Sandra Schlögl is the new Scientific Director at PCCL

On November 1, 2025, Priv.-Doz. DI Dr. Sandra Schlögl took over as Scientific Director of Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH (PCCL) and will continue to expand and strengthen our research center together with Managing Director DI Dr. Elisabeth Ladstätter.

The appointment followed the tragic and untimely death of long-time scientific director Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kern in September 2024. Wolfgang Kern had a decisive influence on the PCCL over many years and built it into an internationally recognized center for polymer science and technology.

After an intensive search, Priv.-Doz. DI Dr. Sandra Schlögl, a long-standing leader from within our own ranks, was recruited for this key position.

Sandra Schlögl has been with the company since 2006 and has headed the “Chemistry of Functional Polymers” division since 2017. In recent years, she and her team have made a decisive contribution to the scientific excellence and international visibility of the center. Her appointment marks a consistent continuation of the center's commitment to scientifically excellent and industry-oriented research. 

PCCL Family Afternoon under the motto “Hands-on Research”

Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH (PCCL) invited the loved ones of its employees to an afternoon event on August 29 under the motto “Hands-on Research.” The turnout was huge, with visitors of all ages.

What is the purpose of “hands-on research”?

On August 29, 2025, Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH (PCCL) hosted its first afternoon event exclusively for the family members, friends, and acquaintances of its employees. The goal was to give the employees' loved ones a better understanding of their daily research work. Seventy family members, friends, and partners came by that afternoon to learn more about the work their loved ones do.

Visitors are very proud of the research their loved ones are doing in Leoben.

There were many exciting experiments and research results to see in various rooms at both locations in Leoben (Sauraugasse and Roseggerstraße). The research on display is used to develop important products and processes that can be used in a wide variety of fields, from medicine to aviation. It quickly became clear to all visitors that

“research is anything but boring!” and “plastics are not evil, they are important recyclable materials.”

The proud faces of our researchers and their loved ones were impossible to miss! Because these great research results are developed by “mom,” “dad,” “boyfriend,” “girlfriend,” or even “club colleague” in their work at the PCCL.

At the end, there was a delicious snack with soft drinks in the courtyard of the IZW building. Meanwhile, the little ones made research-related crafts at the craft table and made new friends. The parents were able to relax a little until young and old alike could finally enjoy Italian ice cream from the ice cream truck.

All in all, “Hands-on Research” was a very successful afternoon, and the entire company is already looking forward to the second edition next year!

PCCL exhibits at Vienna Museum of Science and Technology

On June 17, 2025, we had the pleasure of attending the opening of the “More than Recycling” exhibition at the Vienna Museum of Science and Technology. We are showing exhibits on new repair concepts for plastic products until the end of 2026. These were created as part of our ongoing FFG COMET module “Repairtecture - Innovative repair concepts for polymer-based materials and components along their lifetime”.

Many thanks to the Montanuniversität and especially to Rector Peter Moser for the opportunity to make our joint research results accessible to the general public. Our colleagues Sandra Schlögl, Michael Berer, Markus Wolfahrt and Mathias Fleisch had the opportunity to represent the research location Leoben with him.

First General Board Meeting of our COMET-K1 Center in the new funding period

On June 16, 2025, we successfully started the next funding period with the first General Board Meeting, the meeting of all partners of the Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL-K1). The aim of the new research program is to actively contribute to solving current global problems related to the production, application and disposal of plastics. The project will run for four years with a project volume of more than €22 million

The center brings together the expertise of more than 40 partners from science and industry. The key project partners include AT&S, Pankl Racing Systems and SKF Sealing Solutions Austria on the corporate side and the University of Leoben and Graz University of Technology on the university side.

Second call for paper/poster 3rd International IPPT_TWINN conference on Metal replacement and lightweight polymer composites

SECOND CALL FOR PAPER/POSTER

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to our 3rd IPPT_TWINN international conference on Metal replacement and lightweight polymer composites, which will be held during June 4th-5th 2025 at Faculty of Polymer Technology, Slovenia and on-line.

The aim of the 3rd IPPT_TWINN conference is to connect different stakeholders from industry and academia interested in the topic of metal replacement and lightweight polymer composites, with the focus on the important industry sectors where lightweight polymer composites are most widely used: automotive, aerospace, marine, sports equipment, energy, building sector and others, including sessions on end-of-life solutions (circularity), new materials and technologies.

Main goals are to share knowledge, good practices, ideas and to make new connections between R&D institutions and companies and between different companies in the value chain. With interesting presentations on status and trends, new research findings and innovations, real life case studies from companies, a panel discussion of experts and B2B meetings we expect to create new partnerships and value chains between and among academia and industry stakeholders.

