In material testing, the quality of a result is often determined not just by the evaluation under the microscope, but already by the preparation. If sectioning, embedding, grinding, or etching are not performed cleanly, misinterpretations, unnecessary repeat tests, and time loss in the laboratory can occur. This is precisely where LATZKE’s new metallography training courses come in.
With a practical basic course and an in-depth advanced course, we are expanding our training offerings with two formats that specifically support both beginners and experienced users in their daily laboratory work. Those who wish to get an overview of all formats can find the complete training overview on our LATZKE Training page.
Metallography – often also spelled metallography – is a crucial component of quality assurance in many companies. It helps to visualize microstructures, evaluate heat treatments, identify causes of defects, and reliably assess materials. Precisely for this reason, sound practical knowledge is so important: Only those who master the individual steps of sample preparation and can professionally classify results will arrive at reliable test statements.
Why Metallography Training is So Important in Practice
In metallography, a complete process chain lies between the sample and the test result. Already during sectioning, the choice of the correct cutting disc determines whether the microstructure remains unaltered. During embedding, the goal is to protect edge zones and create a stable base for further processing. Grinding and polishing must be carried out in a material-appropriate manner so that the surface becomes free of artifacts. Only then do etching techniques, microscopy, and microstructure analysis provide meaningful images. Even small errors in one of these steps can falsify the entire assessment.
For laboratory managers, quality assurance personnel, and inspectors, this means in practice: Those who work cleanly in metallography not only save time but also increase the reliability of decisions. This applies to incoming goods inspections as well as process approvals, complaint processing, or the monitoring of heat treatments. Our new training courses at LATZKE therefore deliberately focus not only on theory but also on application-oriented exercises and concrete error prevention.
New Courses for Beginners and Advanced Users
The new offering is clearly structured. The Metallography Basic Course is aimed at participants who want to systematically enter metallographic laboratory work or consolidate their fundamental knowledge. The Metallography Advanced Course deepens the knowledge for all those who already have initial experience and want to master more complex materials, preparation tasks, and evaluations more confidently. Both courses are conducted at the Wiehl location and are structured as two-day in-person training sessions.
All details regarding the agenda, dates, and booking can be found on the Metallography Basic and Advanced Course page.
Another advantage is the clear focus on operational benefits. It is not about isolated theoretical knowledge, but about competencies that directly flow into testing procedures, approval processes, and documentation. Through direct exchange with experienced experts, participants can bring questions from their own work environment and take away solutions that can be directly applied to daily laboratory work.
Metallography Basic Course: A Secure Introduction to Preparation and Microscopy
The basic course focuses on fundamentals. Topics include an introduction to metallography, the differences between micro and macro sections, sample preparation, grinding and polishing techniques, etching procedures, and initial microscopic examinations. In addition, there are practical exercises in which participants prepare samples themselves and analyze initial microscopic images. This makes the course particularly suitable for employees who want to establish reproducible processes and avoid typical preparation errors from the outset.
The fundamentals of microstructure assessment and hardness testing on metallographic sections are also part of the program. This allows participants to gain a solid understanding of how preparation and evaluation are interconnected – and how reliable test results can be systematically secured.
Metallography Advanced Course: More Depth for Complex Materials and Applications
The advanced course delves significantly deeper into the subject matter. It focuses on topics such as materials science and microstructure analysis, the iron-carbon diagram, alloying influences, time-temperature-transformation diagrams, special etching procedures, and the preparation of demanding samples. Systematic microstructure interpretation, the analysis of damage cases, and the evaluation of typical defect patterns also play a central role.
For companies that regularly work with complex materials, coatings, nitrided layers, or edge zone issues, this is a particularly valuable building block of knowledge. What is learned helps to accurately classify difficult findings, identify causes more quickly, and sustainably improve the quality of metallographic evaluations.
Practice-Oriented Instead of Purely Theoretical: The Added Value for Daily Laboratory Work
The great advantage of the new metallography training courses lies in the close connection between theory and practice. Precisely this practical relevance is crucial when knowledge is not only to be understood but also to be implemented cleanly in everyday work. Participants do not learn in an abstract seminar room, but with direct reference to real testing tasks:
- How can microstructure changes due to sectioning be avoided?
- Which embedding method is appropriate?
- How do polishing artifacts occur?
- Which etchant is suitable for the respective material?
- And how can microscopic images be correctly interpreted?
For companies, this approach pays off multiple times. New employees quickly become confident in their actions, existing teams standardize their processes, and typical sources of error in the testing laboratory are reduced. At the same time, the ability to document results comprehensibly and communicate them reliably grows – an important point if test reports are to hold up internally or with customers. Those who want to use metallography not just sporadically but with process reliability invest directly in the quality of their decisions with such training courses.
Who Can Particularly Benefit from Metallography Training
The new courses are particularly interesting for:
- Testing laboratories, quality assurance, and materials testing
- Heat treatment, complaint management, and production support
- Companies that want to systematically onboard new specialists
- Teams that want to standardize processes and sustainably reduce preparation errors
The combination of the basic and advanced courses is particularly strong for companies that want to build a sustainable qualification concept. First, fundamentals in sample preparation, microscopy, and microstructure assessment are secured. Subsequently, advanced content such as special etching procedures, demanding preparations, or damage analyses can be deepened. This gradually builds a reliable level of competence within the team.
Dates, Organization, and Next Steps
Currently, the Metallography Basic Course is scheduled for June 23 and 24, 2026 in Wiehl. The Advanced Course will follow on June 29 and 30, 2026, also in Wiehl. Those who wish to specifically expand their expertise in metallography should secure a spot early. Especially for companies with ongoing quality requirements, it makes sense to book training not only when errors have already occurred, but to invest preventively in knowledge and reliable processes.
For direct coordination, individual inquiries, or in-house requests, please contact LATZKE.
Metallography Training: A Practical Offering for Companies
With its new metallography training, LATZKE offers a practical solution for companies aiming for reliable test results, reproducible preparation, and enhanced expertise in the laboratory. The basic course provides a solid foundation, while the advanced course expands this knowledge with in-depth materials science, demanding preparation, and systematic microstructure interpretation. For anyone looking to professionally establish or expand metallography within their company, these new training courses represent a concrete and immediately actionable step forward.
