From 7 to 10 April 2026, a consortium meeting of the project DS-FR-24-0017 – “Electron beam weldability and properties of 316LSi stainless steel printed with Laser Metal Deposition”, funded by the Slovak Research and Development Agency (APVV), was held at the Institute of Materials Science, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology of the Slovak University of Technology in Trnava.
The research team from the Czech Technical University in Prague was led by Dr. Miroslav Sahul. Other participants from CTU included Assoc. Prof. Marie Kolaříková, Ing. Tomáš Gurčík, Ing. Tomáš Němec, Ing. Jakub Karmáček, and Ing. Adam Novotný. Graz University of Technology was represented by Assoc. Prof. Norbert Enzinger, Dr. Fernando Gustavo Warchomicka, and Assoc. Prof. Petra Spörk-Erdely. The University of Montenegro was represented by Prof. Špiro Ivošević and Dr. Draško Kovač.
The guests were welcomed at the Institute of Materials Science by Assoc. Prof. Roman Moravčík, Director of the Institute, Dr. Libor Ďuriška, Vice-Dean of MTF STU for Strategic Projects and Mobilities, and Dr. Martin Sahul, project leader on behalf of MTF STU.
Following the introductory meeting, during which the results of the analysis of electron beam-welded joints of 316LSi stainless steel produced by Laser Metal Deposition were presented, the participants visited selected laboratories.
During the laboratory tours, the laboratories of the Institute of Materials Science were gradually introduced, namely the Laboratories of Structural Analyses, presented by Dr. Martin Sahul, Dr. Libor Ďuriška, and Prof. Martin Kusý; the Laboratory of Heat Treatment and Mechanical Testing, presented by Dr. Matej Pašák; the Laboratory of Corrosion Testing, presented by Dr. Peter Gogola; and the Laboratory of Thermophysical Measurements and Calculations, presented by Dr. Marián Drienovský.
The participants were also introduced to the laboratories of the Institute of Production Technologies, including the Centre of Excellence of 5-Axis Machining, presented by Dr. Tomáš Vopát, Assoc. Prof. Ladislav Morovič, and Dr. Barbora Ludrovcová, as well as the Laboratories of Beam and Arc Technologies, presented by Dr. Marián Pavlík.
The meeting strengthened cooperation among the consortium members, facilitated the exchange of expert knowledge, and further coordinated research activities focused on evaluating the properties of additively manufactured and electron-beam-welded materials.
