Welcome to the homepage of the Institute of Machine Elements of the Technical University Munich.
The Institute of Machine Elements, also called "Gear Research Center (FZG)", has comprehensive facilities for examination and testing of machine elements, such as gears, bearings, synchronizations and couplings. Based on the research results developed here during the past decades, the FZG is the leading international research institute for gears and transmissions today. The development of methods and tools of reliable determination of fatigue life, efficiency, and vibration characteristics of gears and transmission elements is in the focus of the research activities at the FZG. The implementation of the research is carried out in close cooperation with the industry, funded either through public research funding or industrial community research or direct industrial commission.
The FZG's research projects range from theoretical basic research to highly application-oriented experimental work. The projects are financed and supported by various organizations. The majority of the projects are initiated, financed, and supervised by the Research Association for Drive Technology e.V. (FVA), mostly through industrial joint research (IGF). Other important research partners include the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Bavarian Research Foundation (BFS), the German Scientific Society for Sustainable Energy Sources, Mobility and Carbon Cycles (DGMK), the Research Association for Internal Combustion Engines (FVV) and Stahlforschung. In addition, many application-oriented projects are requested and commissioned directly by industry.
The lectures and exercises in machine elements represent the basic training of mechanical engineering. In the lecture, the students learn to properly select machines and machine elements, to design them and to calculate their properties. This knowledge is then practically applied on design and calculation examples within the lecture-related exercises. A very important aspect in this is that the students learn to communicate in the "engineer’s language" - with sketches and drawings. Practical relevance and topicality is also an important criterion for lectures with special subjects. Last but not least, this is ensured by lectures of executives from the industry.
The future of FZG is closely linked to mechanical drive technology. This industry is on a stable footing, with Germany holding the absolute leading position in gearboxes and drive elements, accounting for over 30% of global export volume. FZG will continue to contribute to the ongoing improvement of gearboxes so that they remain the first choice in terms of reliability, compactness, acoustics, efficiency, and cost. To this end, we will address current and future challenges, e.g., in the context of advancing electrification and changes in power generation. With our ongoing contribution to further improving the advantages of gearboxes, I believe that the future of FZG is very secure.