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Introduction. Different materials like metal, ceramics and polyethylene are used today as tribological pairings in total knee arthroplasty. The major clinical problem is the wear of articulating partners and associated implant loosening. In order to assess the wear characteristics of knee endoprostheses preclinically, the implants are tested with wear simulators according to international standards. These tests are time and money consuming in cause of the prototype fabrication of a new knee endoprosthesis. For this reason, we developed a novel test device to simulate the rolling-slidingmovements of the knee joint. Thereby, new materials can be analysed by using simplified test specimens before the cost-intensive manufacturing of regular implant designs. Methods. The test specimens were composed of a metallic disc, acting as one condyle of a femoral component, and a wedge-shaped polyethylene component, simulating the tibial insert of the artificial knee joint. Combined through a kinematic chain, the implants performed a rolling-sliding movement. Additionally, resulting joint loads of the gait cycle in axial direction (max. 1300 N) and the lubrication of the joint by the use of serum fluid were applied. The linear movements of the kinematic chain and joint loads were applied by the use of electromechanical motors with a free programmable control unit. By means of liquid level and temperature sensors, the physiological conditions can be achieved and controlled.Results. An initial endurance test (2x10 6 cycles) with common tribological pairing materials (cobalt-chromium-onpolyethylene) showed a distinct abrasion of the used ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene insert. The results of the testing device were compared with knee joint simulator tests according to ISO standard 14243. Conclusion. New developments of bearing materials for total knee replacements can be manufactured easily in the required specimen geometry and thus analysed rapidly with the test device. Furthermore, the free programmability of the control unit enables to analyse worst cases e.g. with higher loadings, like stair climbing.