News

The aim of the conference is to connect different stakeholders from industry, academia design studios, brand owners and all involved in the packaging life cycle. Main goals are to share knowledge, good practices, ideas and to make new connections in the transformation from linear to circular packaging supply chains and business models.

With interesting presentations, real life case studies from companies and masterclasses from experts, we expect to create new partnerships and value chains between and among academia and industry stakeholders. Also hands- on workshop will be organized based on the method developed from the Ellen McArthur Foundations.

More info coming soon!

Plastic gears conference aims to bring together theorists, experimentalists and industrialists in the field of polymer gears research as well as applications. The conference will be held from 17th to 18th June 2021 at the Faculty of Polymer Technology (FTPO) in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia. We hope to provide a venue for discussions between scientists and engineers from academia and industry, bridging fundamental and applied aspects of the polymeric gears.

Due to the unfortunate Covid-19 situation, the conference will be organised as a hybrid conference, online and onsite.

As part of the Start Circles project, an international virtual conference was held on 3 February 2021, at which the existing R&D competencies in the field of the circular economy were presented, with an emphasis on plastic and wood materials in Slovenia and Austria. Examples of good innovation practices in Slovenian and Austrian companies as a result of cooperation with research organizations were presented. A representative of Tiko Pro company presented the upcoming possibilities for obtaining EU funds for the introduction of circular solutions in companies. According to Tiko Pro, cooperation with research institutions is crucial for successful EU projects applications. At the round table, moderated by dr. Aleš Ugovšek, representatives of research organizations and companies presented their views on circularity. The event was held in three languages (slo, nem, ang), with simultaneous translation.

Lecturers' presentations are available via the links in the Agenda.

Event recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jTP4DvL2CQ

At Faculty of Polymer Technology the composites with thermoplastic matrix and waste biomass are produced.

Check our video presentation, how waste biomass as reinforcement for plastic to make also technical parts, waste paper as biomas was compounded into PE-HD matrix. In this case, the biobased PE-HD was used. On the end of the video presentation also some injection moulded parts are presented. As you can see, our biocomposite, which is biobased, is also suitable for technical parts.

For all additional information we are at your disposal.

The Polymetal is project in the frame of the »Cooperation Programme Interreg V-A Slovenia-Austria«. The main goal of the project is the cross-boarder cooperation, networking and joint R&D of SMEs, R&D institutions from less developed, non-urban areas and one of the leading European home appliances manufacturer on the development of polymer based solutions, which could replace stainless steel or aluminum for design demanding products in different sectors. Project partners are: Gorenje (lead partner), FTPO, MUL, PCCL, Intralighting and Hiebler. The project represents a good example of cross-boarder collaboration of R&D on a demanding technological challenge, which already led to new joint R&D activities, fostered the basis for new products&processes and led to sustainable growth and increased internationalization.

At Faculty of Polymer Technology the composites with addition of high thermal conductivity filler (boron nitride) into thermoplastic matrix (polypropylene) are presented. Check our video presentation where compounding, injection moulding and characterization are presented. As you can see, our composites can achieve high thermal conductivity values.

For all additional information we are at your disposal.

Sewage sludge occurs in wastewater treatment process, regardles the wastewater technology applied. It presents up to 40% of wastewater treatment costs and therefore impacts every household water bill.

Sludge drying reed beds are a natural technology for sludge mineralisation, dewatering and stabilisation. The main benefits of the technology is its' low energy consumption and low operating costs. The technology is GHG emission-free. The case was contributed by LIMNOS Ltd.

The material obtained is humus, but in case of heavy metal containment, the material can be recycled for bioplastics.

For the compatibilization of humus into thermoplastic matrix the recycled polypropylene was chosen. To achive good distribution of humus inside the composite and also to prevent thermal and oxidative degradation lubricant, antioxidant and compatibilizer were added. Tests were done with addition of 15 wt.% and 30 wt.% of humus into the composite. The stiffness rise for 2 % and 13 %, the strength decreases for 15 % and 21 %, also the elongation at break decreases for 79 % and 87 % for the composites with 15 wt.% and 30 wt.% of humus respectively.

