R-Tech Materials (www.r-techmaterials.com) — one of the fastest-growing polymer and composites laboratories in the UK — has teamed up with Zwick Roell to run an introductory training course on the mechanical testing of composites.

The one-day course in April is designed for people with limited experience of the principles and practices of testing composite materials.

Combining classroom-based theory with practical demonstration for the most common mechanical tests, ranging from the simple flexural testing to more-complex applications such as compression testing, the course covers everything that would be expected from an introductory training event, including defining what a composite material is, the common terms used in mechanical testing, and why mechanical testing is carried out.

It also looks at the theory of why the specimens used for testing are the shape and size they are, and how to optimise test set-ups to get consistent results.

Geraint Havard, R-Tech Materials’ composites manager, said: “Last year’s course was hugely popular, so we decided to schedule another for this spring.

"Feedback revealed that delegates really liked our approach of combining theory with practical real-life lab demos.”

Anyone interested in attending the course at R-Tech Materials in Port Talbot should e-mail .