Academic courses
July 28, 2024 2025-07-16 16:17Academic courses
Academic courses of the Mechanical Wood Technology department
Basics of Woodworking
Engineering Ecology
The course in “Engineering Ecology” is designed for the students of the specialty “Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design)”, educational and qualification degree “Bachelor of Science”. The course provides the students with essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills in relation to occupational safety and health requirements at work in furniture industry enterprises. The training content is focused on the introduction to the national labor and occupational safety and health legislation; acquisition of the methods for analysis and assessment of the hazardous and harmful factors in furniture industry, and the respective methods and means for protection of workers and employees; methods for identification, investigation, registration and reporting of occupational accidents and diseases, methods for analysis and assessment of occupational risks, requirements to microclimate conditions at the workplace, prevention of exposure to dust and other harmful substances, gases and vapors, methods for testing and calculation of lighting, exposure to occupational noise and vibrations. Issues, related to the safe use of electric machines and equipment, theoretical and practical guidance on safe working practices when using woodworking machines, different collective and personal protective equipment used in furniture industry, are also included in the syllabus. Special attention is given to the ecological criteria and requirements for awarding EU and country-specific eco-labels to furniture products. The course in “Engineering Ecology” provides the students with extensive theoretical knowledge, practical skills and best practices related to ensuring Safety and Health at Work in furniture enterprises.
Lecturers:
- Professor, PhD Petar Yordanov Antov
- Assist. Prof. Viktoria Plamenova Dudeva
Engineering of woodworking enterprises
Lecturers:
- Prof. PhD Viktor Petrov Savov
Ergonomics and ergonomic design
The course includes basic methodological issues related to human factor in the organization of work space, taking in to account engineering and a number of hygiene, anthropometrical, physiological, psychophysical, psychological, artistically-technical factors and requirements for furniture design. Also are studied ergonomic problems of the environment, including lighting, microclimate, noise, vibration and sound processes generated in rooms with special functions and methods for ergonomic evaluation of acoustic projects for halls with different purposes and depending on their interior. The education is designed in order students to acquire basic necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of ergonomics and ergonomic design. Which are connected from one side with human factors by percentile groups in regard to interior furniture, and from the other with organization of workplaces, work-processes and methods for engineering and ergonomic evaluation of system “Human-equipment-environment”. The tasks are related with complex of systematical knowledge and creative approaches for conducting ergonomic studies, analyses, evaluations and for design of interior space in household and industrial environment according to anthropometric characteristics of human as main factor in ergonomic system “Human-furniture-environment”. The knowledge and skills are needed to design and implementation of furniture with artistic and aesthetic forms that require solving of various technical and ergonomic tasks in line with application areas. The purpose of laboratory exercises is for students to consolidate theoretical knowledge obtained in lectures and from used literature sources to acquire skills for solving practical issues in the area of Ergonomics in order to acquire ergonomic analyses, rules for selection, preparation and ergonomic design of interior furniture. In order to be achieved better results in learning of the material are used opportunities of multimedia teaching, internet and are presented different possible solutions in practice.
Lecturers:
Industrial Ecology and Occupational Safety
The course in “Industrial Ecology and Occupational Safety” is designed for the students of the specialty “Technology of Wood and Furniture”, educational and qualification degree “Bachelor of Science”, full-time and part-time form of study. The course provides the students with essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to the provision of safety and health at work in the woodworking enterprises. The syllabus content is focused making the students familiar with the basic concepts of the national labor and occupational safety and health legislation, including the methods for analysis and assessment of the hazardous and harmful factors in woodworking industry, and the respective methods and means for protection of workers and employees; methods for identification, investigation, registration and reporting of occupational accidents and diseases, methods for analysis and assessment of occupational risks and occupational accident risk analysis; theories of occupational accidents; requirements to microclimate conditions at the workplace; prevention of exposure to dust and other harmful chemical substances, gases and vapors; measurement, calculation and evaluation of industrial lighting; prevention of risks, related to the exposure of workers to occupational noise and vibrations. The safe use of electric machines/tools/equipment, including pressure vessels, theoretical and practical guidance on safe working practices when using woodworking machines, as well as different collective and personal protective equipment used in woodworking industry, are also included in the syllabus. Fire safety requirements and fire prevention at work are presented and explained. Requirements and criteria for awarding EU and country-specific eco-labels to products from wood and wood-based composites, as well as provisions on workload, ergonomic aspects (manual handling operations) and psychosocial risks are also included. The course in “Industrial Ecology and Occupational Safety” provides the students with extensive theoretical knowledge, practical skills and best practices related to ensuring Safety and Health at Work in woodworking enterprises and creating the necessary preventative culture.
