IMKT at the 25th International Colloquium Tribology in Esslingen

From 27 to 29 January 2026, IMKT participated in the 25th International Colloquium Tribology organized by the Technische Akademie Esslingen (TAE) in Ostfildern/Stuttgart. With more than 120 technical presentations and around 250 participants from industry and research, the anniversary edition of the conference provided an excellent platform for intensive technical exchange, discussion of current research results, and sustainable networking.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Max Marian was actively involved in the organization and scientific shaping of the conference as a member of the Steering Committee and through several session chair roles. In addition, IMKT was strongly represented in the technical sessions with a total of four contributions:

• Faster EHL FEM Simulations with AI-Driven Initial Guesses: A Hybrid Approach – Dr.-Ing. Josephine Kelley
• Water-Containing Low-Viscous Lubricants: Influence on the Frictional Characteristics of Radial Lip Seals – Mousa Amro
• From Polymers to Metals: Boosting Tribological Performance with 2D Nanomaterial-Reinforced Composites – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Max Marian
• Eco-Friendly Alternatives: Bio-Greases for Rolling Bearing Applications – Belal Nassef

A particular highlight was the plenary lecture “Rethinking Grease Testing for Oscillating Contacts: From Standardized Wear Progression to Preventive Assessment” by Gernot Bayer, which provided important impulses for the further development of practice-oriented testing methods.

IMKT would like to express its sincere thanks to TAE for the excellent organization and to all participants for the open and constructive exchange. The contributions and discussions once again demonstrated the high relevance of tribological research for sustainable, efficient, and reliable technical systems.