The Laboratory for Surface Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering at Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) has received a significant expansion of its research and teaching capacities. Under the direction of Professor Dr. Markus Lake, head of the STAR competence centre and the Laboratory for Surface Engineering, a state-of-the-art suspension spraying system has been put into operation.

This system can be used to produce very thin and finely structured coatings using suspensions in a high-speed flame spraying process. Suspensions are complex mixtures of a solid and a carrier liquid.

The suspension spraying system, developed and manufactured by GTV Verschleißschutz GmbH from Luckenbach (Rhineland-Palatinate), is a technological milestone for the university. "This system allows us to take coating and process development to a new level. It opens up completely new possibilities, particularly in the field of suspension spraying technology for the synthesis of catalytic material and surface systems," explains Professor Dr. Lake. The S-HVOF system is used in both teaching and research and enables students to be introduced to highly specialized technologies in a practical orientation.

The system was officially handed over by University President Dr. Thomas Grünewald, GTV Managing Director Dr. Klaus Nassenstein and Head of Development Dr. Andreas Wank. "We are delighted to place this innovative technology in the hands of such experienced and committed scientists," emphasized Dr. Klaus Nassenstein during the ceremony. Nassenstein was also President of the SME Research and Transfer Network of the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations "Otto von Guericke" e.V. (AiF) until April 2024.

The HSNR is one of the few research facilities in Germany that has this advanced application technology at its disposal. "The development and optimization of the suspensions is carried out in close cooperation with Prof. Dr. Andreas Roppertz from the Faculty of Chemistry," says Prof. Dr. Lake. This interdisciplinary collaboration enables tailor-made solutions to be developed for various industrial applications.

With the new suspension spraying facility, the university is strengthening its position as a leading research facility in the field of Surface Engineering and at the same time creating new opportunities for the development of future-oriented materials and processes.