Lecturers:
Intellectual Property Protection
The course „Intellectual Property Protection” is designed for students of “Engineering Design”(“Interior Design and Furniture”) and “Technology of Wood and Furniture” degree “Master”. In accordance with the qualification characteristics, graduate engineering designers will be implemented in the design department of furniture companies, in the design firms involved in designing the interior and exterior design and furniture. As designers and technologists they should know and apply the requirements for protection of intellectual property acc. Bulgarian and international legislation as legal protection of intellectual property is inextricably linked to overall economic, cultural and social development and is a powerful factor in promoting the competitiveness of Bulgarian companies. Intellectual property in modern society includes the so-called objects of industrial property plus copyright and related rights.
Students will learn about basic concepts of the scope of intellectual property as main attention is paid to industrial property and its protection, but also affect some aspects of copyright. The course provides knowledge on the following topics: patents for inventions, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks and unfair competition. The course provides introduction to the generality of the licensed trade and patent research. Graduates will receive a necessary minimum knowledge in intellectual property which combined with extensive knowledge as designers and technologists will ensure a successful career.
Methods for Experimental Research and Optimization
Lecturers:
Modeling and optimization of technological objects
Non-destructive methods for evaluation of wood and wood-based materials
The subject is the last fifth of „Wood Science”. It complements the knowledge of undergraduate level mainly in the direction „Properties of Wood”. It includes question that allow further exploration in the fields of „Anatomy of Wood” and „Wood Quality”.
The used is been examined by the most modern methods. Studied the methods for non-destructive quality control, properties and wood defects. Attention is drawn to the relationship between particular quality characteristics. Knowledge of less known timber species that are not studied at undergraduate level is further expanded.
Lecturers:
Production of saw-materials and plywood
Production of wood-based panels
The course “Production of Wood-Based Panels” is designed to give students the basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills as future managers in the woodworking and furniture industries. Tasks are associated with acquiring knowledge for organizing the production of wood-based panels, also including modern technology for the production of wood composites with a special purpose. Issues related to the production of different types wood-based panels and their physical and mechanical properties, to the processing of wood raw materials, preparation and dosing of binders and chemical additives, the optimum working parameters of automated lines for forming and pressing, methods for surface gentrification, technological control and methods for managing the quality of the production are discussed. Modern technologies for the production of wood-based panels with special purpose, unit of modern enterprises from the world practice and similar enterprises in our country are also discussed. Laboratory sessions are devoted to practical issues of computing and research. The practical learning is done in leading companies in the country, where the theoretical knowledge acquired in class is applied and analyses are made on the basis of some practical observations.
Production of Wooden Packaging and Flooring
The subject Production of Wooden Packaging and Flooring is intended for the students of the speciality Wood Technology, educational and qualification degree of Master, specialized module Technology of Wood-Based Materials and Composites. The subject is intended to provide the Master’s degree students with the necessary knowledge on all matters, related to the production of wooden packaging and flooring. The training material includes topics, related to the technical, economic and other requirements to the wooden packaging, different constructions, main and supplementary materials and technologies for production, use of wood-based materials, production of pallets, containers and other special purpose packaging.
All topics, related to the production of barrels, main types of wood and technologies for production, repair and sanitary processing of barrels, dimensioning and testing methods, are described in details.
This subject allows acquiring practical knowledge and information about a traditional industry, which is not currently studied in the Bachelor’s curriculum.
