Zwick Roell AG - Over a century ofexperience in materials testing

Mechanical technological testing is the oldest disciplinein materials testing. Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei pondered over flexural loading and the elastic behaviour of materials. Further knowledge has been gained over the years. The first test machines appeared in France in the middle of the 18th century.The firm Amsler (previously in Schaffhausen, Switzerland)began dealing with materials testing, as did Roell & Korthaus from 1920 onwards. In 1937 Zwick began with the construction of devices, machines and systems for mechanical technological materials testing. Long before this, as far back as 1876, Professor Seger founded a chemical laboratory as a scientific technological advisory company for the earth and stone industry. Today’s Toni Technik developed from these beginnings during the 20th century as one of the leading specialists for building material test systems. Excellent performances have been furnished by MFL (Mohr & Federhaff), grounded as early as 1870, by the way, Carl Benz was one of its employees.These firms constitute the company group Zwick Roellsince 1992. Whereby the firms Dartec, Rosand, Kelsey and Indentec in Great Britain joined them in the two years following.The Zwick Roell company group was reorganized toform Zwick Roell AG, a public limited company (joint- stock company), in July 2001. It encompasses the firms Zwick, Toni Technik, Indentec Ltd. and Zwick Roell Controllers Ltd. These companies supply a comprehensive program for materials, building materials and function tests; from manually operated hardness testers manufacturer up to complex test systems that can be used for production accompanying applications. Inclusion of the French company Acmel Labo in 2002 supplements the Zwick Roell AG product program with laboratory products for the cement, plaster and lime industry.Zwick has many years of experience resulting from thesupply of a multitude of equipment. This is complemented by continuous communication with the users of such equipment. The company suppliesan extensive program of efficient products based on this solid basis. These products range from economic standard machines to special complex models designed for special test tasks. State of the art mechanics, efficient electronics and the applications oriented software constitute the prerequisites for the versatility and high “intelligence” of these modern test machines and systems.The Zwick Roell AG, however, offers a lot more thanjust the supply of products. The company was certified to DIN EN ISO 9001 as far back as 1994 and thus vouches for constant high product and service quality. Accredited DKD
(1 or UKAS
(2 calibration laboratoriesauthorise the Zwick Roell AG companies to check and calibrate test devices, and to document it with internationally recognised certificates.
(1 DKD:Deutscher Kalibrier-Dienst (German calibrationauthorities) (2 UKAS:United Kingdom Accreditation Service Fig. 1: Zwick headquarters 2