TechLab Polymer

Bundled knowledge about PVC as a material - from production and development support to the manufacture of PVC systems. At the Weissenfels site, two test laboratories offer comprehensive quality assurance, consulting and training services.

Test laboratory I

The first test laboratory is integrated into the quality assurance of Schüco PWS Produktions KG and supports the ongoing PVC production with 50 extruders. The production monitoring of the window, door and sliding elements includes not only the material parameters (corner welding & breaking, ash content, Vicat, thermal stability, ball drop test, sun test) but also the testing of the film-laminated profiles (peeling, thermolysis-hydrolysis etc.). A laboratory extruder is also available for testing the use of recycled material and PVC optimizations on the product.

 

Test laboratory II

In the second test laboratory, air permeability, driving rain tightness, resistance to wind load and operating forces can be tested. Pre-approval tests of the elements and development support for new systems are also part of the repertoire. The Test and Training Center (TTC) offers a complete state-of-the-art production line for PVC-U systems, where Schüco technicians and customers are trained under real conditions.

Expertise in polymer. For us, this means that in addition to the typical element tests for air permeability, tightness to driving rain or long-term function, as TechLab Polymer we also have all production-related tests for PVC as a material. With the network of Schüco testing centers OneLab, we can expand not only the exchange of technical expertise but also the understanding of the requirements, possibilities and limits of the different materials. Each of us can learn something here and at the same time teach something new to others.

 

Marko Angermaier - Head of Application Technology & Jens Mende - Quality Management

Testing services at TechLab Polymer

Weathertightness tests

Schüco OneLab has the largest indoor façade test rig in Europe. Connected façade units up to 21 metres wide and 13 metres tall can be tested in the 18 metre-high hall. Schüco can therefore test large and complex three-dimensional constructions under realistic conditions, in order to meet the increasing requirements of customers in the long term.

Service life testing

Here, windows and doors, sliding systems, sun blinds and electric drives are subjected to endurance testing. Windows achieve 20,000 opening and closing cycles and doors up to one million. Modern test benches are available for this purpose, which can achieve opening widths of up to 180°.

Mechanical tests

We want our products to be able to withstand different mechanical loads without resulting in damage. That is why it is necessary to investigate the mechanics of a system in detail. Load tests, such as vertical load, torsion and reveal tests, drop tests, pendulum impact tests and excessive loading of individual components are all carried out by us in-house.

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Material tests

When both the external appearance and the “internal” values of windows and façades throughout the entire lifecycle of the product are being examined, material and surface finish tests such as hardness, colour, gloss and stability measurements are used. From soft to very hard, including toughened and coated profiles, OneLab offers its customers the right test procedure for every material combination – from Brinell, Vickers and Rockwell through to Shore A and D. Whether the profiles are aluminium, steel or PVC, we work with our customers to find the right assessments for every material combination.