The sewage sludge can be used as filler for thermoplastic matrix for the static loaded parts with low deformation or low load. 

In February 2020, five new pieces of equipment were acquired at the FTPO laboratory:

• Two BAOPIN BP-8176-B single-pole extruders, 

• BAOPIN BP-8170-B hydraulic press, 

• Two TOOL-TEMP TT-248 temperature control units.

In recent days, the lives of all of us have turned upside down. We are aware of our vulnerability and, at the same time, our dependence on communication, which is fortunately enabled by modern technologies to some extent. Working from home can be quite hard, especially when we work on group projects and communication is not very clear, and we play ping-pong with e-mail documents.

Dear students / professors / business partners / visitors of the Faculty of Polymer Technology.

The links below provide up-to-date information and guidance regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19):

-  NIJZ https://www.nijz.si/,

-  Ministrstvo za zdravje https://www.gov.si/teme/koronavirus/,

- MIZŠ https://www.gov.si/drzavni-organi/ministrstva/ministrstvo-za-izobrazevanje-znanost-in-sport/,

- ZMDPŠ  https://www.anticovid.zmdps.si/.

Due to the growth of all the activities of the Faculty, we decided to expand the facilities for laboratories. The new achievement of the Faculty was celebrated on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 with a Grand opening held at the premises of the Faculty of Polymer Technology.

 Pulp and Paper Institute and Faculty of Polymer Technology in cooperation with SRIP (Strategic Development and Innovation Partnership) - The circular economy of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce successfully concluded with the 1st International Conference on Circular Packaging, held in Ljubljana on September 26-27, 2019.

FTPO in cooperation with Pulp and Paper Institute, Ljubljana presents 1. International Circular Packaging Conference. The conference will be held from 26. to 27. September 2019 in Ljubljana. One of the members of the Scientific committee is our Acting Dean, izr. prof. dr. Miroslav Huskić.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, in the computer room of FTPO, Matjaž Podgoršek, univ. dipl. inž. str., successfully finished his habilitation process with a Probationaly Public Lecture  titled “3D modeliranje gravurnih oblik v orodju za injekcijsko brizganje termoplastov” for election to the title of university teacher - lecturer for the field of Technology and construction.

On 27th of February 2019, the first meeting of the management committee for COST Action CA18112 - Mechanochemistry for Sustainable Industry was held in Brussels. In the management committee Slovenia is represented by the Dean of FTPO, Doc. Dr. Thomas Wilhelm.

The date, 14th of February 2019, has become a major milestone for the Faculty of Polymer Technology. At 9 a.m. in the FTPO's meeting room, was held a festive event signing a memorandum of understanding for leasing a new laboratory between representatives of FTPO and representatives of a company NIG nadzor, inženiring in gradbeništvo d.o.o..

On 29th of Jauary 2019 FTPO was pleased to welcome Dr. Pankaj Kumar, the Head of Indian Business Delegation.

On 21st of January 2019 Silvester Bolka conducted all day schooling for Lehmann & Voss & Co. KG at the company headquarters in Hamburg. Training  was titled "Training for Thermal Analysis in Practice".

We are welcoming Associate Professor Dr. Miroslav Huskić, who joined FTPO as full time employee effective January 1st, 2019.

The 1. International Conference "Nano4Circularity - Opportunities in the circular economy” was held under the auspices of the “Institute for Environmental Protection and Sensors” and the “Stajerska Gospodarska Zbornica (Styrian Chamber of Commerce)” at Hotel Maribor in Maribor.

On Tuesday, November 20th, 2018, Mag. Maja Turičnik, successfully finished her habilitation process with a public lecture titled “”The Third Group of the Periodic Table of the Elements”.