1836 | Higher vocational school of the Grand Duchy of Hesse is founded. |
1859 | Establishment of five departments, including an engineering department divided into “General Machine Functions” and “Mechanical Technology”. |
1868 | The school was granted the title of a polytechnic school |
1869 | Opening of a new institute for “Power and Working Machines” to the Mechanical Engineering department. |
1872 | Nomination of Philipp Waibler as the first official professor in Mechanical Engineering. |
1873 | Third subject area added to the Mechanical Engineering department: “Machine Elements, Kinematics, Machine Design”. |
1877 | The school was renamed to “Großherzoglich Hessische Technische Hochschule zu Darmstadt” |
1886 | Studies are now of equal value at the Technical Universities of Aachen, Berlin, Braunschweig, Darmstadt, Dresden, Hanover, Karlsruhe and Munich. |
1892 | Otto Berndt is appointed as a professor of the department of Mechanical Engineering. He would later become the founder of the Institutes of “Hydroelectric Machines” and “Paper Science” |
1895 | Women can take part in individual classes as observers. |
1897 | Establishment of a new professorship for Mechanical Engineering, especially Hydraulic Engines. |
1899 |
The Technische Hochschule is granted the right to award the title of Diplom-Ingenieur and to allow graduates to complete doctoral studies. |
1904 |
Building of a Powerplant and a new laboratory in the Magdalenenstrasse |
1905 | For the first time, four female students enroll at the TH Darmstadt. |
1907 | Establishment of a new professorship for Airships and Aeronautics. |
1918 | Reform of the Curriculum in the tree main areas of “Basic Subjects”, “Vocational Subjects” and “General Subjects” |
1927 | Establishing of the Institutes of “Material Science”, “Thermal Engines”, “Mechanical Technolory”, “Machining tools” and “Rail industry” |
1944 | During World War 2 the Department of Mechanical Engineering was involved in the research and developement of the V2-Rocket that was built in Peeneemünde. In the same year aerial bombings destroyed more than 70% of the city of Darmstadt aswell as huge parts of the University. |
1948 | Foundation of a degree in Industrial Engineering, discipline Mechanical Engineering, in cooperation with the Department of Law and Economics. |
1952 | Second professorship in Paper Technology as part of the foundation of the Institute for Printing Science and Technology. |
1955 | The Institute for “Thermal Engines” was split up into the Institute for “Thermal Turbo-machines” and the Institute for “Internal Combustion Engines”. Furthermore the Institute for “Heating and Drying Technology” aswell as the Institute for “Thermal Process Engineering” were founded. |
1956 | A new Institute for “Reactor Technology” was established. |
1957 | Increase in the number of new students to 250. |
1958 | Start of teacher further education in Hesse, the Department takes on parts of the training for teachers in vocational schools for the trade schools. |
1959 | Establishing of the Institute for “Maschine elements and Mechanics” |
1962 | Founding of the Institute for “Work Science” |
1963 | Start of construction at the Lichtwiese campus, commissioning of the Siemens teaching reactor SUR100 (operation until 1995, 800mW power). |
1965 | Academic reform to strengthen “General Mechanical Engineering” while avoiding specific departments apart from Paper Technology. |
1967 | New Hessian Universities Law with quantitative representation of all university groups provided on an equal basis. |
1972 | Establishment of a 'departmental computer' to help with numerical calculations. |
1974 | First DFG Collaborative Research Centre on the topic of Surface Technology until 1987. |
1975 | New amendment to the Hessian Universities Law with majority rule for professors in all committees for issues regarding research and teaching. |
1976 | New construction of testing halls on the Lichtwiese campus. |
1977 | 100 years Department of Mechanical Engineering, 22 institutes in the Department, 1,432 students. |
1982 | Significant increase in student numbers; at times 50% more students than capacity allows. |
1983 | Split of the Faculty for “Airships and Aeronautics” into the Institutes for “Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics” and “Aviation Systems and Control Technology” |
1987 | Introduction of numerus clausus for a maximum of 500 students (Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering and Management) in the first semester. |
1990 | Drop in student numbers to under 70% of the planned figures by the middle of the decade. |
1995 | Merging of the management of the Material Research Laboratory and the Institute of Material Science into one professorship in the Department. |
1996 | 26 professors, as well as honorary professors and lecturers, contract teachers and assistants in permanent, state-funded positions. |
1998 | First “Introduction to Mechanical Engineering” course. New course in Machine Elements: “Machine Elements and Mechatronics”. |
2000 | Fundamental revision of the Mechanical Engineering Diplom course, introduction of the accredited Bachelor and Master degree courses, opening of the MechCenter. |
2001 | As a trial, students can also begin their studies in the summer semester. |
2002 | 371 new students in the Mechanical Engineering Diplom course, another 79 start the other Mechanical Engineering courses. |
2003 | The new “Mechanical and Process Engineering” degree course wins a prize from the Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft. |
2006 |
Restructuring of the Department after adoption of several new institutes from the dissolved Department of Mechanics. Now a total of 26 institutes. Establishment of a dual degree programme with the partner university Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA;. Last enrolment for the Diplom course. |
2007 | Further strengthening of project courses as a compulsory part of degree studies, introduction of “Philosophy for Mechanical Engineers” as a compulsory module. |
2014 | The degree courses of the Department of Mechanical Engineering are reaccredited and are now present in their 3rd revision. |