The Laboratory for Machine Tools and Manufacturing Engineering EEDM of the Mechanical Engineering Department, Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki, was established in 1980. It is active in various research areas and provides high quality education in numerous fields of manufacturing science. EEDM staff consists of 33 members (2011), eleven of them permanent academic personnel, six technicians and administrative employees and sixteen scientific assistants and associates. The scientific assistants are engineers with a five years academic degree (Dipl.-Eng.), conducting their Doctoral Theses, in the frame of the research projects of EEDM. Furthermore, over 20 students per year support the EEDM investigations, elaborating simultaneously their Dipl.-Eng. works. EEDM is equipped with CNC and other machine tools, conventional and CMM measuring instruments, coatings’

characterization devices, such as of impact testers and nanoindenters, PVD coatings’ manufacturing unit, gears’ case hardening installation, various experimental arrangements, computers, etc. Since 2008, EEDM is associated with the Fraunhofer Project Center Coatings in Manufacturing (PCCM), a joint initiative by the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and the Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH), located in Thessaloniki (CERTH, EEDM) and in Aachen (IPT). Numerous research projects have been accomblished, sponsored by public or private, national or international institutions and authorities and further ones are in progress. Results of the research activities of EEDM appear frequently as papers in cited journals and in the proceedings of national and international conferences. The highlights of the research activities of EEDM, are published every three years in special annals. These annals as well as proceedings of conferences, repeatedly organized by EEDM (ICMEN, THE-A Coatings, BALKANTRIB) are available upon request.

Professor Dr.-Ing. habil, Dr.-Ing. E.h., Dr. h.c. K.-D. Bouzakis
Director of EEDM and PCCM

PCCM directors

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Dr. h.c.
K.-D. Bouzakis

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT), seeking innovative opportunities to further develop and solidify their cooperation in the field of advanced manufacturing, established a new Project Center, entitled: “Fraunhofer Project Center Coatings in Manufacturing” (Fraunhofer PCCM), located  in the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CE.R.T.H), in Thessaloniki and in Aachen (IPT). This cooperative initiative aims on a first level at strengthening the collaboration between academic institutions and companies from both countries in the field of production techniques. On a second level, it will be acting as a catalyst for the instigation of other collaborative efforts of mutual interest.

The Memorandum of Understanding governing the operation of PCCM was signed on June 22/2007 in CE.R.T.H.-Thessaloniki by the Hellenic and the German States. The signing of the framework agreement took place on September 23/2008, in the headquarters of Fraunhofer Gesellschaft in Munich.

Fraunhofer PCCM is actively involved in competitive research programs, and pursues grants directly from various institutions and companies for conducting scientific, basic, and applied research. Fraunhofer PCCM works closely with EEDM (Laboratory for   Machine Tools & Manufacturing Engineering), the WZL (Laboratory of Machine Tools and Production Engineering), as well as their parent organizations, i.e. AUTH. (Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki), CERTH and RWTH Aachen (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen), respectively.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Dr. h.c. K.-D. Bouzakis is the Director of the Fraunhofer PCCM.  Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing.  E.h. Dr. h.c. F. Klocke of Fraunhofer IPT will act as his substitute if necessary. Academic personnel and scientists of both parties contribute with their knowledge and efforts to the successful conduction of the research and development projects.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Dr. h.c. Dr. h.c.
F. Klocke