Educational and mechanical workshops of KPI (now building #6) were built in 1900 according to the project of architect I.S. Kittner. Since 1997, the State Polytechnic Museum has opened its expositions here.

Unfortunately, during the First World War, the Soviet-Ukrainian and Civil Wars, a significant part of the objective documentary materials about the initial period of the existence of the Department of Metal Technology and the development of the Kyiv Polytechnic was lost. During these years, the activity of the workshops and department almost froze completely, and began to revive only in 1922. The workshops are being stocked with equipment, and the educational process is gradually being restored. At the same time, workshops are beginning to accept orders for the production of spare parts for tractors of foreign brands. In 1930, the educational and mechanical workshops were transformed into an industrial enterprise - the Lepse plant, and the educational process moves to training laboratories, which by the beginning of the Second World War were quite well equipped with machines of various types. The war and evacuation changed the normal activities of the department, which resumed after the re-evacuation from Tashkent to Kyiv in 1944.

Corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR Vasyl Yukhimovych Vasiliev

Vasyl Yukhimovych Vasiliev, a well-known scientist in the field of metal technology, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, became the first head of the department after the war. He had broad scientific interests and left a significant legacy both in the development of scientific research at the institute and in the creation and development of new scientific and educational units.

From 1945 to 1958, the department was headed by Associate Professor Savin M.F. Even during the evacuation to Tashkent, he, together with a well-known specialist in the field of machine tool construction, prof. E.M. Khaimovich developed technologies for the production of new types of weapons in a special design bureau. Together with the staff of the department, rolling shops, repair and mechanical and blacksmith shops of the Uzbek Metallurgical Combine were designed.

From 1958 to 1973, the department was headed by Associate Professor Navrotsky B.S., who came to the department after working at the well-known factory "Bilshowyk" in Kyiv.

From 1960 to 1966, the department trained engineering-pedagogical specialists. During this time, 144 teacher engineers were graduated. Two of the graduates of that period, Prof. V.V. Dzhemelinskyi and associate professor A.K. Skuratovsky, worked at the department. From 1948 to 1970, candidate theses of Z.D. Panchenko (1948), M.O. Horpeniuk (1949), P.P. General (1951), N.F. Ryazanova (1955), V.K. Manjurnet (1967), V.V. Dzhemelinskyi (1970), Yu.P. Kolosvetov (1972) were defended.

Department of Structural Materials Technology and  Materials Science
(1973-1990)

Professor Volodymyr Vasyliovych Khilchevskyi

In 1973-1990, the department was headed by Professor Volodymyr Vasyliovych Khilchevskyi, a well-known specialist in the field of resistance of materials. During this period, the scope of scientific and educational interests of the department is expanding. With the appearance of new materials, the educational courses consider not only the issues of metal technology, but also broader problems of the technology of structural materials in general. The department receives a new name "Department of Structural Materials Technology and  Materials Science". In 1976-1990, two doctoral theses were defended by V.G. Dubents (1986) and V.O. Stepanenko (1988), as well as a number of candidate's theses: V.A. Stadnik (1984), O.T. Serditov (1984), Yu.P. Starchenko (1985), A.K. Skuratovsky (1990).

Specialists of the department carry out research related to the needs of industry: development of a complex of simulators for training welders (assistant professor O.Ya. Nikitin), research on the processes of wear of machine parts (assistant professor Yu.O. Popchenko, associate professor A.K. Skuratovsky, Ph.D. Yu.G. Starchenko, Ph.D. Yu.M. Tarasov), standardization of calculation methods of machine assemblies (assistant professor M.S. Trivaylo), study of mechanical parameters of magnetic information carriers (assistant professor M .S. Trivaylo and senior lecturer G.V. Gerasimov), research on hysteresis losses of materials (Prof. V.V. Khilchevskii, senior lecturer V.G. Sharapov), increasing the durability of reducers, clutches and variators (assistant professor M. S. Trivaylo, Prof. L.A. Kaplinskyi, Associate Professor V. A. Stadnik, Associate Professor A. K. Skuratovskyi, Associate Professor Yu. M. Huzenko, Associate Professor V. O. Valentienko), formation and strengthening of cutting parts of agricultural and road machinery with the help of a plasma jet (Prof. V.V. Khilchevskii), increasing the stability of steel and hard alloy cutting tools and stamping equipment with the help of chemical and thermal treatment (Assoc. O.T.Serditov, Assoc. Yu.V. Klyuchnikov), utilization of non-ferrous and liquid metals (Prof. S.O. Kutsenko, Senior Scientific Officer V.M. Opanasenko), development of new technologies for finishing materials (Prof. V.V. Dzhemelinskyi).

