The Technologist of the Year 2024 award was granted to Prof. Ing. Juraj Beniak, PhD. of the STU Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Bratislava at the ceremony of announcing the results of the Scientist of the Year awards on 24 June 2025.
Professor Beniak received the award for significant innovations in the field of additive manufacturing, with exceptional contributions to research and development; for his contribution to the development of innovative composite materials for additive manufacturing and new innovative design solutions for equipment in the field.
Professor Beniak has been working in the field of research and development since 2003. Initially, he focused on the field of disintegration machines. Since 2005, he has been paying his attention to additive manufacturing.
During his research and development activities, he dealt with optimizing production processes in the field of additive manufacturing, thus bringing savings in material consumption, production times, and ultimately also financial savings.
Professor Beniak is currently working on the preparation of new unconventional and innovative materials using the nanocomposite particles that increase the strength of manufactured parts, and electroconductive properties f which are useful for conducting electric current or for shielding applications of electrical components. He is also developing antibacterial materials using nanocomposite particles. The material was introduced during the COVID pandemic in the production of a respirator; simultaneously, the application for intellectual property protection was filed.
His research includes also design innovations in additive manufacturing equipment and their adaptation to special requirements and needs of practice.
24.6.2025
