The accredited testing laboratory of the SKZ Plastics Centre in Würzburg has once again demonstrated its competence in materials testing: with its successful participation in around 20 interlaboratory tests and proficiency tests, SKZ was able to confirm its high testing quality and technical expertise. The interlaboratory tests make a decisive contribution to quality assurance and standardisation in plastics testing and, in 2025, once again covered a wide range of laboratory focal points such as raw material analysis, component testing, pipe testing, mechanical testing, ageing tests, and chemical-physical and thermal tests.

Particularly noteworthy is the interlaboratory test for the CRB (Crack Round Bar) method according to ISO 18489, a testing technique for evaluating the crack resistance of plastics, in which SKZ plays a pioneering role. As the first laboratory in Germany to be accredited for this innovative testing method, SKZ has contributed significantly to the establishment and further development of the process. SKZ was one of only six laboratories to achieve an ‘excellent performance’ rating in this demanding test procedure, demonstrating that it has mastered it with comparable precision and reproducibility.

‘The results of the interlaboratory tests clearly show that our quality standards and testing techniques are of the highest level,’ emphasises Dr Marcus Heindl, Head of the Testing Laboratory at SKZ. ‘The CRB method provides reliable results for assessing the crack resistance of plastics for pipe products in a relatively short test time, making it an important component for their safe long-term use.’

Participation in international interlaboratory tests serves to ensure quality and the comparability of test results between different laboratories. The fact that SKZ has consistently achieved excellent results here for many years underlines its leading role in plastics testing.

With its commitment to research, development and quality assurance, SKZ makes a significant contribution to the further professionalisation of the plastics industry – from basic research to industrial application.