Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: A milestone of our Imerys Technology Center in Villach, Austria
Over 20 years, Imerys' Technology Centre (ITC) in Villach, Austria, has evolved expertise from primarily abrasives solutions to become a comprehensive research center, advancing innovations across abrasives, advanced ceramics, and investment casting solutions.
ITC-Villach has been at the forefront of advancements in abrasives technology since its establishment, making significant advances such as the creation of Sol-Gel abrasives and the introduction of microcrystalline alumina cooling processes.
What sets ITC in Villach apart is the incredible team we’ve built. It’s the decades of experience and the deep exchange between marketing, sales and application engineers, as well as the ability to test our own developments in-house.
Research excellence and scientific partnerships
Innovation and product development at the center stem from close collaboration with leading research institutions, including Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and the University of Limoges. These partnerships have led to breakthrough developments in ceramic bond technology and advanced grinding solutions.
The center’s research spans from fundamental materials science to industrial-scale pilot testing, supporting innovations that have transformed manufacturing processes across automotive, aerospace and precision engineering sectors.
Advanced testing and customer collaboration
Housing state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced 3D-Digital microscopy and comprehensive testing equipment, ITC-Villach offers unique value to customers.
“Many customers don't have the capacity to test their products in-house,” Andreas explains. “At ITC in Villach, Austria, we provide this service, offering an additional layer of support and value.”
This collaboration has led to numerous successful product launches, helping customers optimize their processes and reduce development time.
Future focus and sustainability
Having marked its 20th anniversary at the end of November 2024, the team working at the center is looking ahead and expanding its research into sustainable abrasives solutions.
“Sustainability is already a big focus, but it will become even more critical,” Andreas notes. “This is something we can only achieve by working together with our customers.”
Current projects include developing recycling topics, energy-efficient processing and environmentally friendly grain coatings.
With its proven track record of innovation and strong scientific partnerships, ITC-Villach continues to shape the future of abrasives technology, maintaining its position as a global leader in materials research and development.
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