The conference participation is FREE of charge and is organized within the IPPT_TWINN project. More about the project on IPPT-TWINN webpage.

TOPICS OF THE CONFERENCE AND RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS

• Trends, challenges, and new opportunities in lightweight polymer composites, including innovative materials and advanced composites
• Cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, processes, and design optimisation strategies for composite materials and metal replacement Use cases of polymer recycled materials for different industry applications
• Applications in key sectors such as automotive, aerospace, marine, sports equipment, wind energy adding sectores building…, and other emerging fields, with a focus on sector-specific challenges and solutions
• Circularity solutions, sustainable practices, and end-of-life management in composite manufacturing, addressing environmental concerns and regulatory requirements
• New prediction models, simulation techniques, and testing methodologies for composite materials, including performance analysis and long-term durability assessments
• Cost-effective solutions and strategies for large-scale adoption of lightweight composites across various industries

The objective of this conference is to share knowledge, good practices, ideas and to make new connections between R&D institutions and companies and between different companies in the value chain. With interesting presentations on status and trends, new research findings and innovations, real life case studies from companies, a panel discussion of experts and B2B meetings and scientific contributions on state of the art research in this field, we expect to create new partnerships and value chains between and among academia and industry stakeholders.

The abstract submission for oral/poster contribution is now extended till the 30th of March 2025.

Event: “Balancing Employment & Care Work”

Save the Date: March 6, 2025, 3 PM

Location: Meeting room, 4th floor IZW, Roseggerstraße 12, 8700 Leoben

"Balancing Employment & Care Work" – an afternoon discussing the topic of managing work and care responsibilities!

• Discussion on work-life balance with testimonials
• Workshop on "mental load" and redistribution of care work led by Genderwerkstätte
• Networking with snacks and refreshments
• Info material from regional counseling centers
• Exchange with representatives from Frauen- und Mädchenberatungsstelle Obersteiermark Ost

The event is free and open to all genders

Languages: German and English.
Limited spots - Registration: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Best Poster Award for our colleague Johanna Uher

Congratulations to Johanna Uher!

We're happy that our colleague Johanna Uher won the Best Poster Award at the Young Polymer Researchers Austria Meeting (YPRA) in Weiz.
Title: "Reformable bio-based thiol-ene vitrimers for nanoimprint lithography"

32. Leoben-Conference on Polymer Engineering & Science, Nov. 21 and 22, 2024

We are thrilled to announce that the 32nd Leoben Conference on Polymer Engineering and Science will take place on November 21^st and 22^nd, 2024.
This year’s theme, "New Materials - New Perspectives," promises to deliver cutting-edge insights and discussions.
As every year, the conference is jointly organized by PCCL and the Department for Polymer Engineering and Science Leoben.

Brand New This Year
The 32nd Leoben Conference on Polymer Engineering and Science will kick off with a panel discussion in German on the topic of polymers in a world without oil.

We will be welcoming high-caliber guests from business, science, and research to Leoben:

• Harald Bleier, Ecoplus
• Alexander Kronimus, Plastics Europe
• Markus Seidel, BMW Group
• Martin Wimmer, Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology
• Andreas Leitner, OMV AG

Additional Highlights

• Presentation of the POLYMER SCIENCE SCHOOL AWARD
• Presentations from successful spin-off companies
• A poster session featuring innovative research
• A networking dinner on the evening of the first day

And the rest of the scientific program is also taking shape! Get more infos on the conference website --> https://www.unileoben.ac.at/polymerevents/

We look forward to welcoming you!

Approval of another four-year funding period for our COMET Center

The Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH (PCCL) remains on course for success.

Following an intensive evaluation by a panel of experts from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the outstanding level of performance was confirmed. The PCCL is now delighted to have received approval for a further four-year funding period for the COMET research center "Centre for Circularity, Functionality and Digitalization in Polymer Technologies", with a total volume of approx. 22.6 million euros.
The Centre will be funded by the FFG and the Austrian federal provinces of Styria via SFG, Upper Austria and Vorarlberg for the period from 2025 to 2028.

The declared goals are to contribute to the solution to current global problems related to the production, application and disposal of polymer-based products and to provide answers with high socio-economic impacts. With its active role in the circularity and sustainability of polymers, our consortium of 18 scientific and 40 company partners will increase its contributions to both the UN Sustainability Goals and the Green New Deal for Europe. Therefore, 16 individual projects were jointly defined in an ambitious research programme.

Walter Stephan resigns as a member of the Supervisory Board after 15 years

Walter Stephan has announced his resignation after more than 15 years on the Supervisory Board.

Our Managing Directors Elisabeth Ladstätter and Wolfgang Kern as well as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board Willi Simma have thanked him for his support as a founding member and valuable advisor to our research institute.

We wish him all the best for the future!