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Student Field Trip to Stuttgart in 2026
Once again this year, the Department of Plastics Engineering at the Institute of Materials Engineering at the University of Kassel organized a multi-day student field trip.
From July 21 to 23, 2026, the trip took a total of 37 students to Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, and to three renowned companies in the plastics and automotive industries.
After a welcome address by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heim, who addressed the group with a few introductory remarks, the field trip began early in the morning on July 21.
The first stop was Göttfert Werkstoff-Prüfmaschinen GmbH. The company develops and manufactures testing and analysis equipment for the rheological characterization of plastics. In small groups, the students gained insights into the production facilities, the testing laboratories, and the workshop. Among other things, a capillary rheometer and various melt index testers were demonstrated. The determination of rheological properties is of great importance for both the development and quality control of plastics. The company’s testing equipment is also used in the laboratories of the Institute of Materials Engineering at the University of Kassel.
On the second day of the field trip, a special highlight awaited the students: a visit to the Porsche plant in the Zuffenhausen district of Stuttgart. During a roughly 90-minute plant tour, they gained insights into the production of the Porsche 911. In addition, they were able to tour the engine assembly and upholstery shops, among other areas. Following the factory tour, they had the opportunity to delve into the history of the company and its vehicles at the nearby Porsche Museum.
The excursion concluded on the third day with a visit to Coperion GmbH. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of extrusion and compounding systems, the company provided the students with fascinating behind-the-scenes insights. A brief company presentation was followed by a detailed tour of the plant, during which numerous questions were answered and the students gained valuable insights into the industrial manufacturing of such equipment.
The Department of Plastics Engineering would like to extend its sincere thanks to Göttfert Werkstoff-Prüfmaschinen GmbH, Porsche AG, and Coperion GmbH for the informative and exciting tours, as well as for their friendly hospitality on site. The enthusiastic response was also particularly gratifying: A total of 37 students participated in the field trip.