As part of the Tested in Antarctica project, testing of LANEX a. s. products is currently underway at the J. G. Mendel Czech Scientific Station and the CZ*ECO Nelson field camp, operated by Masaryk University. Climbing, static and anchoring ropes are exposed to real Antarctic conditions for a long time. The aim is to verify their behavior in a combination of low temperatures, strong winds, UV radiation, high humidity and long-term mechanical stress.
The stations on James Ross Island and Nelson Island provide a unique environment where technologies can be tested without laboratory compromises - right in the middle of some of the most extreme conditions on Earth.
Unlike laboratory tests, the conditions here cannot be adjusted or stabilized. Ropes and other products are used or installed directly in the field and are exposed to frost, wind and moisture for a long time. The Masaryk University research team primarily monitors their user properties, which will then be followed up by strength tests under the supervision of a technician from an accredited laboratory. Special attention will be paid to long-term changes in material properties, such as the so-called creep effect - the slow, permanent elongation of the rope under constant load. This phenomenon is especially crucial for anchoring and technical applications.
Some of the tested ropes will remain exposed to direct polar conditions for more than a year. The samples, which will be transported back to the Czech Republic after the expedition, will undergo detailed analysis. The aim is to accurately evaluate how the combination of cold, humidity and load affects the strength, elongation and overall stability of the material.
The Tested in Antarctica project connects academic research with the needs of industrial partners. Masaryk University provides a unique research facility in an environment that cannot be realistically simulated in European conditions. For LANEX, testing in Antarctica is an opportunity to verify its products in extreme conditions and obtain data that can be used for further development. The knowledge gained contributes to a better understanding of the behavior of modern textile materials and supports their safer use in demanding operational applications.
The Antarctic expedition of Czech scientists, which also includes experts from Masaryk University, will focus on light pollution, ionosphere research, and testing human resilience in extreme conditions.
The Masaryk University Expedition 2026 is leaving for Antarctica in two phases, where 26 members will monitor the climate, the state of glaciers, permafrost, and local ecosystems, and develop scientific projects of university and academic partners.
