Research, testing and further education institute for plastics: testing, certification, material development and processing along the entire value chain.
SKZ – Das Kunststoff-Zentrum (FSKZ e.V.)
Würzburg · Halle (Saale) · Horb am Neckar · Peine · Selb · Obernburg am Main · DubaiNew on Amplifa
About SKZ
SKZ – The Plastics Centre is an institute founded in 1961 and based in Würzburg that offers services for the plastics industry along the entire value chain. Its services include plastics research and contract research, material and product testing in the accredited testing laboratory, failure analysis, product certification (including CE, SKZ certificates, drinking water, RAP Stra 15, VinylPlus, OCS) and certification of management systems. In terms of processes, SKZ covers injection moulding, extrusion, compounding, blow moulding, thermoforming, additive manufacturing, adhesive bonding, thermal joining technologies, surface technology, fibre composite technology and dispersion technology. In terms of materials, its work ranges from thermoplastics such as PVC, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates and styrene copolymers to TPEs, thermosets, elastomers, biopolymers, WPC, composites/GFRP and high-performance plastics. Customers include the plastics industry, automotive supply, chemicals, medical technology, construction, pipeline engineering and the circular economy. In addition to Würzburg, there are locations in Halle, Horb, Peine, Selb and Obernburg, as well as a training centre in Dubai.
- Site
- Würzburg
- Processes
- Injection moulding, Extrusion, Compounding, Blow moulding, Thermoforming, Additive manufacturing (3D printing, SLS, SLA, DLP, FLM), Adhesive bonding of plastics, Thermal joining technologies / plastic welding (heated tool socket welding).
- Materials
- PVC – polyvinyl chloride, TPE – thermoplastic elastomers, WPC – wood polymer composites, Biopolymers / bioplastics, Thermosetting moulding compounds / thermosets, Elastomers, Polyolefins, Polyesters
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 (accredited testing laboratory), DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020 Type A (inspection body), DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065 (product certification/CE), DIN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1 (certification body), DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 (testing laboratory, DAkkS), DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020 Type A (inspection body, DAkkS), DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065 (product certification, DAkkS), DIN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1 (certification body, DAkkS)
- Founded
- 1961
- Employees
- 450
- Industries
- Plastics industry, Automotive suppliers, Chemicals, Medical technology, Construction/Construction products, District heating/Pipeline engineering
- 01
Contract research and material development
- 02
Compounding
- 03
Injection moulding · Extrusion · Blow moulding · Thermoforming
- 04
Additive manufacturing
- 05
Joining (welding, adhesive bonding)
- 06
Surface technology
- 07
Material and product testing
- 08
Product and management system certification
- 09
Product surveillance
- 10
Further education
Locations
Würzburg
DEHeadquarters, research, testing, accredited testing laboratory, education
- Materials
- Plastics of all groups
- Injection moulding machines
- Technical centre
- Testing laboratory
- Computed tomography
- Spectroscopy
Halle (Saale)
DEBranch, composites/fibre composite research
- Materials
- GFRP, composites
Horb am Neckar
DEBranch
Peine
DEBranch
Selb
DEEuropean Centre for Dispersion Technology (EZD)
- Materials
- Paints, coatings, dispersions
Obernburg am Main
DEAnalytik Service Obernburg GmbH (ASO), analytics
- Materials
- Plastics
Dubai
AETraining centre
Services and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection mouldingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics |
| ExtrusionPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics |
| CompoundingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics |
| Blow mouldingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics |
| ThermoformingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastics |
| Additive manufacturing (3D printing, SLS, SLA, DLP, FLM)Additive | – | – | – | – | Plastics, Filament, Powder |
| Adhesive bonding of plasticsJoining | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Thermal joining technologies / plastic welding (heated tool socket welding).Joining | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Surface technology / coatings (powder coating, corona, plasma)Surface | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Fibre composite technology / laminating (composites, GFRP)Plastics | – | – | – | – | GFRP, Composites |
| Dispersion technology (dispersing)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Paints, Coatings, Dispersions |
| Polymer synthesisPlastics | – | – | – | – | Polymers |
| Recycling / plastic processing (recompounds)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Plastics, Recyclate |
| Plastic material analysis (accredited testing laboratory to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025)Testing | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Product testing and failure analysis for plasticsTesting | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Non-destructive testing (computed tomography CT, ultrasound, thermography, microwave radar).Testing | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Spectroscopy (NIR, MIR, SWIR, NMR, Raman-like methods)Testing | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Mechanical-technological testing (tensile test, bend testing, impact strength, Charpy, Izod).Testing | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Thermal analysis (DSC, DMA, TGA, dielectric analysis)Testing | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Long-term testing (hydrostatic pressure testing, media storage, climate cycling test).Testing | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Product certification (CE certificates, SKZ certificates, OCS, drinking water, RAP Stra 15,Testing | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
| Certification of management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, FW 605)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Socket assembly on plastic jacket pipes (district heating, FW 605)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Plastic jacket pipes |
| Component property measurement technology (particle measurement, surface analysis, layer thicknessTesting | – | – | – | – | Plastics |
Additional services
Quality and Accreditations
SKZ operates a testing laboratory accredited by DAkkS to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 as well as an inspection body (ISO/IEC 17020 Type A), a product certification body (ISO/IEC 17065) and a certification body for management systems (ISO/IEC 17021-1, D-ZM-17265-01-01). Testing spectrum: mechanical-technological testing, thermal analysis, spectroscopy, non-destructive testing (CT, ultrasound, thermography) and long-term testing.
| Evidence | Würzburg |
|---|---|
| DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 (testing laboratory, DAkkS) | |
| DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020 Type A (inspection body, DAkkS) | |
| DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065 (product certification, DAkkS) | |
| DIN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1 (certification body, DAkkS) |
History
- 1961
Foundation of the Funding Association for the South German Plastics Centre (FSKZ) in Munich on the initiative of the Bavarian State Institute for Trade and Industry
- 1964
First technical centre in Würzburg; recognition as an official testing institute for plastics
- 1972
Member of the Association of European Plastics Institutes (ADICEP)
- 1974
First extension building; first SKZ quality mark awarded
- 1980
Start of training of plastics quality inspectors
- 1987
Recognised testing body of the International Hockey Federation (FIH)
- 1994
Opening of the management certification body
- 2000
Accreditation as testing laboratory of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
- 2005
Completion of the Technology Centre in the East industrial area of Würzburg; Martin Bastian becomes institute director
- 2017
Acquisition of Analytik Service Obernburg GmbH (ASO)
- 2021
Approx. 450 employees across the locations