From May 31 to June 4, 2026, Prof. Hans-Peter Heim, Kübra Güzel Trabert, Victoria Goetjes, and Miriam Meyer from the Department of Plastics Engineering attended the 41st International Conference of the Polymer Processing Society (PPS-41) in Paestum, Italy.

The PPS is one of the world’s most important conferences in the field of polymer and plastics processing. Every year, researchers and industry representatives gather to present and discuss current developments, sustainable solutions, and innovative technologies for the future of polymer processing.

The team from the Plastics Engineering Division was also represented with its own scientific presentations:

• Kübra Güzel Trabert presented her talk titled “Influence of Filler Morphology and Interfacial Bonding on the Fracture Behavior of Polypropylene-Based Composites.”
• Victoria Goetjes presented her research on “Influence of Compounding Parameters on the Properties of PLA–Starch Composites.”
• Miriam Meyer presented her work titled “Encapsulation of Electrochromic Multilayer Systems on Polycarbonate Substrates Using Back Injection Molding and the Effect on Their Aging Behavior.”

In addition to the presentations themselves, the conference offered numerous opportunities for professional exchange, discussion of current research findings, and networking with international scholars. The insights and ideas gained will make valuable contributions to future research projects. Above all, however, the inspiring presentations, the historic setting of Paestum, the Mediterranean Sea, and Italian espresso will leave a lasting impression for a long time to come.