RUT

On the 1^st of October 2005, by the decision of Rzeszow University of Technology (RUT) President, Research and Development Laboratory for Aerospace Materials (RUT) has been created. The laboratory carries out RND tasks in collaboration with universities affiliated in The Center of Advanced Technology AERONET "Aviation Valley" and WSK "PZL-Rzeszow" S.A. in the field of high-tech materials for the aerospace industry.  RUT head-director position is entrusted to Professor Jan Sieniawski - head of the Department of Materials Science at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics. RUT has the status of non-affiliated unit, located in the premises of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics. The opening of this modern laboratory was planned for 2007, after the necessary renovations and conversion of the building for the expected activities. Funds in the amount of approximately 25.5 million polish zloty were obtained from the European Union and the Ministry of Education and Science. The money allowed to buy laboratory equipment with modern RND technologies to conduct researches on highest technological level. Additional funds for the modernization of the object in the amount of 2 million polish zloty were allocated from the Board of the Marshal's Office in Rzeszow.

Proposal to establish the Research and Development Laboratory for Aerospace Materials has been prepared by the employees of Department of Materials Science RUT and the Analyses and Development Design Department of WSK "PZL-Rzeszów" S.A. It was joint for the Centre for Advanced Technologies AERONET "Aviation Valley", Center for Advanced Materials and Technology CAMAT, WSK "PZL-Rzeszow" S.A. and Rzeszow University of Technology. It allows implementation of researches directly related to the new technologies introduced in the WSK "PZL-Rzeszow" and other companies affiliated to the "Aviation Valley". In the studies the participation of cooperating teams from Rzeszow, Warsaw, Lublin and Silesia University of Technology, Krakow University of Science and Technology, Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of Polish Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research in Warsaw is expected. Laboratory creation allows research execution and implementation arising from the development needs of member companies in the consortium "Aviation Valley".

Promotion and dissemination of scientific and technological achievements in the field of new technologies, materials and their implementation in the aviation industry enterprises are also one of the Laboratory’s activities. Technical equipment and the devices for materials testing have been placed in the currently existing laboratories of Department of Materials Science and partly in the newly renovated areas of Manufacturing and Automation Technology Department. The laboratory cooperates with specialized companies from the SDL in determining the conditions of new, highly advanced manufacturing technologies at the highest level. It allows direct introduction for students, graduate students, engineers and practitioners in the high-tech technologies and additionally introduces them to the industry.