In February, our research associate Cédric Brunk spent a one-month research stay at the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) in Finland. There, he worked together with postdoctoral researchers Sanaz Afshariantorghabeh and Johanna Lyytikäinen under Professor Ville Leminen's supervision in the field of paper forming.

The focus of the research at the LUT was on material pre-treatment for forming processes of natural fibre-based materials. For this purpose, a coating was applied to the raw material and the effects of the coating were quantified using tensile tests. In addition, forming tests were carried out using thermoforming and the effects of the treatments were evaluated.

In addition to gaining new insights into the coating of paper and the thermoforming process, Mr Brunk was also able to gain wonderful impressions of Finnish nature in winter.

Following Mr. Brunk's stay at the LUT, Ms. Afshariantorghabeh will spend several weeks at the PtU, during which the previous investigations will be supported by further tests. In addition to bulgetests to assess the effects of biaxial stresses, forming tests in active media-based forming and deep drawing will also be considered.

We would like to thank Prof. Ville Leminen for the initiative and the opportunity for exchange and the DFG for funding the scientific exchange!