Wfk
Encyclopedia
The wfk-Cleaning Technology Research Institute is organised according to its statutes in form of a non profit
member-based society to promote pre-competitive basic and applied research
in the field of cleaning technology for textile and non-textile materials especially in the interest of small and medium enterprises.
Consulting, training, general duties (standardisation, collaboration in technical and environmental regulations, technical basic support for installation of laws) are taken over in the interest of the associated businesses.
and washing processes with regard to a longer lifetime of the textile materials. At the end of World War II as a consequence of expulsion from Silesia the Sorau Bast-Fibre-Institute (now after renaming The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Society into Max-Planck-Society as a Max-Planck-Institute
) was continued at Bielefeld, Western Germany
.
As at Bielefeld no facilities were available scientists and engineers from the Sorau department of textile conservation met in Krefeld, where a laboratory was provided by the industry to continue their research work. With the currency reform in 1948 the assets of the Max-Planck-Society were significantly reduced. Therefore it had to look for ways how to lower the number of institutions that were supported. All those institutes that did applied research for the industry as the Bast-Fibre-Institute including its department for textile conservation were excluded from further funding. In order to carry out further laundry research, on April 30, 1949 an application was submitted to the head-quarter of the British zone to allow the establishment of a laundry research institute, supported by commercial laundries and their suppliers as well as the minister for economic affairs of North-Rhine-Westphalia
. However, due to the obstructions caused by the Allied High Commission’s Laws it took more than 1 year until the registration of the association was legally settled in 1950. This institute was planned as a forum to help the laundry businesses finding new ways of technological development
after the demolitions of World War II
. In order not to waste time for these important tasks at the same meeting a first laundry technology conference was planned where an exchange of research results and technical experiences took place. This first wfk-conference „Referatetagung” took place in autumn 1949, 56 years ago. Midst the fifties, in connection with the introduction of new fibres and detergents, household laundry processes were included into the work programme. In 1974 a department for dry-cleaning
was established.
Since 1991 the institute has been loosely affiliated to the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences. It was renamed wfk-Cleaning Technology Research Institute. Parallel to this its scope was extended to hard surface cleaning and environmental problems.
Between 1991 and 1995 a research department existed in Eastern Germany
which co-operated very closely with institutes (especially on the textile field) of the Technical University in Dresden. The co-operation with the Dresden university institute is still continuing even after closing the Dresden part again at the end of 1995 because of a lack in financial support.
In 1999 the board of directors
came to the decision that new facilities were needed to follow the growing needs of the member companies. A second reason was the enlargement of the scope of the institute into new research areas. Furthermore the former building had to be given back to the state of North-Rhine-Westphalia at the end of the year 2005. A new building had either to be built or bought.
In 2000 wfk rented a former school house
and the respective ground under favourable conditions from the city of Krefeld and the reconstruction into a laboratory building was started. Additionally a new technical plant was built. On March 23, 2001, we had our official grand opening
in the presence of State Secretary Krebs of the State of North-Rhine-Westphalia, the Lord Mayor of the City of Krefeld, the Head of the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences and the President of the Association of Industrial Research Organisations (AiF).
research in hard surface cleaning was included. Current activities are projects in the field of industrial cleaning, hospital cleaning, clean room
cleaning, reprocessing of medical instruments, cleaning in the food industry
and industrial parts cleaning. Further information is available from wfk on request.
support the institute as a non profit research institution
by their annual membership fees, special donations and honorary activities of experts in different bodies of the institute.
The assembly of the members (general assembly) is the most important body of the institute. It elects the board of trustees
which controls the activities of the institute and determines the executive board of directors. It also elects the members of scientific advisory board. The Scientific Advisory Board defines the crucial points of the research. It controls the orientation of the projects with regard to the interests of the industry.
Germany°N date=December 2010°W
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
member-based society to promote pre-competitive basic and applied research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
in the field of cleaning technology for textile and non-textile materials especially in the interest of small and medium enterprises.
Consulting, training, general duties (standardisation, collaboration in technical and environmental regulations, technical basic support for installation of laws) are taken over in the interest of the associated businesses.
History
The predecessor of the wfk-research institute was established in 1933 as a department for textile conservation of the Bast-Fibre Institute (a Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institute) in Sorau, Silesia. Main scope was the improvement of textile finishingFinishing (textiles)
In textile manufacturing, finishing refers to any process performed on yarn or fabric after weaving or knitting to improve the look, performance, or "hand" of the finished textile or clothing...
and washing processes with regard to a longer lifetime of the textile materials. At the end of World War II as a consequence of expulsion from Silesia the Sorau Bast-Fibre-Institute (now after renaming The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Society into Max-Planck-Society as a Max-Planck-Institute
Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes publicly funded by the federal and the 16 state governments of Germany....