Protection of intellectual property
The course „Intellectual Property Protection” is designed for students of “Engineering Design”(“Interior Design and Furniture”) and “Technology of Wood and Furniture” degree “Master”. In accordance with the qualification characteristics, graduate engineering designers will be implemented in the design department of furniture companies, in the design firms involved in designing the interior and exterior design and furniture. As designers and technologists they should know and apply the requirements for protection of intellectual property acc. Bulgarian and international legislation as legal protection of intellectual property is inextricably linked to overall economic, cultural and social development and is a powerful factor in promoting the competitiveness of Bulgarian companies. Intellectual property in modern society includes the so-called objects of industrial property plus copyright and related rights.
Students will learn about basic concepts of the scope of intellectual property as main attention is paid to industrial property and its protection, but also affect some aspects of copyright. The course provides knowledge on the following topics: patents for inventions, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks and unfair competition. The course provides introduction to the generality of the licensed trade and patent research. Graduates will receive a necessary minimum knowledge in intellectual property which combined with extensive knowledge as designers and technologists will ensure a successful career.
Quality management
The course “Quality Management” is designed for students of “Engineering Design”(“Interior Design and Furniture”) degree “Master”. In accordance with the qualification characteristics, graduate engineering designers will be implemented in the design department of furniture companies, in the design firms involved in designing the interior and exterior design and furniture. As designers they should know and apply the requirements of international, national and industry regulations, related to the quality of finished products, principles and methods for quality management, essence of management quality and requirements for certification and maintenance. Special attention is paid to the series of standards BS EN ISO 9000.
Issues related to the design and management of quality of production of woodworking and furniture industry are considered, including ISO 9000 series standards, control activities demonstrate the quality and conformity assessment, quality assessment, methods of statistical process control and statistical acceptance control, and techniques and methods to improve quality. Attention is paid to certain techniques and methods for improvement of quality, and the human aspect of quality management.
Standardization and patent law
The course “Standardization and Patent Law” is designed for optional study of the students specialty ” Wood Technology”. Issues related to the objectives and basic concepts of standardization are considered, briefs of metrology, types of measurements and measurement methods are given. The second part of the lectures is dedicated to some issues related to intellectual property in particular – patent law. The concepts of invention and patentable invention, and some basic concepts of patent law and procedure for obtaining a patent are considered.
In the limited volume of the curriculum’s allocated instructional hours graduates will not become specialists in the field of standardization and patent law, but will have knowledge in this area, which combined with their extensive knowledge and skills in specific courses will result in the design and manufacturing of high quality and competitive products.
Technological design of woodworking enterprises
The course covers details of technological design of the main types of woodworking productions. The main objective of the course is to acquire technical, theoretical and practical knowledge for the development of technological parts of projects for various types of woodworking enterprises on individual assignments. The course enables students to acquire the necessary knowledge in theoretical and practical aspect as designers of technological part of projects for woodworking enterprises.
Lecturers:
Technology of engineered wood
Lecturers:
Technology of Materials from Wood Fibres
The main objective of the course is to build in students a complex of knowledge and skills that will allows them to solve engineering problems in the field of technology of materials from wood fibres, related to the comparative characteristics of production methods, type of used machines and equipment, production modes, quality control of the production, possibilities for complex use of lignocellulosic raw materials, operational and structural engineering of processes and production.
The course provides students with knowledge for the classification, properties and technologies for production of materials from wood and non-wood lignocellulosic fibres.
The main focus of the course is on technologies for the production of fibreboards. The organization, technology and mechanization of this kind of production facilities are studied in detail. The organization of technological control in factories and the testing of the physical and mechanical properties of fibreboards are also overlooked.
Although in reduced volume, the course also studies the technologies for the production of gypsum fibreboards, wood fibres reinforced composites, pulp, paper and cardboards.
Lecturers:
Technology of particleboards
Technology of solid-wood materials
Lecturers:
Technology of Veneer and Plywood
The subject Technology of Veneer and Plywood is one of the main specialized subjects in the curriculum of the students of the speciality Wood Technology. The subject includes studies on the technologies for production of different types of veneer and plywood.
