Since November 2025, the SKZ center has been intensifying its presence on the Austrian plastics market in cooperation with its new strategic sales partner, the Lenzing Education Center (BZL). BZL is one of Austria's largest providers of education and training services, with more than 25 years of experience. The center offers training in areas such as metal technology, chemical engineering, electrical engineering and human resources development, and a particularly extensive part of its portfolio consists of courses in plastics technology. The new distribution agreement covers selected SKZ training courses, which will be made available to participants in Austria in both classroom and online formats, in close cooperation with the SKZ headquarters in Wuerzburg.
Strategic partnership on the Austrian market
Under the agreement, BZL acts as SKZ's sales partner on the Austrian market. As emphasized by Matthias Ruff, Head of Sales, Education and Research and authorized signatory at SKZ, this partner has an established knowledge of the local plastics sector and the needs of potential customers.
"With BZL, SKZ now has a partner in the Austrian market that knows the needs of potential customers inside out and has close ties to the local plastics industry. In cooperation with our headquarters in Wuerzburg, this partnership will actively strengthen SKZ's profile in Austria," says Matthias Ruff.
Scope and formats of SKZ training courses
As a new partner, the Lenzing Education Center will offer selected SKZ training courses, for example in the areas of extrusion technology and injection molding. The courses will be available as classroom training in Germany or as on-site training in Austria. The portfolio also includes live online courses streamed from the SKZ online studio, as well as web-based training courses.
"In addition, there is still the option of booking BZL and SKZ training courses directly with the partners," Ruff adds.
In the field of training, SKZ acts as a knowledge provider and expert, covering both the production area and the management level. The institute's research and development services also extend to the Austrian plastics market.
Benefits for BZL and SKZ customers
According to representatives of both organizations, the cooperation is intended to strengthen the availability of specialized training for companies in the Austrian plastics sector and to complement the existing BZL offering.
"With SKZ, we have a partner at our side who shares our high quality standards and ideally complements our range of services in the plastics sector. For our customers, this cooperation means more choice of high-quality training courses and even more attractive conditions," says Mag. Sonja Zak, Managing Director of the Lenzing Education Center.
Dr. Benjamin Baudrit, Managing Director for Education and Research at SKZ, highlights the international dimension of the institute's activities and the importance of the new partnership for the Austrian market.
"SKZ has been active internationally for years. With this strategic partnership in Austria, we can operate even more purposefully in the local plastics market, and we are delighted about that," summarizes Dr. Benjamin Baudrit.
SKZ in the network of research institutes
SKZ also operates as an organization focused on climate protection and is a member of the Zuse Association. This association brings together independent, industry-related research institutions whose goal is to improve the performance and competitiveness of industry, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, through innovation and networking.
Benjamin Haberl (Head of Training at BZL), Matthias Ruff (Sales Manager and Authorized Signatory at SKZ), Sonja Zak (Managing Director at BZL) and Thomas Gutwein (Managing Director at BZL, from left) at the announcement of the new partnership. Photo: BZL
