Shaping the future of plastics testing together
SKZ – The Plastics Center
The long-standing cooperation with the leading testing technology manufacturer is being taken to a new level and further expanded with state-of-the-art technology. With the innovative CRB test and the LTM testing machine, the SKZ is setting new standards in plastics testing – precise, sustainable and future-oriented.
As part of the ZwickRoell Roadshow 2025, the impressive show truck made a stop in Würzburg – a special moment for the SKZ. Included in the luggage was a special award: the SKZ was officially named ZwickRoell’s first partner laboratory.
The SKZ has relied on ZwickRoell’s reliable testing and measurement technology for many years. The partnership that has now been concluded takes this successful collaboration to a new level. As a certified partner laboratory, the SKZ uses a variety of state-of-the-art systems from the renowned manufacturer – for precise, reliable and reproducible test results in terms of future-oriented quality assurance.
Shaping the future of plastics testing together
“This award is not only a confirmation of our long-standing partnership, but also an incentive to actively shape the future of plastics testing together,” says a delighted Dr. Marcus Heindl, Head of the Testing Laboratory Division, adding: “A big thank you to ZwickRoell for the trust they have placed in us – we look forward to many more joint projects.”
CRB test: New standards in PE testing
An outstanding example of the close technical cooperation is the development of a joint case study on the Cracked Round Bar (CRB) test in accordance with ISO 18489.
While previous methods such as the Full Notch Creep Test (FNCT) or the Pennsylvania Edge Notch Tensile Test (PENT) were considered the industry standard, they reveal several disadvantages in practice. These classic methods are often time-consuming, ecologically questionable – especially when critical chemicals are used – and not always sufficiently informative for modern PE 100 RC materials.
The CRB test, on the other hand, offers a number of clear advantages:
It is internationally standardized in accordance with ISO 18489, delivers significantly faster results, does not require the use of any wetting agents and enables much more precise statements to be made about the actual material performance under real operating conditions.
The SKZ is one of the first laboratories in Germany to be officially accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) to carry out the CRB test – another milestone on the road to the highest quality and reliability in plastics testing.
Why the SKZ relies on the LTM testing machine from ZwickRoell
At the SKZ, the CRB test is already being successfully performed using the LTM electrodynamic testing machine from ZwickRoell. The decision in favor of this system was made for several convincing reasons:
The LTM testing machine operates completely electrodynamically, eliminating the need for complex hydraulic components. It enables high-frequency testing with minimal maintenance requirements. Thanks to the closed design, no additional climate chamber is required, which makes operation much easier.
Another advantage is the intuitive operability: control is via ZwickRoell’s powerful testXpert® software, which works on the “plug & play” principle and thus enables fast commissioning and efficient process sequences.
Conclusion: Efficient, sustainable, future-proof
With the CRB test and the innovative LTM testing technology, the SKZ is setting new standards in plastics testing – efficient, sustainable and technologically state-of-the-art. The partnership with ZwickRoell is a strong sign of innovation in action and underlines the SKZ’s claim to be a leading competence center actively shaping the quality standards of the industry.
The complete case study with video
