After studying materials sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Clemens Dransfeld took a master’s degree in industrial design at the Domus Academy in Milan in 1992. He then set up Dyne Design Engineering, in cooperation with Julia Kopp. This business soon began to play a key role in the development of products requiring special expertise in composite materials engineering. Because of his passion for sailing, Clemens became involved in several projects for lake racing boats, Olympic class yachts and two America’s Cup campaigns. After spending 15 years in the composites industry, he was appointed Professor at the University of Applied Sciences of North West Switzerland (FHNW) where he is in charge of the Polymers Engineering Institute.
The Polymers Engineering Institute at the University of Applied Sciences of North West Switzerland (FHNW)
Energy efficiency and sustainable energies are the main subjects of research at the University of Applied Sciences of North West Switzerland FHNW and in particular at the Polymers Engineering Institute. At this Institute, research focuses on new processes and techniques for structural engineering using advanced polymer materials. Its main aim is to show how the use of polymers and polymer-based composites can play a key role in research into sustainable development in every field of transport for the future, by air, water or on land.
Polymer technology brings together several different disciplines: chemists specializing in polymers, materials scientists and engineers headed up by Prof. Clemens Dransfeld. Together, they propose innovative solutions to respond to new industrial challenges. Their research leads to the development of new materials and processing and design methods. The main features of their work are applied research and an interdisciplinary approach to cases, especially in the automotive and aerospace industries.
Partnership with the SYZ & CO hydrofoil catamaran
Thanks to projects like the America’s Cup, extensive experimentation has shown the extent to which new composite structures can have a favourable influence on the energy efficiency and performance of floating vessels. Sailing has become a highly competitive sport and technological advances are coming to play an increasingly important role.
“When the owners of the SYZ & CO hydrofoil catamaran asked us to develop the structure of a ‘boat which flies’, we rose to the challenge enthusiastically as it made a perfect match with our own field of research. The design of such a boat would not have been possible using conventional materials. And what other project could better fit in with the aims of our Institute than a boat powered by renewable resource (the wind) while at the same time seeking to break new records of speed and efficiency!”, Clemens Dransfeld points out.
www.fhnw.ch/technik/ikt