The development and application of X-ray structural analysis of materials is carried out by senior teacher A.M. Lutai, fractographic analysis by Prof. V.A. Stepanenko. In the last years of his life, a well-known specialist in the field of metallurgy, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor V.G. Permyakov worked at the department. Permyakov (1917-1991), author of 200 scientific papers, Laureate of the Chernov Prize L.I. Under his guidance 47 candidate's theses were completed and defended.

Department of Laser Technology, Machine Design and Materials Science
(1990-2009)

Professor Volodymyr Serhiyovych Kovalenko

In 1990, the department was significantly expanded and turned from a general engineering department into a graduate (profiling) department with a new name: "Department of Laser Technology, Machine Design and Materials Science". These changes took place due to the transfer to the department of the entire direction of scientific and academic work in the field of the latest technologies from the department of automation of technological processes of the faculty of chemical engineering. The department was headed by the Dean of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Prof. Volodymyr Kovalenko, specialist in the field of laser technology and electrophysical methods of material processing.

Scientific research in the field of laser technologies was first started in Ukraine in 1964 at the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology of KPI on the initiative of Prof. S.O. Kartavov. Volodymyr Serhiyovych Kovalenko, a graduate student of the department, was appointed to be responsible for the development of this scientific direction. The development of these studies in the future was greatly facilitated by the member of the Cor. NASU prof. P. R. Rodin. Subsequently, the academic school of laser technology of Professor Volodymyr Kovalenko "Processes of interaction of high-energy flows with matter, non-traditional materials processing technologies" was created at KPI. The scientific school founded in 1964 at KPI initiated the first research on laser technology in Ukraine and the former USSR.

From the scientific school of Prof. V.S. Kovalenko graduated 6 doctors and 27 candidates of sciences (2009). Candidate theses were defended by Dyatel V.P., Kotlyarov V.P., Golovko L.F., Le Van Tien, Oleschuk L.M., Romanenko V.V., Anyakin M.I., Lavrynovych O.V., Oreshnyk V.I.,     A.M. Paramonov, Ram Naresh Prasad, Y.G. Romanyuk, Khaled Al Shibul, Mezgy Naebi, P.A. Kondrashov, A. Kolosovskyi, V.I. Konovalenko. and others Doctoral theses were defended by Kovalenko V.S., Kotlyarov V.P., Golovko L.F., Nosulenko, Samotugin S.S., Podchernyaeva I.O., Anyakin M.I.

In 1984, on the initiative of prof. V.S. Kovalenko, a new engineering specialty "Technology and equipment of laser processing of materials" was opened for the first time in Ukraine at KPI, which was later renamed "Physical and technical methods of material processing". Prof. Kotlyarov V.P., prof. Golovko L.F., Assoc. Romanenko V.V., senior lecturer Dyatel V.P., senior lecturer Anyakin M.I., senior lecturer Harashchuk V.P., Assoc. Oleschuk L.M., assistants Krasavin O.P., Dubnyuk V.L., Kozyrev O.S. and other. With the transfer to the department of new scientific and educational directions in laser technology, the department combined classical and modern materials processing technologies. This integration was facilitated by significant achievements of the department in the field of materials science, machine design, and the study of the behavior of materials in various extreme conditions. Scientific research on high technologies was initially carried out by employees of the state-budget laboratory of laser technology, and in 1993 the Research Institute of Laser Technology and Technology was established, which continued work in the field of the latest technologies at a new level. Scientists of the department and the Research Institute have achieved significant success in the development of highly effective technologies and equipment for their implementation. The greatest achievements were made in the development of strengthening laser technologies and their implementation in production in the associations "Bolshevyk", "Kirovgeologiya", "Arsenal", Malyshev plant (Prof. L.F. Golovko, Associate Professor V.I. Oreshnyk, M.Sc. N.I. Zakharova, Assistant O.P. Krasavin and others), development of various types of dimensional laser processing of materials and their implementation at the factories "Arsenal", "Elektronprilad", "Start", "Izumrud", etc. (Prof. V.P. Kotlyarov, S.Sc. V.P. Dyatel, S.Sc. M.I. Anyakin and other).