The training is based on a production principle. The main part of the training course is related to the production of plywood and its integral part – the production of rotary-cut veneer. The technological processes for production of sliced veneer, some special types of veneer, bent plywood products and laminated veneer lumber, are also included in the curriculum. The knowledge on the production of rotary-cut veneer and plywood, acquired in the first part of the training course, allows drawing students’ attention mainly to the specific characteristics of the production processes of other types of veneer and plywood. This allows for brief but sufficient introduction to the issues, related to the technological processes for veneer and plywood production.
Studying this subject is aimed at providing students with the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge on the technology for production of the materials mentioned above and the optimal technological regimes. Furthermore, the students acquire knowledge about the construction and operation of the machines, equipment and production lines, specific for these industries. Topics, related to the technological and quality control, are also included in the curriculum.
Technology of wood-based products
The main goal of the course is the acquisition of knowledge in the field of technologies for the production of basic materials of wood for furniture production and for use in the interior.
The main objective of the course is to build a complex of systematic knowledge and skills, necessary for independent decision making on the issues, related to the technology of production of different wood materials, namely: lumber, wood veneer and plywood; wood particle boards; medium and hard density fiberboards; flooring; wood mineral boards, wood plastic composites.
The students will learn how these technologies contribute to the rational and complex use of wood raw material, how to achieve high quality of the production and the labor productivity in these proceedings.
Lecturers:
Theoretical basis of wood and ligno-cellulosic materials composites
The course „Theoretical basis of Wood and Ligno-Cellulosic Materials Composites” is designed for students of “Wood Technology” degree “Master”. It is designed to give students the necessary theoretical knowledge in the production of wood composites, which is a major strategic direction in the development of wood industry not only at home but also in the world.
The production of wood composites covers a wide range of technologies, main among which are to receive: particleboard, fiberboards, laminated materials, wood-polymer materials and products, wood-mineral materials and products; boards from ligno-cellulosic particles and various binders, wood press-molded products, biomass briquettes and pellets. Students will learn about some theoretical aspects related to the mechanisms of structure formation; interaction processes of binders with wood/ligno-cellulosic materials and maximum adhesion strength ensureing; optimal processing conditions choice for satisfy the requirements of composites performance; opportunities for improving the resistance of composites to different effects.
Vocational training
The discipline of woodworking workshop gives the necessary initial knowledge of the specialty, the interrelation between the individual disciplines and their meaning in the complex construction of the specialty. The main objective is to acquire the necessary minimum practical skills and work experience that is required to absorb the taught material throughout the student’s learning.
During the course, students gain practical knowledge and experience. Meet and directly participate in individual technological operations throughout the entire product cycle of a product. The production cycle involves obtaining the raw wood raw material, obtaining details from it and obtaining a finished product. Students are introduced to machines, equipment, appliances and tools.
During the classes, students come into direct contact with the materials and machines being processed, gain practical knowledge about them and the possible ways to use them.
Lecturers:
- Chief Assist. Prof. PhD Rosen Ivanov Grigorov
Wood Science
Students learn how to recognize different species by knowing main and additional marks. The course concludes species classification, main representatives of the groups, wood construction. The Wood-science is studied timber defects and their influence on its quality. Practical classes analyze different properties of the wood species are studied due to connection construction – properties – practice.
The Bachelor programme “Wood technology” and “Interior and Furniture Design”
Purpose and content of the course
The course ‘Wood science’ aims to teach the students in:
-Wood¬’s anatomy and structure
-major visual defects in logs
– using timber from local and imported species
Students learn how to recognize different species by knowing main and additional marks. The course concludes species classification, main representatives of the groups, wood construction. The Wood science is studied timber defects and their influence on its quality. Practical classes analyze different properties of the wood. Wood species are studied due to connection construction – properties – practice.
Lecturers:
- Assoc. Prof. PhD Nikolay Spasov Bardarov
- Assistant Martina Georgieva Todorova
