Erzähl mal, Tom…

Was bewegt die Menschen hinter V-Research? In unserer Interviewreihe geben unsere MitarbeiterInnen persönliche Einblicke in ihren Forschungsalltag, ihre kulturellen Hintergründe und ihre kulinarischen Vorlieben. Sie erzählen, woran sie forschen, was sie inspiriert, was sie nach Vorarlberg gebracht hat – und wie Vielfalt, Teamgeist und Genuss bei V-Research gelebt werden.
Ob spannende Projekte, internationale Perspektiven oder Lieblingsrezepte aus aller Welt: Hier wird sichtbar, wie Innovation entsteht – mit Leidenschaft, Neugier und einem Hauch Heimatgefühl.
Die Interviews veröffentlichen wir im Originalton – oft auf Englisch –, um die persönlichen Geschichten authentisch und unverfälscht erlebbar zu machen.

„Mich fasziniert, wie viele unterschiedliche Technologien ich dabei kennenlerne –
von riesigen Kranbauteilen bis zu winzigen Spinnringen in elektrischen Steckverbindungen.“
Dr. Tom Wright, Head of Department Tribo Design bei V-Research

What does “Tribo Design” mean—and why is it so crucial for industry and product development?
The Tribo-Design name reflects its focus on designing machine elements and products by applying tribological principles – the science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wear. Other institutes also use this term for their Tribology departments – “Tribology” would also do.

How do your research findings help to reduce friction and wear in technical systems?
We can pinpoint the parameter or component that needs optimisation by using systematic methodologies to highlight what in the system the friction is dependent on.

What role does simulation play in your daily work in Tribo Design?
Not a lot, or not as much as people might think, in fact friction systems are notoriously hard to effectively simulate. It works the other way around – we extract friction values by testing to feed simulations for other performance characteristics like pushing or pulling forces.

Tribo Design deals with friction, wear, and lubrication—things we rarely think about but are crucial in engineering. What fascinates you personally about Tribo Design, and what’s a surprising insight you’ve learned in this field?
The thing that fascinates me is learning about all the different technologies we are introduced to along the way, they might be big – like crane parts, or small like spinning rings (moving electrical connectors).

Which person (dead or alive) would you like to meet for coffee, tea or beer?
Bob Mortimer (ideally alive).

What originally brought you to Vorarlberg—and what made you decide to work at V-Research?
I came for a skiing holiday and was offered a job on the 2^nd January at the textile research institute. It was very nice working there but at heart I am not really an “academic”, V-Research is a perfect niche for me where we still do research and stay in touch with academia, but live with one foot in the real world.

What differences or similarities do you see between the work culture in your home country and at V-Research?
I think we have a more flexible work style here, however this might be more to do with the time that has elapsed since I was in the UK.

What do you particularly appreciate about Vorarlberg—both professionally and personally?
Once you break the ice and get passed the initial barriers, I think the relationships I have formed here have been really nice, both at work and socially.

Is there a dish or beverage from your home country that you particularly miss—or perhaps even cook or prepare here in Vorarlberg?
Full English breakfast, Wotsits.

Have you discovered a favourite dish, beverage or culinary highlight in Vorarlberg that surprised you?
I enjoy many Vorarlberg dishes – Käsespätzle, Leberkäse and coming up are the Schlachtparties which are great!

If you were to invite your team to a meal from your home country, what would you serve?
Probably a roast dinner…

What was your most amusing or unusual culinary experience in Austria?
Kalbsbries or I think they were calling them Stiersäckle – cows balls, I also had udder here.

What is your favourite drink or cocktail?
Beer or tea, but if I have to pick a cocktail it is either an old fashioned or a dark and stormy.

What is your favourite fruit or vegetable?
Has to be either the humble potato or the less humble Mango (but not mangos from here, ones that we picked off the trees in Malawi).