Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has expanded its research and development capabilities at its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. Housed at the new Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Innovation Center, the facility is a critical element in the business area’s global R&D network. Substantial investment in the Innovation Center has seen usable space for R&D increased by 50%, to around 3,000 square meters, including a 300 square meter showroom area dedicated to the department and demonstrating R&D and product innovation capabilities.
Prof. Dr. Konrad Saur, Director Global R&D at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, says: “Innovation is not only about new products and materials, but advancements in analytical and technical capabilities to support problem resolution and to accelerate technological breakthroughs.”
The new Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Innovation Center in Stuttgart will host laboratories with the latest analytical equipment and measurement centers, next to innovation and prototype facilities, as well as a major test area with a fully equipped tool room and a materials laboratory. The capabilities will range from standard mechanical testing to material analytics, including Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Digital Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, to a highly advanced high-resolution Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with an Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX).
Saur continues: “With such capabilities working in combination, complex problems can be assessed and brought to resolution rapidly. No time is lost shipping samples from lab to lab, turnaround times and iterative assessment are enabled as cross-functional competencies work directly together. These capabilities support material and product development efforts, fundamental research of sealing designs and interactions in sealing systems, as well as root cause and failure analysis in production and from the field.
“Customer and field problems resolution is one key service expectation we have. With the new and integrated capabilities in our Innovation Center, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions will continue to make major steps in exceeding our customers’ expectations. Competence counts particularly when it comes to problem resolution and we intend to be there for our customers -always.”
The new Innovation Center is also home to the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions global headquarters, its German headquarters and various global support departments for the business area. Personnel have begun moving into the Innovation Center and its official opening is planned for September 2018.