Ever wondered how materials are tested for safety and durability? The Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA University of Stuttgart stands as a testament to engineering excellence. It is dedicated to ensuring the reliability of structures and components.
Let’s step back to 1884. Carl von Bach, a professor of mechanical engineering, founded the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA. It was initially part of the Royal Württemberg Polytechnic Stuttgart. The Württemberg District Association of German Engineers and the Polytechnic supported this initiative.
The Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA initially focused on mechanical engineering. By 1895, the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA expanded its services to include structural engineering due to growing demand from the industry. An engineering laboratory was newly constructed in Stuttgart-Berg in 1897. This close link to teaching at the TH Stuttgart enhanced the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA’s and the university’s reputation in the industry.
A new laboratory building was added in 1907. At that time, the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA employed seven engineers. Carl von Bach navigated the institute through the challenging post-World War I period. He secured funding from industrialists like Robert Bosch. Richard Baumann succeeded Bach as director from 1922 to 1927.
In 1927, the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA was divided into mechanical engineering and civil engineering departments due to increasing specialization in construction. By 1930, these departments became two separate entities. The mechanical engineering section retained the name Staatliche Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA. The civil engineering section was renamed Institut für Bauforschung und Materialprüfungen des Bauwesens in 1936.
Otto Graf, who succeeded Baumann, led the civil engineering division. Graf had been brought to the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA by Bach in 1903 to develop research in reinforced concrete. The civil engineering department collaborated closely with professors from TH Stuttgart.
During the 1930s, the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA secured numerous contracts related to the construction of the Reichsautobahn. Fritz Leonhardt also commissioned the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA Stuttgart for all material testing. By 1944, the Forschungs- und Materialprüfungsanstalt Stuttgart was among the largest material testing institutes in the German Reich, employing 119 people. Bombing raids in 1943 completely destroyed the laboratories.
After World War II, the collaboration between TH and the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA continued. In 1952, the construction division of the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA became Amtliche Forschungs- und Materialprüfungsanstalt für das Bauwesen. In 1953, it was renamed Otto Graf Institut after its long-serving director.
New buildings for the FMPA were constructed on the Stuttgart-Vaihingen research campus between 1958 and 1960. The Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA also built facilities there starting in 1961. In 1980, the FMPA-Bauwesen became Forschungs- und Materialprüfungsanstalt Baden-Württemberg. It was placed under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Small Businesses, and Technology Baden-Württemberg.
In 2000, the Otto-Graf-Institut was reintegrated into the University of Stuttgart as Forschungs- und Materialprüfungsanstalt für das Bauwesen. On July 1, 2003, the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA and the FMPA merged to form the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA University of Stuttgart.
Today, the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA employs around 300 people. Almost half of them are scientific staff. The Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA’s duties include research and development in material and component testing. It also focuses on conformity assessment with regulations and guidelines, along with product certification. The Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA is structured into civil engineering and mechanical engineering departments. These are further divided into specialized divisions.
The legacy of the Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA University of Stuttgart persists. It links theory and practice. It ensures the safety, reliability, and innovation of materials and structures. Its contributions have shaped engineering. The Materialprüfungsanstalt MPA continues to drive progress in the field.