In connection with the extreme urgency of solving the problem of liquidation of the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, specialists of the department and the Scientific Research Institute engaged in research in the field of the application of laser technology in the dismantling of the "Shelter" facility of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Together with the Research Institute of Mechanics Problems "Rhythm" Ph.D. Dyatel V.V., Ph.D. M.I. Anyakin, M.Sc. V.L. Bondarevskyi etc. a laser robotic complex designed for remote cutting of metal structures in conditions of extremely high radioactivity of the "Shelter" facility was developed. Scientific supervisor of the work prof. V.S. Kovalenko, as a UN expert from Ukraine, took part in the 52nd Session of the UN General Assembly, where the issue of international support for a number of measures related to the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster was considered.

On the basis of scientific and technical developments of the department in the field of finishing parts under the leadership of prof. V.V. Dzhemelinskyi, the scientific and engineering center of finishing technologies "Kvalitet" (NIC FT "Kvalitet") was created. The center's specialists have developed progressive technological processes and equipment for vibration grinding and centrifugal polishing of parts made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, articles made of amber, quartz and obsidian.

The staff of the department has done a great job of creating new and modernizing existing laboratories. A unique educational and scientific laboratory of laser strengthening technologies, a laboratory of laser cutting of materials, a laboratory of precision laser processing, a laboratory of optical laser systems, an educational laboratory of physical research methods, a laboratory of electron scanning microscopy was created. Modernized laboratory of electrophysical and chemical methods of material processing, educational and scientific laboratory of friction and wear. Traditional educational laboratories for cutting, welding, pressure treatment, metal casting, etc. exist and are maintained in proper condition.

One of the main achievements of the department during those years can be considered the introduction of modern personal computers into the educational process and scientific research. The availability of new generation computers enabled the development of a new special course "Computer design of laser technological equipment".

The department continued the tradition of holding annual international scientific conferences on the problems of laser technologies and other non-traditional materials processing technologies, started in the 70s. Thanks to this, the department's contacts with universities and enterprises of the USA, Japan, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Portugal, the Czech Republic, China, Taiwan and others have expanded. Over the years, very fruitful cooperation has been established between specialists of our department and colleagues from Jena University (Germany), Birmingham University (Great Britain), Osaka University (Japan), Ohio University (USA), etc. Distinguished specialists from different countries of the world gave lectures to students and teachers: prof. Bill Steen (University of Liverpool, Great Britain); academician of the Academy of Sciences of Japan, prof. Yeshiaki Arata (Research Institute of Welding, Osaka University, Japan); Prof. Franz Schiffer, Dr. Hisbert Staupendahl (University of Jena, Germany); Dr. Lyubomyr Romankiv (IBM company, USA); Prof. Charles Albright (Ohio University, USA), elected Honorary Professor of KPI in 1997; Dr. Ian Spaulding (Great Britain) and others. The representation of the scientific school of the laser technology and materials science department at various international congresses, symposia, conferences has increased: ИCALEO - International Congress on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics, ISEM - International Symposium on Electromachining, LAMP - Laser Application for Material Processing, General Assembly of CIRP (International Institute of Manufacturing Engineers) and others.

The department constantly cooperates with various institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: Paton Institute of Electric Welding, Frantsevich Institute of Materials Science Problems, Institute of Strength Problems, Bakul Institute of Superhard Materials, Institute of Metallurgy, Institute of Casting Problems, Institute of Physics, Institute of Technical Thermophysics and others. For many years, one of the main special courses "Physics of Lasers" was taught by Ph.D Vitalii Harashchuk, a well-known specialist in the field of laser technology from Paton Institute of Electric Welding.

In the direction of the development of high technologies and equipment for their implementation, the specialists of the department have received many certificates for inventions and patents, published hundreds of scientific articles, monographs, textbooks and study guides with the seal of the Ministry of Education, among which the most significant are:

1. Kartavov S.A., Kovalenko V.S., Application of optical quantum generators for technological purposes, "Technology", Kyiv, 1967, 80 p.

