Lab Leader Ulrich Hirn and Young Talented Technicians and Scientists
International packaging and paper Group, Mondi, are to support a new venture in paper making that was officially opened on 11th January.
The Christian Doppler Lab for Fibre Swelling and Paper Performance is to be headed by Ulrich Hirn in cooperation with the Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), Mondi and Dutch industry partners Oce Holding B.V, leading producer of digital printing machinery.
This latest project aims to positively combine science and industry to investigate swelling and de-swelling processes during paper production, printing and converting.
Ulrich Hirn said, "in modern high-speed inkjet printing presses the fibre swelling is crucial: less swelling means faster drying but fibre swelling also has a positive impact on paper stability. Based on our investigations we will develop simulation models of the different processes. We aim to find solution to further improve the paper, the printing including inks and equipment as well as the converting in close collaboration with our industry partners."
Harald Kainz, Rector of TU Graz and sponsoring partner reps Leo Arpa from Mondi and Michael Pohlt from Oce, spoke at the opening ceremony about how this is to crate a powerful network of expertise for solving industrial and scientific questions and how it would work with new young talent to achieve meaningful results.