Saint-Petersburg Materials Testing Machine Still In Use After 136 Years
Ulm, Germany – Russia’s Saint-Petersburg State Transport University was declared the winner of a contest to find the oldest materials testing machine still in use. Sponsored by Zwick/Roell AG, an Ulm, Germany-based leader in material and component testing equipment, the contest attracted entrants from around the world. “We are pleased to present this award, which honors the proud history of the materials testing industry,” said Josef Leyendecker, global services manager for Zwick.
The award, presented to representatives of the university during the 21st testXpo at Zwick’s Ulm headquarters in October, included a EU 10,000 credit toward new Zwick test equipment. As an added attraction, participants’ names were entered into a drawing for an Apple iPad 2. The origins of materials testing machines can be traced back several centuries, Leyendecker said. Equipment of this type can last quite a long time if well maintained, he said.
The 100-ton power horizontal hydraulic testing machine in use by the university was built in Nurnberg, Germany in 1876 by Ludwig Werder and installed a year later in the school’s Mechanical Laboratory. The Werder machine was originally used to test the strength of stay cables, suspension bridge chains and guy ropes for communication towers. Upgraded to use an electric motor early in the 20th century, the machine is still used to test ropes. Due to wear of some parts, the Werder machine cannot be used for tension testing of samples. However the machine is successfully used for the gauging of superimposed mechanical dynamometers for ropes bending control. No longer in use but preserved with the machine is the cast iron colonnade for its beam crane. The beam crane is considered as technical creative work and is protected by the Monuments Keeping Commission.
About Zwick USA
Zwick USA engages, services and supports the North American material and component testing marketplace. Capitalizing on Zwick/Roell AG’s 150-year legacy of quality and reliability, Zwick USA has provided cutting edge solutions to customers in North America for more than 20 years. Zwick USA continues its emphasis on excellence, pairing the latest developments in test technologies with industryleading software to address increasingly demanding applications.
About Zwick/Roell
Zwick/Roell AG is one of the world’s leading suppliers of material and component testing systems. The company supplies both standard and tailor-made solutions for the most demanding requirements – in R&D, production and quality assurance – across more than 20 industry sectors. Privately-held, the company’s consistent focus on innovation and commitment to outstanding quality have supported its growth in markets worldwide. Additional information about Zwick/Roell AG may be found at
Source..www.zwick.com.
