We create sustainable, plastic-based product and processes innovations with a focus on high-performance polymers and composites.
We achieve the level of ingenuity required for this by implementing an interdisciplinary approach, fusing together the fields of raw materials, construction and processing. In doing so we approach product development with plastics in a holistic way.
Our expertise in the fields of chemistry and analytics, process engineering and structural mechanics blends very well with the surface structuring and functionalisation expertise of the FHNW Institute of Polymer Nanotechnology.
Research focus areas
Selected projects
We support innovative companies in exploring the latest technologies and methods and in translating them into practical applications. We collaborate with national and international research partners and facilitate access to funding opportunities such as Innosuisse projects or European Union research programmes.
Foamed sandwich panels made of recycled mixed plastic
Together with UpBoards GmbH, recycled foamed sandwich panels made of mixed plastic were developed, including an efficient manufacturing process.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Energy and environment, Materials
Electromagnetic shielding with conductive plastic housings
To shield interfering signals from electronics, plastics must meet high EMC requirements. They are then used as substitute materials for die-cast metal housings.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering, Institute of Automation
- Research field
- Automation
Digitization of the temperature control unit
Innovative, model-based thermal industrial systems: Tool Temp AG and three institutes of engineering at the FHNW realized a novel control technology concept.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering, Institute of Automation, Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics
- Research field
- Business processes, Electrical engineering
Functional prosthetic legs made of glass fiber reinforced plastic recyclate
Worldwide, 35 to 40 million people depend on prostheses and orthopedic services. Project Circleg has therefore the goal to develop a prosthetic leg system that is adapted to the needs of People with an amputation in low to middle income countries.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Energy and environment, Materials
Bipolar plates made from conductive polymer compounds
A new approach to produce innovative polymer composite bi-polar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Energy and environment, Materials
Novel method for composite production with injection compression moulding
A novel composite production method, thermoplastic compression resin transfer moulding (TP-CRTM) coupled with injection compression moulding.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Micro- and nano-technology, Mechanical engineering
Integrated RFID tags in polymer injection molding
For the traceability of plastic components, if at all, they are marked with a simple code. The current methods for these codes are complex and do not offer the possibility of storing additional information. In the future, it should be possible to store important characteristic data of the injection molding process, the material properties and the component itself in the component by using an RFID tag.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Energy and environment, Micro- and nano-technology
Improvement of additive manufactured parts by nanofibers
Huntsman’s Miralon material increases mechanical performance and conductivity of thermoplastics for 3D printing and injection moulding.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Mechanical engineering, Micro- and nano-technology
Sustainable recycling of glassfiber reinforced plastic
Plastic waste represents valuable resources. By recycling them and returning them to the materials cycle, we make our contribution to a more sustainable economy and at the same time protect our environment. Our focus is on the recycling of glass fiber-reinforced thermosets.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering, Institute of Bioenergy and Resource Efficiency
- Research field
- Micro- and nano-technology, Energy and environment
Reusability of blister packaging from the medical technology industry
To save raw materials and protect our environment, it is necessary to return plastic waste to the economic cycle by recycling.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Energy and environment, Materials
Durable toe boards made of recycled plastics
Toe boards made of recycled plastic can replace wooden boards for scaffolding construction.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Research field
- Materials
Quality enhancement through digitalisation
Using digital technologies, Biotronik significantly increases the quality of its products.
- Institute
- Institute of Polymer Engineering, Institute of Data Science, Institute of Interactive Technologies
- Research field
- Business processes, Micro- and nano-technology
Laboratories
Lightweight and Composite Lab
In the Lightweight and Composite Lab, fibre-reinforced materials are developed, characterised and tested through to prototypes.
Polymer Processing Lab
The Polymer Processing Lab processes and characterises materials according to established procedures, from formulation through prototyping to reuse.
Polymer Chemistry Lab
We offer synthesis, modification and wet-chemical analyses of plastics, as well as sample preparation and ageing tests.
Analytical Lab for Polymers
The Analytical Lab for Polymers offers the characterisation of plastic samples using thermoanalytical and spectroscopic methods.
Network and partners
CC Schweiz is the Swiss regional department of Carbon Composites e.V." and was chosen as a national thematic network (NTN) by the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI). CC Schweiz focuses on promoting the use of high-performance fibre composite technologies in Switzerland. Our institute is a founding member and co-initiator of CC Schweiz. Prof. Dr. Christian Brauner is acting President of CC Schweiz.
The Innovation Booster promotes the implementation of 100% circular concepts and solutions in Switzerland. Between 2021 and 2024, the program will support Swiss start-ups and established companies with funding and knowledge transfer, helping them to transform their systems and our society from a linear to a circular economy.Prof. Dr. Christian Rytkais a member of the Innovation Booster Applied Circular Sustainabilityconsortium.
