The Department of Mechanical Engineering, Informatics and Chemistry of Polymer Materials was established in October 2019 as a result of restructuring related to the introduction of Act 2.0 by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education by merging the Department of Mechanics and Technical Computer Science with the Department of Artificial Fibres. Professor Ryszard Korycki became the Head of the Department. Currently, the Department consists of two informal teams:
- IMIT (Mechanical Engineering and Informatics) team
- CheMP (Chemistry of Polymer Materials) team
Effective May 1, 2025, Professor Marek Kozicki assumed the position of Head of the Department.
Below is a brief historical overview of both units.
HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF Mechanics and Technical Computer Science
With the establishment of the Faculty of Textiles at the Lodz University of Technology in 1947, the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics was established within this Faculty. Initially, the position was vacant. In 1949, Professor Dr. Jerzy Leyko became the head of the Department and headed it until 1953. Professor Dr. Jan Szmelter took over as Head of the Department that same year. Professor Dr. Jan Szmelter inspired scientific activity related to the application of numerical methods to mechanics and other technical issues. In 1956, the department's name was changed to the Department of Technical Mechanics. In January 1960, the Department of Technical Mechanics organised the historic Symposium on Numerical Methods in Mechanics, with the participation of the most distinguished representatives of the scientific community dealing with mechanics. This symposium was also attended by scientists from abroad. The discussion and explicit support of Professor Dr. Jan Szmelter in this endeavour sparked efforts to equip the Department of Technical Mechanics with an electronic digital machine. The Department of Technical Mechanics purchased the ZAM-2-Beta Electronic Digital Machine with financial support from the Ministry of Light Industry. This equipment led to the creation of the first Computing Centre in Łódź and one of the first at technical universities in Poland. The centre opened in June 1962.. This centre supported the research projects (doctorates and habilitations) of both the department's faculty and those of other units at the Lodz University of Technology.. The centre provided services to research institutions and industries..
After Professor Dr. Jan Szmelter moved to the Military University of Technology in 1966, his work was continued by his students. Associate Professor Jerzy Gluza took on the role of Head of the Department. In 1970, the university was reorganised, and institutes were established. The Department of Technical Mechanics became part of the Institute of Textile Machines and Devices, initially as the Mechanics Teaching Team, headed by Associate Professor Jerzy Gluza. In 1976, departments were established within the Institute, including the Department of Technical Mechanics, still headed by Associate Professor Jerzy Gluza. From 1986 to 1992, the Department was headed by Associate Professor Janusz Lipiński, and from 1992 to 1998, the Department was headed by Associate Professor Waldemar Kobza. In 1998, the Department returned to a departmental structure, and the Department of Technical Mechanics was established, whose name was changed in 2006 to the Department of Mechanics and Technical Computer Science. Its first head, until his retirement (September 2013), was Professor Krzysztof Dems, PhD, DSc, who has headed the Department since October 2013.
The activities initiated by Prof. Dr. Jan Szmelter have been and continue throughout the department's existence. The finite element method, as well as broadly defined numerical methods, is used in current research projects. These projects cover selected topics in mechanics, as well as problems in textile products and structures. Most lessons and classes in the department use a broad spectrum of numerical methods and computer science. Currently, the Department maintains a faculty computer lab connected to the University Computer Centre, accessible to students both during and outside of classes. Furthermore, the computer lab provides wireless internet access.
Besides the research and teaching activities carried out within the department, its staff have held and continue to hold a number of organisational roles in the areas of research and teaching at the faculty, including the most important academic roles of dean and Vice-Dean of the Faculty.
The following individuals served as Dean:
- Prof. Dr. Jan Szmelter from 1953 to 1954 and from 1962 to 1964,
- Associate Professor Dr. Janusz Lipiński from 1983 to 1990,
- Prof. Dr. hab. Waldemar Kobza, from 1996 to 2002,
- Prof. Dr. hab. Ryszard Korycki, from 2008 to 2012.
The following people served as Vice-Deans:
- Associate Professor Dr. Janusz Lipiński from 1978 to 1981,
- Prof. Dr. hab. Waldemar Kobza, from 1979 to 1981 and from 1990 to 1996,
- Prof. Dr. hab. Krzysztof Dems from 1984 to 1990 and from 1996 to 2002,
- Prof. Dr. hab. Ryszard Korycki, 2003 - 2005.
HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MAN-MADE FIBRES
The Department of Man-Made Fibres was established in 1949 by Professor Atanazy Boryniec, who served as Head of the Department until 1965. From 1965 to 1992, the Head of the Department was Professor Tadeusz Skwarski. After a change in the organisational structure, the position of head of the department was held from 1992 to 2001 by Professor Bogumił Łaszkiewicz and from 2001 to 2009 by Professor Jadwiga Bucheńska, a professor at Lodz University of Technology. Since 2010, this position has been held by Professor Piotr Kulpiński, a professor at Lodz University of Technology.
The Textile Chemical Processing Group originated from the Department of Textile Finishing, established at the Faculty of Textiles in 1949 on the initiative of an organisational team of specialists composed of Professor E. Trepka, W. Jezierski, M.Sc., E. Mandybur, M.Sc., and J. Meissner, M.Sc., Eng. After a change in the organisational structure, the Department was headed by Professor Grzegorz Urbańczyk from 1970 to 1998 and by Professor Edward Rybicki from 1998 to 2012.
In 2012, on the initiative of Professor Edward Rybicki and Piotr Kulpiński, a chemical unit was established, consisting of the CHOW Group and the Department of Artificial Fibres.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical Computer Science, and Chemistry of Polymer Materials was established in October 2019 as a result of restructuring related to the implementation of Act 2.0 by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education by merging the Department of Artificial Fibres and the Department of Mechanics and Technical Computer Science. A brief historical overview of both units is provided below.
The Department of Artificial Fibres conducts research programs funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and foreign partners and participates in international research programs. Teaching activities include issues related to fibre production, polymer processing, functionalisation of fibres and textile products, textile finishing, printing techniques and technologies, and 2D and 3D UV and ionising radiation dosimetry.
The Department of Artificial Fibres educates young people in full-time and part-time programs in Textile Science, Materials Science, Design, Technical and Information Technology Education, the College of Commodity Science, and Logistics. It also educates students from the ERASMUS program and organises postgraduate and doctoral studies, seminars, and scientific conferences.
The department's graduates have established academic and professional positions in Poland and abroad. During its existence, the Department has promoted over 600 specialists whose qualifications allow them to hold positions of responsibility in industry and academia.