Development of New Laboratory and Testing Facilities

There is a constant need for new devices that are not yet available on the market in the appropriate form to facilitate research in the field of occupational safety and development of new testing procedures. Existing devices and instruments thus have to be adapted or expanded, and entirely new test and trial equipment at times has to be newly invented. Over many years, this has led the departments of IFA to develop devices for the institute's own multifaceted purposes. Many of them are unique and needed only by the institute; others are produced and marketed under IFA license by other firms.

Examples of innovative IFA developments:

• Acceleration measuring devices (PDF, 109 kB, non-accessible) for truck crash simulators
• Calibration system for sampling devices
• CUELA: computer-supported recording and long-term analysis of musculo-skeletal load
• Device for measuring (PDF, 322 kB, non-accessible) crushing forces (for doors)
• Force/pressure measuring instrument for the assessment of collaborating robots (PDF, 117 kB, non-accessible)
• GMG: slip meter to measure the friction coefficient of surfaces (anti-slip properties)
• GRAVIKON PM 4: dust sampling systems
• GRAVIKON VC 25: dust sampling systems
• Handgrips (PDF, 106 kB, non-accessible) for measuring hand forces
• PGP: portable sampling system for hazardous substances
• Test facility for the determination of a pain threshold map
• Test stand for safety locks

The devices were developed in the section "Development of New Laboratory and Testing Facilities" in the Work Systems of the Future Department in cooperation with the specialised departments at IFA.