PolyMetal Conference Review
On 13th of november 2018 the "PolyMetal Conference: “Look and Feel like Metals, but design flexibility of plastics: New aspects of polymers and metal‐polymer composites " took place at FTPO in Slovenj Gradec. The event was organized by the partners Faculty of Polymer Technology (FTPO, Slovenia) and Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL, Austria). The conference offered essential knowledge regarding fundamentals, visual and haptic aspects as well as thermal conductivity to master the challenges of developing and producing of polymer parts that look and feel like metal.
More than 70 participants 
from R&D and industry from Slovenia and Austria attended the event. They were very enthusiastic about the top quality presentations and also used the coffee breaks and lunch for intensive discussions with the experts and other participants to network.
The direktor of FTPO, Maja Mesl, 
moderated and led the participants through the program. After the Conference Opening and Welcome by Dr. Aleš Mihelič of lead partner of PolyMetal, Gorenje d.o.o., Doc. Dr. Thomas Wilhelm, Dean, Faculty of Polymer Technology and Andrej Čas, Mayor of Slovenj Gradec, the PolyMetal Conference started with Block 1Fundamentals with the following lectures „Thermal and thermomechanical simulation of polymer components subject to local heat sources“ (DI M. Morak, Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL)) and „New scientific methods for measuring optical and haptic material and surface properties“ (Priv.-Doz. Dr. Gruber of Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL)).
In the 2nd Block Prof. Dr. Ehrig, HSR Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil, Switzerland gave a talk about„ Plastic and metal foil back injection moulding - Design and Cool Touch; and afterwards doc. Dr. Thomas Wilhelm,Dean of Faculty of Polymer Technology gave an overview about „Metal/Polymer combinations – traditional and innovative methods“.
The event was rounded off by Block 3 
Thermal Conductivity: Experts of R&D DI Helena Weingrill, Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Materials Science and Testing of Polymers) talked about „Thermal conductivity of polymeric materials“, and an expert of industry Dr. Topp (Lehmann&Voss) who presentated „Heat Conductive Compounds – Properties and Applications“.
The handouts of the presentations were sent to the participants and will also be made available to all interested parties on request at: renate.reumueller@unileoben.ac.at