Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP)

What Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP) does

Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP) is a university research institute (Lehrstuhl) within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Paderborn University, established in 1986 and operating for nearly 40 years. It conducts research, teaching, and industrial services focused on plastics and rubber processing technologies, including extrusion, injection moulding, compounding, additive manufacturing (via the Direct Manufacturing Research Centre), joining technologies (welding and bonding), and sustainability/circular-economy research. The institute is led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker Schöppner (Head), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elmar Moritzer, and Chief Engineer Dr.-Ing. Dennis Kleinschmidt, supported by approximately 28 scientific staff, 4 technical staff, 2 administrative staff, and around 45 students.

KTP's technical offering centers on proprietary simulation software tools developed in-house—REX for single-screw extrusion, PSI for injection moulding plasticizing units, and SIGMA for tightly intermeshing co-rotating twin-screw extruders—supplemented by an extensive machine park and laboratory facilities including a multi-layer pipe extrusion system (installed 2024, supplied by Georg Fischer) and a Miniatur-Spritzgießanlage used for demonstrations. The institute has a continuous publication record spanning 1969–2025 and maintains active industry collaborations with manufacturers including Continental, Phoenix Contact, and Kautex (Textron), as well as membership in the DMRC and the ZIM ReRubber Solutions network.

Revenue is not commercially derived; instead, KTP is funded through university core funding from Paderborn University, third-party research grants from German federal and state research programs and industry partners, and fee-based industrial services including laboratory analyses, material testing, simulation, and contract research. Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, executed via direct industry collaboration, contract research engagements, and regular presence at major industry conferences (KUTENO, K-Messe, Technomer, PPS, IRC RubberCon, ANTEC, PRSE). Customer segments include industrial manufacturers (primary), university engineering students (primary), an alumni network, and secondary school students engaged through outreach programs.

Name

Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP)

Legal name

Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP)

Website

https://ktp.uni-paderborn.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP) is a university research institute at Paderborn University that conducts R&D in plastics and rubber processing—including extrusion, injection moulding, compounding, additive manufacturing, and joining technologies—serving industrial manufacturers with testing, simulation, and consulting services, and supporting engineering students with teaching and thesis work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paderborn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. University Core Funding: Base funding from University of Paderborn for teaching and research activities as part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
2. Research Grants: Third-party research funding from German federal and state research programs, industry partners, and research associations.
3. Industrial Services: Fee-based laboratory analyses, material testing, consulting, and contract research services for industry partners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP) is a university research institute within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Paderborn University that conducts research and development of plastics and rubber processing technologies (extrusion, injection moulding, compounding, additive manufacturing, joining/welding/bonding). It develops application-oriented simulation software tools (REX, PSI, SIGMA), performs laboratory material analyses and testing, and provides contract research and consulting services to industrial manufacturers.

Product overview

Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP) is a university research institute within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Paderborn University. Rather than a commercial product company, KTP develops application-oriented simulation software tools for the plastics industry, including REX for single-screw extrusion simulation, PSI for injection moulding plasticizing units, and SIGMA for co-rotating twin-screw extruders. Additionally, KTP provides industry services such as laboratory analyses, material testing, and supports the plastics industry with research and development. KTP also conducts extensive teaching activities across plastics technology specializations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• REX (Rechnergestützte Extruderauslegung) Application-oriented simulation software tool for the theoretical assessment of machine behavior and optimization of cylinder and screw configuration in single-screw extrusion processes, used by the plastics processing industry.
• PSI Simulation software for plasticizing units of injection moulding machines, used to optimize injection moulding processes without requiring experimental investigations.
• SIGMA Simulation software for tightly intermeshing co-rotating twin-screw extruders, enabling computer-aided process simulation for compounding applications in the plastics industry.
• Industrial Laboratory Analyses and Material Testing Services Fee-based laboratory analyses and material testing services for industrial clients in plastics and rubber processing, supporting quality assurance and material characterization.
• Contract Research and Consulting Services Direct contract research, simulation studies, and consulting engagements with manufacturing companies, typically involving laboratory testing, process simulation, or joint research projects covering extrusion, injection moulding, compounding, joining, additive manufacturing, and sustainability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully organized 4th AZuR Colloquium on tyre recycling circular economy with 7 specialist presentations and intensive discussions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ZIM network ReRubber SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2024KTP is an associate member of the ZIM (Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand) network 'ReRubber Solutions'. The network aims to advance innovative research and development of secondary raw material rubber powder and achieve the highest possible quality processing of rubber powder for recycling applications.
• Direct Manufacturing Research Centre (DMRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKTP is an integral part of the Direct Manufacturing Research Centre (DMRC), collaborating with other chairs in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering on additive manufacturing processes for direct manufacturing of components.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Institut für Kunststoffverarbeitung (IKV) Aachen: Plastics processing research institute at RWTH Aachen University and Germany's largest academic plastics R&D organization. Highly comparable to KTP in research scope (extrusion, injection moulding, compounding, simulation) and industrial service model, but materially larger in headcount and budget.
• Institut für Kunststofftechnik (IKT), University of Stuttgart: University plastics processing research institute at the University of Stuttgart. Closely parallel to KTP in mission, structure (university Lehrstuhl), and research focus on polymer processing, simulation, and industrial collaboration.
• Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid: Industry-oriented plastics R&D, testing, and training provider in North Rhine-Westfalen. Highly comparable to KTP in regional German footprint, industrial testing services, and contract research model—often competing for the same Mittelstand plastics converters.
• SKZ – Das Kunststoff-Zentrum: Industry-focused plastics R&D, testing, certification, and training organization in Würzburg. Directly comparable to KTP in providing contract testing, materials characterization, and applied research services to plastics manufacturers across Germany.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer IFAM: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials, covering polymer processing, additive manufacturing, and materials characterization. Broader scope and significantly larger budget than KTP, but overlapping capabilities in plastics manufacturing R&D and contract research.
• Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden (IPF): Major German Leibniz polymer research institute with broad materials science scope spanning synthesis, processing, and characterization. Provides comparable testing and contract research services at materially greater scale and headcount than KTP.
• Fraunhofer IAP: Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research, focused on polymer synthesis and functional polymer systems. More materials-chemistry oriented than KTP but a comparable large-scale applied polymer R&D provider serving industrial clients.
• Fraunhofer LBF: Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability, with significant polymer durability, fatigue testing, and plastics characterization programs. Adjacent to KTP's materials testing services but operating at greater scale and broader scope.

Regional players

• Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL): Austrian university-affiliated polymer R&D center operating parallel contract research programs in polymer processing, compounding, and additive manufacturing for European manufacturers. Comparable research model to KTP, but serving primarily Austrian and broader EU markets rather than Germany directly.

Others

• DITF (Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf): German research institute covering fiber and polymer materials, including compounding and processing R&D. Thematically adjacent rather than directly competitive, but a relevant ecosystem participant in advanced polymer materials research in southern Germany.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kunststofftechnik-paderborn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP)