Expert Committee

Mechanical surface treatments

Mechanical surface treatment in the context of process, surface layer and component properties.

Technical exchange on processes, surface-layer conditions, and industrial application.

Members125

Founded1984

UnitDGM e.V.

Chair

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Hoffmeister
University of Applied Sciences

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The DGM Expert Committee addresses scientific and industrial issues in mechanical surface treatment. Its focus is on improving component properties and further developing the relevant processes.

It examines the relationships between process parameters, the condition of the component surface layer, and the resulting properties. Experts from user industries, equipment and abrasive manufacturing, service providers, and universities contribute their respective perspectives.

01 · Technical focus

Process, surface layer, and component

Processes

Equipment and process control

Process parameters shape the condition of the treated component surface layer.

The Expert Committee addresses the development of equipment and processes for mechanical surface treatment, as well as the parameters that influence component condition.

Surface layer

Condition and properties

The resulting surface layer is assessed in relation to component properties.

The committee investigates component surface layers produced by treatment and their effects on properties such as fatigue strength and wear behaviour.

Assessment

Models and process monitoring

Models, measurement technology, and sensors support traceable assessment.

The topics include model-based descriptions of the relationships between process, surface layer, and component properties, as well as measurement technology and sensors for monitoring process results.

02 · Professional exchange

Dialogue between industry and universities

The Expert Committee meets every six months, alternating between committed industry members and university institutes. Its members include user companies from the automotive, aircraft, and plant engineering sectors; equipment and abrasive manufacturers; service providers; and university partners.

The committee thus brings together scientific questions with experience from development and industrial application, supporting interdisciplinary networking in mechanical surface treatment.

03 · Surface engineering

Mechanical treatment in industrial process chains

The Expert Committee considers mechanical surface treatments in relation to process, surface layer, and component properties. Alongside shot peening and deep rolling, the focus is therefore on an overall view of the different processes.

A central question is how robust these processes are in the face of influences within industrial process chains and how their application can be assessed from an economic perspective. This includes the development of sensors for monitoring process results.

Influencing surface layers in a targeted way

Mechanical surface treatments such as shot peening and deep rolling are used to strengthen near-surface regions and introduce residual compressive stresses in component surface zones. For components in mechanical and plant engineering, automotive technology, and aerospace engineering, this is relevant, among other aspects, to fatigue strength and wear behaviour.

Considering process and component together

The perspective extends beyond the assessment of individual processes. In line with an integrated surface-engineering approach, process parameters, surface-layer conditions, and resulting component properties are considered together. Industrial application requires the assessment of robust processes within process chains as well as economic aspects.

Suitable measurement technology and sensors for monitoring process results are among the open tasks, alongside further scientific and applied research into these relationships.