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Faculty of Polymer Technology is the only one in South East Europe offering holistic study programs in polymer technology, covering all aspects: Chemistry and Materials Science, Design and Simulation, Processing, Characterization of polymer materials and Applications.

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Presentation of UP FTPO Research at IRT Forum 2026

Friday, June 12, 2026

/ Categories: News

Presentation of UP FTPO Research at IRT Forum 2026

The IRT Forum (Innovation, Development, Technology) has long been recognized as one of the most important professional events for Slovenian industry, bringing together representatives of industry, research organizations, and development institutions. This year’s IRT Forum 2026 took place on 8 and 9 June in Portorož and was attended by representatives of the University of Primorska Faculty of Polymer Technology (UP FTPO), teaching assistant Tamara Rozman and Head of the Centre for Cooperation with Industry, Silvester Bolka.

On the second day of the forum, they presented two professional papers focusing on the development and enhancement of recycled polymer materials for demanding industrial applications.

Silvester Bolka presented the paper entitled “Improving the Properties of Recycled PA66 GF15 with Various Additives”, co-authored by Tamara Rozman, Rajko Bobovnik, Blaž Nardin, and representatives of O.P.S. Breznik. The research examined possibilities for improving mechanically recycled PA66 reinforced with 15% glass fibres through the use of various additives, including ground waste from wind turbine blades, polyester thermoset dust, compatibilizers, and lubricating additives.

The results demonstrated that an appropriate combination of additives can significantly influence the mechanical, thermal, and processing properties of the material. Certain formulations exhibited increased stiffness and strength, opening new possibilities for the use of recycled thermoplastic composites in demanding technical applications.

Tamara Rozman presented the paper “Reinforcement of Mechanically Recycled PETG with Thermoset Waste for Injection Moulding and 3D Printing Applications”, co-authored by Silvester Bolka, Rajko Bobovnik, and Blaž Nardin. The study investigated the use of recycled PETG reinforced with ground thermoset composite waste.

The results showed that the developed composite is suitable for both injection moulding and 3D FGF printing directly from pellets. A particularly interesting finding was that, for certain properties, the 3D-printed specimens achieved comparable or even superior performance to injection-moulded parts. The developed material therefore represents a promising solution for large-format 3D printing and the production of technically demanding products.

The presented papers highlight UP FTPO’s commitment to the development of sustainable materials and the principles of the circular economy, while also demonstrating the importance of linking research activities with the current needs of industry.

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Faculty of Polymer Technology is a private non-profit higher education and research institution based in Slovenj Gradec

Faculty of Polymer Technology is a private non-profit higher education and research institution based in Slovenj Gradec. It was founded in 2006 as Polymer Technology College and was promoted to Faculty by the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in February 2017.

Its founders are companies from Slovene plastics industry (Adient Slovenj Gradec d.o.o., Grammer Automotive Slovenija d.o.o., Plastika Skaza d.o.o., Kopur d.o.o., BSH Hišni aparati d.o.o. Nazarje), Regional institutions (Municipality of Slovenj Gradec, RRA Koroška d.o.o) and Industry associations/Research organisations (GIZ Grozd Plasttehnika, TECOS - Razvojni center orodjarstva Slovenije).

Others about us

Boris Maroh, inž. tehnol. pol.
Researcher - Polymer competence center Leoben GmbH

I will always remember countless debates from all the lectures that our group of eight students attended. We were the first generation of MA students of Polymer Technology. My Master’s degree enabled me to continue my career path in polymer materials abroad, as well as to continue my studies at University of Leoben.

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Igor Skaza,, Owner and Managing Director of
Plastika Skaza d.o.o.

The services that the Faculty of Polymer Technology offers help solve the problems that we encounter in our production and development of products. They help us reach our company goals. We have been successfully cooperating for many years; they offer quality solutions and are a responsive and a reliable partner that helps us grow and fulfil our mission – to create high quality products from Eco-friendly Plastics.

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Tadeja Rožanc,
Graduate

The faculty organises meetings with foreign experts and professionals, company visits, use of laboratory, and a whole list of practically oriented skills which definitely play a much more decisive role when talking to employers than the actual evaluation grades in the grade book.

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Žan Skodlar,
BA Student of Polymer Technology

The studies at FTPO are practically oriented and offer lectures from a range of professionals connected to the business sector as well, which quarantines high quality education for the students and enables them to have excellent employment opportunities.

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Education, Research and Industry cooperation

As the only academic institution focusing on polymer technology in Slovenia, Faculty of Polymer Technology bases its activities on three pillars: Education, Research and Industry cooperation. We provide our students with the necessary knowledge and skills to become innovative and competent engineers that are fit for responsible tasks in their future assignments. We support society and industry in Slovenia and beyond to cope with the increasingly competitive economic and rapidly changing technological environment by knowledge creation through innovative application oriented research on polymer materials and technologies, Know-How transfer and opportunities for life long learning. We live by our values – Responsiveness, Continuous improvement, Practical Attitude and Personal Approach – to achieve these goals.