2. V.S. Kovalenko, V.V. Karulin, Radiation and plasma processing of materials, UkrNIINTY, Kyiv, 1971, 35 p.

3. V. S. Kovalenko, Processing of materials by pulsed laser radiation, Higher School, Kyiv, 1977, 144 p.

4. V. S. Kovalenko, Electrophysical and electrochemical methods of material processing, "Vyshcha Shkola", 1975, 234 p.

5. Kovalenko, V.S., Golovko, L.F., Hardening of Machine Parts with a laser beam, "Tehnika", Kyiv, 1981, 132 p. (translated into Chinese and published in Beijing in 1985 by Oboronvydav).

6. Handbook of laser processing technology, V.S. Kovalenko, V.P. Kotlyarov, V.P. Dyatel, L.F. Golovko, V.V. Romanenko; Under the municipality ed. V.S. Kovalenko, "Technique". Kyiv, 1985, 165 p

7. V. S. Kovalenko, Progressive methods of laser processing of materials, "High School", Kyiv, 1985, 88 p.

8. V.S. Kovalenko, A.D. Verkhoturov, L.F. Golovko, I.A. Podchernyaeva, Laser and electroerosion hardening of materials. Nauka, Moscow, 1986, 276 p.

9. Vladimir S. Kovalenko, Valery P. Kotlyarov, Vladimir P. Dyatel, Leonid F. Golovko, Viktor V. Romanenko, Laser processing of materials (Reference book), Technika State Publishing House, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1988, 184 p.

10. V.S. Kovalenko, V.V. Romanenko, L.M. Oleschuk, Small-flow processes of cutting with a laser beam, "Tehnika", Kyiv, 1987, 112 p.

11. V.S. Kovalenko, V.P. Kotlyarov, V.P. Dyatel, Application of lasers in machine building, Higher School, Kyiv, 1988, 162 p.

12. V.S. Kovalenko, Technology and equipment for electrophysical and electrochemical methods of processing materials, "High School", Kyiv, 1988, 162 p.

13. V.S.Kovalenko, A.D.Verhoturov, L.F.Golovko, I.A.Podchernyaeva, Laser & Electroerosion Material Hardening, Plinum Publishing Corp., New York, 1988, 267 p.

14. V.S. Kovalenko, Laser technology, "Higher School", Kyiv, 1989, 280 p.

15. V.S. Kovalenko, A.V. Lavrynovych, Laser processing of ceramic materials, "Tehnika", Kyiv, 1991, 119 p.

16. V.S. Kovalenko, L.F. Golovko, V.S. Chernenko, Hardening and alloying of parts by laser radiation, "Tehnika", Kyiv, 1990, 192 p.

17. V.S. Kovalenko, L.F. Golovko, Yu.A. Kunitsky, Surface glazing of material under energy impact, KPI, Kyiv, 1983, 108 p.

18. V.S. Kovalenko, Laser Technology: State of the Art., Kiev-Taipei, Taiwan-Ukraine, 1993, 29 p.

In connection with the implementation of the multi-level education system in Ukraine, the teachers of the department took an active part in the development of curricula and training programs for bachelors and masters in the specialty "Technology and equipment of highly efficient methods of processing materials" in the field of study "Engineering Mechanics". The department was identified as the main one in this direction by the Ministry of Education.

The department conducts educational courses not only for students of its basic specialty, but also for other specialties of various faculties. Thus, the course of technology of structural materials is read for 30 specialties of 7 faculties, the course of machine parts – for 23 specialties of 9 faculties, and the course “Electrophysical and electrochemical methods of processing materials” – for 11 specialties of 3 faculties of KPI.

In 1996, in connection with the introduction of a new nomenclature of specialties, the basic specialty of the department received a new name "Processing of materials using special technologies." In the same year, the Scientific Council of KPI, in addition to the existing specialization "Laser processing technology and equipment", approved another specialization "Laser systems in medicine and biology".

The engineering specialty of the latest technologies proved to be popular, which is evidenced by the 100% distribution of graduates by state order. In total, over the years of existence of the specialty in the latest technologies, the department has trained hundreds of engineers and masters (including 37 foreigners).

