Green solutions for industry – TU Wien presents new technologies in Hanover

At this year's incarnation of the world's largest industrial exhibition, Vienna University of Technology will be presenting several technical innovations: fast genetic technology tests for water and foods, 3D printers for new materials, tailor-made designed surfaces and a new sintering method for the production of metal components will be presented.

Furthermore, TU Wien will demonstrate how useful materials can be obtained from apparently worthless sources: Biotechnology processes can extract expensive materials from waste water. High quality biological natural gas can be produced from normal biogas using desulphurisation.

Valuable materials from waste – TU Wien has led the way in the field of waste processing for many years.

Otherwise burdensome waste can become a valuable source of energy: today we can even obtain high quality fuel from biological waste. At the Hanover Fair, new methods for the treatment and desulphurisation of biogas will be presented by TU Wien, alongside the demonstration of a novel concentration method for fruit juices, sugar or lactic acid.

TU Wien will demonstrate for the first time how valuable materials such as biological plastics and carotinoids can be obtained from industrial waste water and waste which contains organic material. There is a demand for these products in the food and the pharmaceutical industries, amongst others.

TU Wien's research into complex biotechnology process has reached the stage at which simple-to-use processes can be implemented for the production of these expensive materials, demonstrating how efficiency can be increased by reducing of waste and making industrial processes more ecologically friendly.

Quick tests for safe food and clean water

Microorganisms, allergens, faecal contamination – there are many contaminants which we certainly do not wish to find in our food or water. Using DNA-based methods, TU Wien has been able to develop precise and tailor-made quick tests for a wide range of substances. These tests are cheap and simple and rather than sending samples to a laboratory, the tests can be easily carried out on site. Among other tests, the first quick test for allergens which has been tested in practice will be presented.

High precision and strength from 3D printers

Hardly any other technology has greater potential to revolutionise our daily lives than the 3D printer. Instead of buying mass-produced products, we will increasingly be able to flexibly produce individually adapted products or small series. However, until now the limited range of materials which can be printed using 3D printers and surface precision have presented difficulties. TU Wien is the international leader in the development of high-precision 3D printing processes for new materials, such as ceramics or biopolymers for medical applications.

Hard and durable: metals and surface design

How can we produce precisely formed, durable metal objects? With
powder-metallurgy moulding production, components are mixed in powder form, pressed into shape and sintered at high temperatures under pressure. For many years TU Wien has worked in partnership with the world's leading companies in the sintering industry and has continued to develop its methods. New technologies now allow a drastic reduction in energy consumption for the production of the powder and a considerable reduction of costs. In addition, improved quality and better adaptation to various requirements can be achieved in the production of components and dusting is greatly reduced.

For the manufacture of tools and highly stressed components, a strong material alone is not sufficient – a suitable surface is also required, which can be systematically designed and tailored to specific requirements. In this way, metals, ceramics or polymers are made wear-resistant, hard, elastic or heat and acid resistant as required. This results in longer maintenance intervals (up to a factor of 10), better efficiency and a significant reduction of costs.

TU Wien start-ups in Hanover

TU Wien will not only present its own 'new to the market technologies' at the Hanover Fair, but also successful partner companies: In Hall 2, Stand D07, in the context of the initiative for technology transfer, 11 start-ups from TU Wien will each demonstrate their products and services for one day. These companies were founded by researchers or graduates from the TU Wien and market expertise or inventions from TU Wien.

You can now register as an editor or journalist for a guided press tour through the shared TU Wien stand. Please register at: forschungsmarketing@tuwien.ac.at

For further information about the TU Wien presentation at the Hanover Fair:
http://www.tuwien.ac.at/HM2014/

For more information, please contact:
About the TU Wien presentation at the Hanover Fair:
Peter Heimerl
Research Marketing
Vienna University of Technology
Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Wien, Austria
Tel: +43 (1) 58801-406110
M: +43 (0)664-605 88 3320
peter.heimerl@tuwien.ac.at

About the TU Wien start-ups at the Hanover Fair:
Peter Karg
Research and Transfer Support
Vienna University of Technology
Favoritenstrasse 16, 1040 Wien, Austria
Tel: +43 (1) 58801-41535
M: +43 (0)664/605884535
peter.karg@tuwien.ac.at

Author:
Dr Florian Aigner
Public Relations Office
Vienna University of Technology
Operngasse 11, 1040 Wien, Austria
Tel: +43-1-58801-41027
florian.aigner@tuwien.ac.at

TU Wien – member of TU Austria
www.tuaustria.at

http://www.tuwien.ac.at/HM2014/ Further information, Picture download