Research community tools and materials
The research community for tools and materials e. V. (FGW) based in Remscheid is a private, non-profit institution for applied research founded in 1952 by the German tool industry. Founded as a neutral service provider for research and development, the FGW supports companies and generates direct technical and economic benefits through industrial transfer. It does this in joint research as well as in direct contract development.
The FGW maintains the three competence fields tools, materials and transformation and innovation.
1. In the tools competence field , the scientific staff deal with industry-related and application-oriented research and development for the tool, cutlery, cutlery and household goods industries. The competencies range from materials technology to construction, process and production engineering to enhanced process design for improved and innovative processes and products.
The focus in the tool competence field is:
- Cutting and separating tools
- forming tools
- Smart actuators
- hand tools
- cutting tools
- power tools
2. The competence field materials includes
- tool materials
- Support body materials
- the application-oriented conception and development of products based on shape memory alloys (SMA). Special systems with thermal shape memory actuators, shape memory-based springs, dampers, sensors and connection technology are developed.
3. In the field of transformation and innovation , the FGW is active in the following areas:
- Additive manufacturing (3D printing)
- simulation
- Digitalization
- Innovation consulting (including scouting)
- Business organization
- knowledge transfer
Furthermore, in the course of digitization, FGW supports companies in digital transformation, starting with technology scouting, developing concepts and feasibility studies, right up to developing prototypes and introducing new processes and technologies.
The VPA Testing and Certification GmbH , which emerged from the VPA Testing and Testing Institute founded in 1923, is also based in the FGW building . The testing organization is concerned with material and component testing, failure analysis as well as the evaluation of product quality and the issuing of test certificates. This also includes the authorization to award the seal for tested safety (GS test mark) on the basis of the Product Safety Act (GPSG), which is an accreditation by the Central Office of the States for Safety Technology (ZLS) and recognition by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs as a GS -Means test center for technical work equipment. The VPA was founded in 1923 by the Bergische tool and cutlery industry to support the local economy and in 1986 it was incorporated into the Forschungsgemeinschaft Werkzeuge und Werkstoffe e. V. incorporated.