Centre for Metallic Design e. V.
Founded in 1993, the Centre for Metallic Design e. V. works in collaboration with the RWTH Institutes for Ferrous Metallurgy (IEHK), Metal Forming (IBF), Welding and Joining Technology (ISF), Surface Engineering (IOT), Automotive Engineering (IKA) and Steel Construction (STB). The Centre carries out interdisciplinary research and discipline specific study, with a total of more than 200 scientific employees from RWTH.
The merging of these Institutes allows expertise from different research areas to be shared, offering the opportunity of close interdisciplinary working. Consideration of the production, processing and use of materials with a practical reference is also required for teaching. The Centre for Metallic Design connects research, training and information activities.
At temporary exhibitions, demonstration items are presented to members of the university and experts. In application-orientated research projects, the development, production and testing of innovative large components and the development of lightweight components for the construction and transportation sectors are investigated through interdisciplinary collaboration.
The laboratory and workshop area is the core of the research and development facilities. It houses a 22 x 6m steel clamp, and modular production facilities and testing equipment for producing and testing lightweight metal components. In July 2012 the Centre was extended, with the interdisciplinary laboratory space doubling to almost 600m2.