In tactical operations, special operations, or urban crisis situations, one thing is clear: the human head remains one of the most vulnerable targets. That is why ballistic helmets are an indispensable part of modern protective equipment. They offer protection against bullets, shrapnel, and blunt force—and must be lightweight, stable, and reliable.

Whether for personal protection, military deployment planning or equipping special forces, the requirements for ballistic protection systems are diverse. But when does a vest or plate provide reliable protection? What threats need to be defended against? And what distinguishes a helmet that complies with NIJ IIIA from one that complies with STANAG Level 4?

Whether in crisis areas, for special forces or in civilian personal protection, ballistic vests save lives. But what many people don't know is that the effective protection provided by these vests is based on a high-tech material that Schunk has perfected: high-performance technical ceramics.

Carbon is one of the fundamental materials in modern industry. At Schunk, it forms the basis for high-performance solutions in areas such as bearing technology, sealing systems, and inductive heating systems.

Carbon fibre reinforced plastics, often abbreviated as CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics), are composite materials consisting of a polymer matrix reinforced with carbon fibres. 

A charging point is a physical facility that makes it possible to supply electric vehicles with electricity and thus charge their batteries. A charging point usually comprises one or more charging stations to which the vehicles can be connected or which they can contact in some other way.

A contact strip is a part of the current collector that takes the current from the overhead line or contact wire so that it can be conducted into the vehicle interior. In principle, collector strips can be made of any material that has electrically conductive properties.

Condition-based maintenance is an innovative maintenance strategy that aims to carry out maintenance work only when the actual condition of the equipment requires it.

Conductor lines are designed to conduct currents even under extreme environmental conditions. Due to their special design, they are much more resistant to heat than conventional cables.

A contact strip, or collector shoe, is a part of the pantograph usually made of graphite or aluminum.

The term contact wire is used synonymously with the term overhead contact line. It ensures that the traction unit is supplied with sufficient power by looping on the contact strips.

A crucible is indispensable for metallurgy. Discover how this robust container helps melt metals and shape them into the desired form – and its significance in various industries.

CVD coating, an advanced chemical vapor deposition process, makes it possible to form robust layers on materials through precisely controlled chemical reactions.

The efficient use of the non-operating hours of large vehicle fleets is the promising approach of depot charging. Schunk Smart Charging is constantly developing this space- and cost-efficient technology to optimize e-mobility with a powerful and scalable charging system.

An electric motor with carbon brushes uses these important components to transfer electrical current to moving parts of the motor such as the rotor.

Fiber composites rank among the most advanced materials of our time. They consist of high-performance fibers embedded in a resin matrix, enabling components with exceptional strength, dimensional stability, and low weight. In industries with the highest technical demands, fiber composites have become indispensable.

Flash charging is a promising technology in the field of fast charging of electrically powered vehicles. This innovative method enables electric vehicles to be charged extremely quickly and promises numerous benefits for drivers, operators and the entire infrastructure

Glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP), also known as fibreglass, is a composite material consisting of a plastic matrix with fine glass fibres. The material combines the strength and rigidity of glass fibre with the flexibility and mouldability of plastic, making it a versatile material.  

Graphite, is a natural form of carbon and is characterized by its soft texture and metallic grey color.

Grounding contacts are used to transfer current from stationary parts to rotating parts.

Heavy Rail is generally understood to mean the long-distance train transportation system.

High-current charging is a charging process for batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, in which the current is at least equal to the nominal capacity value of the battery.

High-speed trains are, as the name suggests, trains that can reach an enormously high speed.

Winter is not only a challenge for cars. Railroad operations also have to prepare themselves against the cold.

Kerosene is a collective term for a group of saturated hydrocarbons typically derived from petroleum, coal or oil shale.

Latent heat, also known as heat of transformation, is the amount of energy that is absorbed or released by a substance without changing its temperature.

Light rail (LRT) describes urban rail in German-speaking countries. It is primarily responsible for passenger transportation and focuses in particular on short routes within a city.

Metallurgy is a central pillar of modern industries, dealing with the extraction and processing of metals. Learn more about the principles and significance of this fascinating science.

A mold is a casting form made of metal, typically cast iron or copper, used in metal processing to produce precisely dimensioned workpieces.

Opportunity Charging is an innovative charging solution for electrically powered vehicles that allows the vehicle to be recharged at short intervals whenever the opportunity arises. This minimizes standing and waiting times and maximizes the operating time and range.

The overhead contact line, also called traction current line, contact wire or catenary, is a special wire that supplies trains, electric buses and streetcars with electricity.

PCMs, also known as phase change materials, are substances that have the ability to absorb or release considerable amounts of energy in the form of heat during a phase transition.

Smart charging refers to the intelligent control of the charging process for electric vehicles, which not only optimizes charging performance, but also charging times and the load on the grid.

A DC motor is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy from direct current into mechanical motion

A subway (subway railroad) is an underground means of public transport.

The third rail, also known as the conductor rail or electric rail, is used to supply power to an electric rail vehicle. Unlike the overhead contact line, it is not installed above the rail, but runs along the side of the rail track.

A carbon brush, also known as a sliding contact, is a crucial component in many electric motors, generators and electrical machines.

The wheel flange lubrication, or rail flank lubrication, is a component with which the wheel flange is lubricated.