1990
Founding of IfG Institut für Gebirgsmechanik GmbH
On December 21, 1990, IfG Institut für Gebirgsmechanik GmbH was founded by former employees of the IfB, with the participation of Verbundnetz Gas AG, UGS Mittenwalde, Professors Fecker, Reik, and Fröhlich, and KIB Plan Erfurt.
Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Menzel and Dipl.-Phys. Wolfgang Schreiner were appointed managing directors.
1991
IfG starts
The IfG was established in 1991 with twelve employees who had previously worked at the former IfB in the fields of rock mechanics and, primarily, salt mechanics.
During this period of economic uncertainty following reunification, this approach helped create career prospects for employees while preserving their valuable technical expertise. As a result, the IfG was able to establish technical credibility and gain the trust of clients and regulatory authorities throughout Germany as early as the first half of the 1990s. The focus is on issues in the fields of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering in salt mining, underground disposal, final disposal, and underground gas storage.
The decision to adopt a discontinuum mechanics simulation program (UDEC from ITASCA) and the acquisition of PCs with mathematical coprocessors laid the foundation for the development of a powerful rock mechanics simulation technology. In addition, the rock mechanics laboratory and in-situ measurement technology can also be taken over by the IfG. Thus, from the very beginning, the foundations are laid that today characterize the IfG as a unit and underpin its engineering science, consisting of the closely interlinked structural areas of field measurement, laboratory, and rock modeling.
1995
Purchase of Real Estate
Part of the site of the former mine "Schacht Dölitz" and the associated buildings, where the IfG operates, are being acquired by the Free State of Saxony and adapted to meet operational needs. In parallel with the conversion and renovation work, the technical equipment is being continuously upgraded.
Exterior view of the IfG campus in 1996.
1998
Certification
The IfG has been continuously certified to ISO 9001 since 1998.
1960 - 1990
The origins
The origins of IfG Institut für Gebirgsmechanik GmbH date back to the GDR era.
The establishment of the Institut für Bergbausicherheit (Institute for Mine Safety) as a scientific and technical institution was decided on August 27, 1959, by the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the GDR. It was placed directly under the Supreme Mining Authority of the Council of Ministers of the GDR, the state mining regulatory body. The Institute, which began operations in January 1960, included as branches the Freiberg Test Tunnel, the Central Institute for Explosion and Fire Prevention in Mining and Industry, and the Research Center for Technical Dust Control in Eisleben.
Its responsibilities were broad and encompassed all aspects related to, among other things
- underground mining safety,
- mining technology,
- the geological safety of the repositories and
- deal with the effects on the Earth's surface.
Organizationally, the institute is divided into the Leipzig and Freiberg divisions, each comprising three research departments. Dr.-Ing. Karl-Heinz Höfer is appointed director, and Dr.-Ing. Klaus Thoma is appointed head of the Rock Mechanics Department.
In 1970, the Institute for Mine Safety is renamed the Institute for Mining Safety (IfB for short), a change accompanied by a restructuring and the definition of main research areas:
- Geomechanics, comprising the departments of Rock Mechanics and Salt Mechanics (the IfB is thus responsible for all potash and rock salt mining in the GDR),
- Fire and Explosion Protection,
- Workplace hygiene,
- Shaft hoisting systems and wire ropes.
Noteworthy is the IfB’s extensive international collaboration with scientific and technical institutions in the Eastern Bloc on issues of mining safety, as well as its intensive cooperation with the so-called Non-Socialist Economic Area.
In 1991, the Institute for Mining Safety was formally dissolved as part of the reunification process. The most recent director was Dr.-Ing. Klaus Thoma, and the head of the Geomechanics/Salt Mechanics Department was Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Menzel.
The buildings of the Institute for Mining Safety in 1975. In the foreground is the fire and explosion protection testing hall; to the right of it is the South Plant Bunker, which is now used by the IfG.
Testing machines used by the Institute for Mining Safety in 1975.
2002
Change in Management
Dr.-Ing. habil. Wolfgang Minkley is taking over as director of the institute from Dr. Menzel, who is retiring. Dr. Minkley, who holds a doctorate in physics, previously worked at the IfB in the field of rock mechanics and completed his habilitation as a researcher at the IfG at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg on the mechanisms and prediction of rock bursts in potash mining.
Dr. Wolfgang Menzel
Dr.-Ing. habil. Wolfgang Minkley
2003
Purchase of a large-scale shearing machine
The acquisition of the MTS 816 large-scale servo-hydraulic shear machine has significantly expanded our experimental capabilities. In the meantime, all servo-hydraulic testing systems have been equipped with digital measurement and control devices from MTS.
2010
Change in Management
The second managing director, Wolfgang Schreiner, M.Sc. (Physics), is retiring.
Dr. Till Popp will assume the duties of an authorized officer.
2011
Purchase of a D2000 testing machine
To expand the portfolio, a D2000 servo-hydraulic testing machine from GL Test-Systems is being purchased.
2014
Purchase of the "Südwerkbunker" property
The IfG acquires the property of the former coal bunker at the Dölitz lignite underground mining complex—known as the Südwerkbunker—to create additional office space and begins renovating and refurbishing the building.
Condition of the Südwerkbunker in 2012, prior to renovation.
2018
Moving into new office space in the Südwerkbunker
The extensive renovation and refurbishment work on the Südwerkbunker is nearing completion. Architectural features will be preserved. This will provide the rock modelling department with twelve modern office workstations and a large conference room. In addition, the department of field testing will receive a new workshop area.
The extensively renovated Südwerkbunker provides our employees with modern workspaces.
2020
Change in Management
In January 2020, Dr.-Ing. Ralf-Michael Günther takes over as managing director from Dr.-Ing. habil. Wolfgang Minkley. Dr. Günther completed a mining apprenticeship with a high school diploma at the "Werk Kupferschieferbergbau" from 1984 to 1987 and studied geotechnical engineering at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg from 1990 to 1995. After graduating, he joined IfG as a graduate and earned his doctorate in 2009 at the company in the field of salt mechanics.
Dr.-Ing. Ralf-Michael Günther
2020
Renovation of the Kaue
Starting in 2020, extensive renovation work will begin on the main building, known as the Kaue.
2021
Modernization of the D5000 Testing Machine
The D5000, which, with a test force of 5 MN, is the largest and oldest testing machine at the IfG, is undergoing a major overhaul and will be equipped with a new servo-hydraulic control system.
2022
Modernization of the creep testing laboratories
The two laboratory rooms for creep testing in the Kaue building are being completely renovated and equipped with new technology and a gantry crane in each.
2023
New offices
The IfG now employs around 35 people. The need for office space continues to grow. The “old,” still-unrenovated garage at the Südwerkbunker is being repurposed and completely renovated. Four new office workstations for field measurements are being created.
2024
Ten new creep test benches, two new pump systems
Ten additional heated hydraulic creep test stands will be built. This will bring the total number of test stands available for conducting creep tests to 78.
In addition, two precision double-piston pump systems from Vindum will be purchased to conduct creep tests that include dilatancy and permeability measurements.