The origins of materials testing machines can be traced back several centuries. Equipment of this type can last a very long time if well looked after, so Zwick would like to know where the oldest testing machine still in service can be found and is offering an incentive for helping to answer this question in the form of a competition for users of such a machine.
As early as the 15th and 16th centuries, Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei were giving consideration to flexural stress and the elastic behavior of materials. The middle of the 18th century saw the first materials testing machines appear in France and around 1850 the first universal testing machine was developed in Germany. 19th century pioneers included companies such as Losenhausen and Mohr & Federhaff (the latter's workforce incidentally including one Carl Benz), together with Amsler and later Roell+Korthaus. In 1937 Zwick began to build instruments, machines and systems for mechanical materials testing.
Even though it is highly unlikely that a testing machine from the 19th century remains in service, there are certainly some 'old faithfuls' from the 20th century still in daily use. If you possess such a machine, why not take part in the competition first launched by Zwick at the Zwick Roell symposium 'Modernizations' on 25 May 2011.
You have a great opportunity to win a goods voucher to the value of €10,000, awarded for the oldest testing machine still in service. All you have to do is send a picture of the complete machine, a calibration report or a video as proof of serviceability and a picture of the clearly legible identification plate to josef.leyendecker@zwick.de.
The closing date for entries is 30 June 2012 and prizes will be presented during the 21st testXpo at Zwick's premises in Ulm in October 2012. As an added attraction, participants' names will be entered into a draw for an Apple iPad 2.
As early as the 15th and 16th centuries, Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei were giving consideration to flexural stress and the elastic behavior of materials. The middle of the 18th century saw the first materials testing machines appear in France and around 1850 the first universal testing machine was developed in Germany. 19th century pioneers included companies such as Losenhausen and Mohr & Federhaff (the latter's workforce incidentally including one Carl Benz), together with Amsler and later Roell+Korthaus. In 1937 Zwick began to build instruments, machines and systems for mechanical materials testing.
Even though it is highly unlikely that a testing machine from the 19th century remains in service, there are certainly some 'old faithfuls' from the 20th century still in daily use. If you possess such a machine, why not take part in the competition first launched by Zwick at the Zwick Roell symposium 'Modernizations' on 25 May 2011.
You have a great opportunity to win a goods voucher to the value of €10,000, awarded for the oldest testing machine still in service. All you have to do is send a picture of the complete machine, a calibration report or a video as proof of serviceability and a picture of the clearly legible identification plate to josef.leyendecker@zwick.de.
The closing date for entries is 30 June 2012 and prizes will be presented during the 21st testXpo at Zwick's premises in Ulm in October 2012. As an added attraction, participants' names will be entered into a draw for an Apple iPad 2.
