Portrait of WIWEB

Aerial photograph of WIWEB (Source: Bundeswehr/WIWEB)

Since 1959, the Bundeswehr Research Institute for Materials, Explosives, Fuels and Lubricants has been part of the BWB organization. It is located in Erding, Bavaria.

The Bundeswehr Research Institute for Materials, Explosives, Fuels and Lubricants in Erding has the following responsibilities:

• Provision of expertise to fulfill the tasks assigned to WIWEB by the CPM procedural regulations, verification activities for national and international armament projects; in particular management and implementation of technology-, capability- or product-centered R&T projects;
  
  
  • Provision of technical support and advice to the responsible project officials;
  • Experimental and analytical studies, compliance demonstrations, suitability testing and screening;
  • Qualification of explosives in accordance with STANAG 4170 and the Explosives Ordinance;
  • Development and testing of all substances and products belonging to WIWEB's field of responsibility, including Bundeswehr-specific clothing and personal equipment as well as technical textiles and similar substances;
  • Initiation and management of projects, including expert counseling in matters of explosives, POL products, packaging and textile camouflage materials;
    
• Provision of technical support and advice during the in-service phase of defense materiel;
  
  
  • Preparation of expert reports in the event of accidents, damage and warranty cases;
  • Study of maintenance issues such as early detection of defects, surface protection, preservation, packaging, storage, service life forecasts, repair procedures;
  • Tasks relating to environmental protection in the Bundeswehr to the extent that they concern the chemical safety of any substances and products in WIWEB's field of responsibility.

Furthermore, WIWEB supports the Bundeswehr in matters of environmental protection relating to chemical safety as well as occupational safety and health (measurement of hazardous substances in according with §18 of the Hazardous Substances Regulation).

WIWEB currently has a staff of about 320. Furthermore, WIWEB offers vocational training to about 5 apprentices a year in the following occupations:

• Chemical laboratory technician
• Materials tester

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