The COMTES FHT a.s. is a Czech private research organisation (with approximately 100 employees) dedicated to research and development in materials science and engineering, with a strong emphasis on metallic materials and advanced processing technologies. Founded in 2000, COMTES FHT has grown into a well-established R&D centre with extensive expertise covering the full innovation chain, from computer modelling, software development and engineering design to additive manufacturing, prototyping, materials testing and advanced characterisation. The organisation is strongly committed to technology transfer and education, actively contributing to the training of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students in cooperation with universities in the Czech Republic and abroad. Its research activities are carried out in close collaboration with academic institutions and industrial partners at both national and international levels.
COMTES FHT has developed a solid international reputation through its success in translating research results into industrial practice, particularly in the field of applied materials research. Its outputs include numerous validated technologies, patents and protected utility models, many of which have been implemented in industrial environments and have supported further technological development in companies in Europe and beyond. Within the ECO-STEEL project, COMTES FHT is involved in WP2, WP3, WP5, WP6, WP7 and WP8, where its main contributions focus on CONFORM processing and advanced modelling of the CONFORM process, demonstrating the close integration of experimental research, numerical simulation and industrial application.
Michal Duchek is a senior metallurgical engineer and Head of the Metallurgical Technologies Department at COMTES FHT a.s., with extensive experience in materials engineering and applied metallurgy. He obtained his M.Sc. degree in Materials Engineering from the University of West Bohemia. His professional activities cover forming technologies, heat and thermo-chemical treatment, and additive manufacturing, combined with coordination of large-scale R&D projects at national and European levels.
David Hradil is an R&D Engineer and materials specialist with a background in materials engineering and metallurgy. He obtained his Master’s degree in Materials Engineering from Brno University of Technology. He is currently employed at COMTES FHT a.s., where his work centres on forming technologies, heat and thermo-chemical treatment, severe plastic deformation processes (CONFORM), rotary swaging and tribology. His research interests include advanced processing of steels and titanium alloys, surface and thermochemical treatments.
Ivana Poláková is an expert in numerical simulations. She creates material data and performs other simulations of forming processes, such as forging, pressing, rolling, drawing, extrusion, etc. She obtained her engineering degree in Physical Technological Processes from the University of West Bohemia. She also performs heat treatment, such as hardening of materials, all in a simulation program.
Ondřej Lukáš is a research scientist with a background in mechanical design and advanced numerical modelling. He obtained his Master’s degree in Design of Manufacturing Machines and Equipment from the University of West Bohemia. He is currently employed at COMTES FHT a.s., where his work concentrates on computer modelling, FEM simulations and numerical analysis of forming processes, additive manufacturing distortion and structural behaviour of metallic components.