Publications
We regularly publish the results of our work in specialist journals and present them at conferences.
Selected publications
- Maurer A, Ulmer J, Rytka C, Kohlenstoffatome aus Plastik recyceln. KunststoffXtra 1-2, 2025
- Krzikalla, P., Rytka C., Möbelkanten – so wird aus Verschnitt Wertstoff, Technische Rundschau, 12/2025
- US 2025/0043151 A1 (2025) Method for producing a foamed polymer composite board from mixed plastic waste, BOXS AG, Rytka, C., Markstaller, R.
- Mit Thermoformen gegen Hüftschäden, Seetaler Bote, 2024
- Rytka C, Krzikalla P, Battaglia S, Volatile Verbindungen in Kunststoffrezyklat, Technische Rundschau, 2024
- Rytka C, Die Vielseitigkeit von Kunststoffen macht es so spannend, bz, 2024
- Werlen V, Rytka C, Dransfeld C, Brauner C, Michaud V. A multiscale consolidation model for press molding of hybrid textiles into complex geometries. Polym Compos. 2024; 1-19. doi:10.1002/pc.28139
- Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW). 26.02.2024. Plastikfrei angeln. FHNW. /de/medien/newsroom/news/plastikfrei-angeln (Zugriff am 22. Oktober 2024).
- Markstaller R, Krzikalla P, Wegmann S, Rytka C, Sandwichplatten aus rezykliertem Kunststoffmix, Kunststoffextra, 2022
- Rytka C., Zurück in den biologischen Kreislauf, Kunststoffextra, 2022, https://kunststoffxtra.com/zurueck-in-den-biologischen-kreislauf/
- Werlen V, Rytka C, Wegmann S, et al. Novel tooling for direct melt impregnation of textile with variotherm injection moulding: Methodology and proof of concept. Journal of Composite Materials. 2022;0(0). doi:10.1177/00219983221130720
- Werlen V., Vocke R., Schwanemann P, Michaud V., Brauner C., Dransfeld C., Rytka C., Consolidation of hybrid textiles for aerospace applications, Composites Meet Sustainability – Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM20. 26-30 June, 2022, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Diaz-Rodenas M., Thommen M., Rytka C., Le Canut J.M., Gschwend G., Queloz S., Tsotra P., Roussel J., Weber J.F., Highly conductive polypropylene based composites for bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, Composites Meet Sustainability – Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM20. 26-30 June, 2022, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Wegmann S.; Rytka C.; Diaz-Rodenas M., Werlen V.; Schneeberger C., Ermanni P., Caglar B., Gomez C., Michaud V., A life cycle analysis of novel lightweight composite processes: Reducing the environmental footprint of automotive structures, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 330, 2022, 129808, ISSN 0959-6526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129808
- Voegelin T, Durchbruch im Recycling von GFK-Abfällen, Kunststoffextra, 2021
- Werlen V., Rytka C., Michaud V., A numerical approach to characterize the viscoelastic behaviour of fibre beds and to evaluate the influence of strain deviations on viscoelastic parameter extraction, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 143, 2021, 106315, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2021.106315
- Bühler R., Thommen M., Le Canut J.-M., Weber J.-F., Rytka C., Tsotra P., Highly conductive polypropylene-based composites for bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Fuel Cells. 2021,1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201900232
- Rytka C, Spezifische Halbzeuge für den 3D-Druck, Kunststoffextra, 2020
- Jakubowsky M., Werder J., Rytka C., Kristiansen M., Neyer A. (2020): Design, manufacturing and experimental validation of a bonded dual component microstructured system for vertical light emission Microsystem Technologies, 26(6), 2087-2093; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-020-04767-z
Swiss Sustainable Polymer Conference SSPC
The Swiss Sustainable Polymer Conference (SSPC) is the first Swiss-wide exchange platform for networking between industry and science in the field of the sustainable transformation of the plastics industry. In addition to informative presentations and laboratory tours, the conference offers showcases from innovative partners and start-ups as well as a wide range of networking opportunities.
About us
Team members of the institute
The interdisciplinary nature of polymer engineering requires a multitude of skills and wide-range expertise as are to be found at our institute: chemists, materials scientists and engineers all work together to develop innovations that can be launched on the market, thereby making a contribution to the competitiveness of the industry.
Team members of the instituteContact
Prof. Dr. Markus Grob
Head of the FHNW Institute of Polymer Engineering
- Phone
- +41 56 202 85 27 (Direct)
- markus.grob@fhnw.ch