The worldwide achievements of the department in the field of laser technology were recognized in 1993 by the election of prof. Kovalenko B.C. Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Ohio State University (USA), where he taught during the 1994 semester, at the Zhenjiang University of Technology (PRC), McMaster University (Canada), Okayama University (Japan), as well as an Honorary Member of the Laser Institute, Fellow ( LIA), a member of the Canadian Association of Industrial Lasers, a member of international professional societies IEEE, LEOS, Deputy Chairman of the Laser Association of the former USSR (LAS), Honorary Professor of Kharkiv National Technical University, Member of the Committee of Advisors of the American Biographical Institute. In 1998, in connection with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of KPI, Prof. V. S. Kovalenko was awarded the title of "Honorary Professor of KPI", and at the end of 1998 he was elected a corresponding member, and in 2002 - a full member (academician, Fellow) of SIRP - International Academy for Production Engineering ) with headquarters in Paris. This institution is the most prestigious and highest professional organization of leading specialists in the field of mechanical engineering and instrument engineering in the world. In different years, Prof. Kovalenko B.C. was also a member of scientific councils for awarding the Ph. D. (Doctor of Philosophy), as well as a master's degree at McMaster University (Canada), Osaka University (Japan), Jena University (Germany), Zhenjiang University of Technology (PRC), and also a member of the specialized council for the defense of doctoral dissertations at Tula Polytechnic Institute (Russia). Since 1998, Prof. Kovalenko B. C. is also a member of the Publishing Board of the international journal "Journal of Laser Applications" (USA) and others.

In 2014, Prof. Kovalenko V.S. elected as an international expert of the People's Republic of China on laser technology, an adviser to the Government of Zhengjiang Province on the latest technologies.

In 1996, professors Kovalenko V.S. and Golovko L.F. were invited by the Laser Institute of America to join the International Editorial Board for the preparation of the International Handbook of Laser Technology (LIA Industrial Laser Handbook, Magnolia Publishing Inc., Orlando, Florida, USA), in which they became the authors of eight paragraphs of this unique publication .

Government awards:

- Laureate of the State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR (1982) (Prof. V.S. Kovalenko)

- Laureates of the Prize of the Council of Ministers of the USSR (Prof. Kotlyarov V.P., Prof. Kovalenko V.S.)

- Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine (Prof. V.S. Kovalenko)

- Knight of the Order of the President of Ukraine — Order of Merit (Ukraine, 1997) (Prof. Kovalenko V.S.)

- Knights of the "Order of Friendship of the Western Lake" (PRC) (Prof. Kovalenko V.S., Anyakin M.I., Ph.D.)

- Knight of the "Order of Friendship" (PRC) (prof. Kovalenko V.S.)

Department of Laser Systems and Advanced Technologies

(2009 - 2019)

Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Igor Vitaliyovich Krivtsun

In 2009, the department received a new name - “Laser Engineering and Physical-Technical Technologies”, and Professor Vladimir Sergeevich Kovalenko was replaced as the head of the department by Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Igor Vitalievich Krivtsun.

Range of scientific interests of I.V. Krivtsun: theoretical research and mathematical modeling of physical phenomena in low-temperature technological plasma (welding arcs, plasma jets, optical and other discharges), as well as the processes of interaction of electric arc plasma and laser radiation with the material being processed under conditions of arc, plasma, laser and welding, surfacing and coating application.

I.V. Krivtsun developed the theory of interaction of focused laser radiation and arc plasma with condensed matter. For the first time, the features of laser and combined laser-plasma heating of particles of fine metal and ceramic materials have been revealed. The latest hybrid processes have been developed, such as laser-microplasma welding of thin metals, laser-plasma powder surfacing and sputtering of ceramic materials, laser-plasma deposition of diamond and diamond-like coatings. For the practical implementation of these technological processes, a number of integrated laser-arc plasmatrons have been created, which have no analogues in world practice.

During these years, the international activities of the department are developing in new geographical and scientific directions. In the tenth years of the 21st century, a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement was concluded between the department and the Institute of Advanced Laser Processing Technologies of Jenjiang University of Technology (China). As a result of cooperation by a team consisting of prof. Kovalenko, associate professor Anyakina, as. Zhuk, a means of delivering a powder composition to the laser processing zone was developed, two international publications were published, research materials were presented at two international conferences, and 2 patents were received.

Department of Laser Systems and Advanced Technologies

(2019 - present time)

Oleksii KAHLIAK PhD, docent