The KAt Chair is dedicated to research into forward-looking issues in drive technology. The aim is to develop systems that meet the highest standards of efficiency, reliability and sustainability. The work encompasses a broad spectrum of disciplines:

Current regulations and increasing demands pose major challenges for sealing technology. This is because, particularly in high-speed applications aimed at increasing power density, conventional sealing systems are reaching their performance limits. Consequently, the KAt Chair conducts fundamental research and develops innovative sealing concepts. Using numerical calculation methods for contact simulations, supported by experimental investigations, the KAt Chair makes an important contribution to the development of sustainable sealing systems.

It is not only sealing technology but also the field of braking that faces major challenges due to stricter regulations and high sustainability requirements. Here too, the KAt Chair makes its contribution through fundamental research right through to the development of innovative actuator concepts for brakes. In the field of research, modern simulation techniques, combined with experimental investigations, provide insights that enable a better understanding of the physical relationships and influences during the braking process.

An aspect that should not be overlooked, not only in the fields of sealing technology and brakes, is the understanding of the contact state between two contacting surfaces. The KAt Chair’s fundamental research in the field of tribology therefore forms the bedrock for a better understanding of individual machine components, brakes, contact conditions in gear meshing and other related areas. Only then can the potential for optimising friction conditions be realised, and the effects of lubricants or the causes of damage be identified.

Another key focus lies in the development of bespoke drive solutions, designed to meet specific application requirements.

Owing to this broad range of topics, the KAt Chair combines fundamental research with application-oriented development, thereby making a significant contribution to the further advancement of drive technology.