) was continued at Bielefeld, Western Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
As at Bielefeld no facilities were available scientists and engineers from the Sorau department of textile conservation met in Krefeld, where a laboratory was provided by the industry to continue their research work. With the currency reform in 1948 the assets of the Max-Planck-Society were significantly reduced. Therefore it had to look for ways how to lower the number of institutions that were supported. All those institutes that did applied research for the industry as the Bast-Fibre-Institute including its department for textile conservation were excluded from further funding. In order to carry out further laundry research, on April 30, 1949 an application was submitted to the head-quarter of the British zone to allow the establishment of a laundry research institute, supported by commercial laundries and their suppliers as well as the minister for economic affairs of North-Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. However, due to the obstructions caused by the Allied High Commission’s Laws it took more than 1 year until the registration of the association was legally settled in 1950. This institute was planned as a forum to help the laundry businesses finding new ways of technological development
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
after the demolitions of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In order not to waste time for these important tasks at the same meeting a first laundry technology conference was planned where an exchange of research results and technical experiences took place. This first wfk-conference „Referatetagung” took place in autumn 1949, 56 years ago. Midst the fifties, in connection with the introduction of new fibres and detergents, household laundry processes were included into the work programme. In 1974 a department for dry-cleaning
Dry cleaning
Dry cleaning is any cleaning process for clothing and textiles using a chemical solvent other than water. The solvent used is typically tetrachloroethylene , abbreviated "perc" in the industry and "dry-cleaning fluid" by the public...
was established.
Since 1991 the institute has been loosely affiliated to the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences. It was renamed wfk-Cleaning Technology Research Institute. Parallel to this its scope was extended to hard surface cleaning and environmental problems.
Between 1991 and 1995 a research department existed in Eastern Germany
Eastern Germany
Eastern Germany may refer to:* New federal states of Germany, the states that joined the Federal Republic of Germany after 1990Historically:* Former eastern territories of Germany, territories lost by Germany during and after the two world wars...
which co-operated very closely with institutes (especially on the textile field) of the Technical University in Dresden. The co-operation with the Dresden university institute is still continuing even after closing the Dresden part again at the end of 1995 because of a lack in financial support.
In 1999 the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
came to the decision that new facilities were needed to follow the growing needs of the member companies. A second reason was the enlargement of the scope of the institute into new research areas. Furthermore the former building had to be given back to the state of North-Rhine-Westphalia at the end of the year 2005. A new building had either to be built or bought.
In 2000 wfk rented a former school house
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
and the respective ground under favourable conditions from the city of Krefeld and the reconstruction into a laboratory building was started. Additionally a new technical plant was built. On March 23, 2001, we had our official grand opening
Grand opening
Grand opening is a term used when a business, public office, or private association wishes to announce the official opening of a new location. This differs from just opening the doors on the first day, in that a grand opening is more of a celebration event, not just the first day having the doors...
in the presence of State Secretary Krebs of the State of North-Rhine-Westphalia, the Lord Mayor of the City of Krefeld, the Head of the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences and the President of the Association of Industrial Research Organisations (AiF).
New scope
Parallel to renaming the Institute into wfk-Cleaning Technology Research Institute, the scope of activities was extended. Besides textile cleaning research and developmentResearch and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
research in hard surface cleaning was included. Current activities are projects in the field of industrial cleaning, hospital cleaning, clean room
Cleanroom
A cleanroom is an environment, typically used in manufacturing or scientific research, that has a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors. More accurately, a cleanroom has a controlled level of contamination that is specified by...
cleaning, reprocessing of medical instruments, cleaning in the food industry
Food industry
The food production is a complex, global collective of diverse businesses that together supply much of the food energy consumed by the world population...
and industrial parts cleaning. Further information is available from wfk on request.
Members
Textile service companies, raw material and detergent producers, washing and laundry machine manufacturers, textile and garment making industry, consultants and professional associationsProfessional body
A professional association is usually a nonprofit organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession, and the public interest.The roles of these professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in a...
support the institute as a non profit research institution
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
by their annual membership fees, special donations and honorary activities of experts in different bodies of the institute.
The assembly of the members (general assembly) is the most important body of the institute. It elects the board of trustees
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
which controls the activities of the institute and determines the executive board of directors. It also elects the members of scientific advisory board. The Scientific Advisory Board defines the crucial points of the research. It controls the orientation of the projects with regard to the interests of the industry.
External links
- wfk-Cleaning Technology Research Institute
- wfk-Institute for Applied Research Ltd.
- wfk Testgewebe GmbH
Germany°N date=December 2010°W