees and an excellent research infrastructure make a significant contribution to the future of the site. I would particularly like to highlight our expertise in the field of powder bed laser melting, also known as 3D printing. This makes it possible to produce metallic components that were not feasible with previous production processes. Thank you to all our partners from industry and science, to the owners and all our companions, especially the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), who have accompanied and supported this successful path over the long term."
Materials Director Paul Hartmann: "With around 100 employees, Materials is one of the largest institutes in the field of materials science in Austria. Together with the team, I can look back with pride on more than 30 years of cutting-edge research at the Niklasdorf site. We are currently facing one of the greatest challenges, the climate crisis, and have a mission to contribute to overcoming this challenge through research, technology development and innovation. Through research work in the field of photonics as an enabler for modern production technologies, new, resource-saving and therefore environmentally friendly technologies and processes are being developed that will help us to achieve the goals we have set together. This is particularly important against the background of maintaining economic performance, which is the basis of our prosperity."
The ceremony was followed by the scientific seminar on laser production technologies. The keynote speakers were Michael Zäh, Professor at the Technical University of Munich, and Tim Hesse from Trumpf Maschinen Deutschland.
With around 500 employees, Joanneum Research is the second largest non-university research institution in Austria and is well established nationally and internationally in the three subject areas of "Information and Production Technologies", "Human Technologies and Medicine" and "Society and Sustainability". The institution is also co-owner of 18 companies, e.g. spin-offs, as well as competence centers and the Joanneum University of Applied Sciences. The Niklasdorf site with the "Laser and Plasma Technologies" research group is part of Materials, which is one of the largest institutes in Austria with around 100 employees.
Investment in the site
In 2020, Joanneum Research invested in the Niklasdorf site and expanded and modernized the office and laboratory facilities. This made it possible to relocate the coating laboratory, which was previously located in Leoben at the IZW, to Niklasdorf and thus consolidate the site. In November 2020, the entire team of the Laser and Plasma Technologies research group was able to move into the new, well-equipped laboratory and office space of around 2000m2 in Niklasdorf.
A look back: Laser production technology and additive manufacturing
The "Laser Center Leoben" was founded in 1989 to make the up-and-coming technology of laser production engineering more accessible to Austrian industry. In 1990, 30 years after the realization of the first laser (by Theodore Maiman on May 16, 1960), the firstCO2 laser was put into operation at the Niklasdorf site for applied research in the fields of laser cladding, laser alloying and laser welding.
With a constant focus on the needs of customers from industry, the research group now known as "Laser and Plasma Technologies" has now grown to 22 employees. More recently, a strategic development has taken place with the entry into powder bed technology (the so-called 3D printing of metals). A strategic partnership has been established with the Upper Austrian company Inocon Technologie GmbH for the application-oriented atmospheric pressure plasma jet coating technology.
Customers include companies such as Voest, Magna, Engel, AVL, Miba, Salvagnini, Pankl, Ehgartner and Hochwarther. The processes and technologies developed by the researchers at the site can be found in injection molding machines, batteries for e-mobility, production lines in the automotive industry and streetcar sets for Wiener Linien.
