Author: Stefan Lemke   |    ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH

Stefan Lemke joined ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH as Vice President for melting and remelting in 2018 where his current work focuses on international sales and customer support for the business areas Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM), Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR) and Electro Slag Remelting (ESR).

He studied metallurgy and received his engineering degree from Technical University of Clausthal in 1992. During his professional career, he held engineering and management positions both in the metallurgical plant building business and steel industry. He focussed on steel plant commissioning, special steel production and metallurgical plant and equipment sales. 

Author: Dr. Ing. Matteo Marten-Perolino   |  Cogne Acciai Speciali

Forged Line Manager for Cogne Acciai Speciali (ESR, VAR, Forge, Blooming Mill, Heat Treatments, Grinding, Peeling Machines, Lathes, Milling Machines, Testing)

Product line manager and procurator in health, safety, and environment.

Highly qualified professional with a solid experience of over 15 years as a Chief Operation Officer (COO), I have demonstrated leadership skills and a deep understanding of business operations in international contexts. I have a proven ability to drive business growth, improve operational efficiency, and achieve results exceeding expectations, even in complex and dynamic environments. My engineering background, combined with strong managerial experience, allows me to address operational challenges with a pragmatic and strategic approach, always focused on maximizing value for the company.

Author: Adam Young   |  CBMM

 Adam Young, Technical Market Development Manager with CBMM, supports organizations developing new materials systems or applications of existing alloys in Ni-based superalloys, refractory alloys, and superconductors. He is responsible for driving the utilization of niobium through technical partnerships designed to accelerate technological readiness, assist with qualification, and incentivize market adoption. He holds a B.S and M.S in Materials Science & Engineering from The Ohio State University and an Executive MBA from University of Oregon. Prior to joining CBMM he spent 10 years at Precision Castparts Corp focused on melt and casting process development of Ni-based superalloy, Cobalt alloy, and titanium aluminide components for aerospace and industrial gas turbines.

Author: Andrea Febbrari  | Italfond S.p.A.

Andrea Febbrari is the R&D Manager at Italfond SpA. He holds a Master of Science in Materials Engineering from the Università degli Studi di Brescia (2009) and a Ph.D. in Metallurgy (2020). His career spans experience in the automotive industry and roles within Italfond’s Quality Department and Metallurgy Laboratory.

In his current role, Andrea leads the development and optimization of production processes, with a particular focus on nickel-based alloys. He is deeply engaged in the qualification and characterization of new materials and actively contributes to the advancement of metallurgical innovation through participation in international standards development committees.

Author: Dr. Javbad Mohsseni   |  Wacker Chemie AG

Dr. Mohsseni received his doctorate in chemistry in 2004 from Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, after which he commenced his career in the chemical industry.

From 2004 to 2007, Dr. Mohsseni researched the new industrial production process for Silanes at the JWG University Frankfurt. Following that, he was employed in City Solar Technologie from 2007 to 2012, where he was responsible for the development and production of new Silanes for the electronic industry.

Since 2012, Dr. Mohsseni has been working at Wacker Chemie AG, where he has held various positions and accumulated extensive experience in chemical and metallurgical processes. Since 2019, he has been serving as the Senior Technical Marketing Manager for the market segment of Metallurgy, where he is responsible for all technical and technological developments and queries of partners.

Author: Francesca Bonfanti  | Fomas S.p.A.

Francesca Bonfanti is the R&D Manager at Fomas S.p.A. She holds a Master's degree in Materials Science from Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca. With over 20 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, she is skilled in metallurgy, failure analysis, material characterization, and powder production through atomization. In her current role, she guides the development of the hot working processes simulation project and leads various innovation initiatives across all Fomas Group Companies.

Author: Holger Liphardt | ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH

Holger Liphardt joined ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH as Mechanical Engineer for powder, solar and special systems in 2007. After his promotion to Vice President for powder, solar and special systems his current work focuses on international sales and customer support for the business areas Vacuum Induction Inertgas Atomization (VIGA), Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM), Silicon Crystallization (SCU) and special systems.

He studied mechanical engineering and received his engineering degree from Frankfurt University of Applied Science in 2000. During his professional career he held engineering and management positions in the metallurgical plant industry and conveying plant industry. He focussed on engineering of powder systems, project execution of metallurgical plants and powder equipment sales business.

Author: Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Engineering Mauro Callisti | Baker Hughes

Mauro Callisti holds a Ph.D in Materials Engineering gained at the University of Southampton (UK). He got a strong background in materials science (15+ years). Mauro worked as Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford working on high temperature materials for nuclear and aerospace industries and at the University of Cambridge (Dept. of Materials Science and Metallurgy & Rolls-Royce UTC) working on superalloys for aerospace applications. In 2019, Mauro joined Baker Hughes, where he covers a role of Senior Engineer in Materials Science & Technology focusing on new technologies and products developments, establishment of international collaborations for R&D projects with academia and industry, etc. Mauro published over 60 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and gave several talks in prestigious conferences worldwide. 

Author: Eng. Mohamed Chaabet  | Chemiekalien-Gesellschaft Hans Lungmuß mbH & Co. KG

Mr. Chaabet studied electrical engineering at the University of Duisburg.
After 16 years at ABP Induction Systems, he has been working in the refractory sector for over 9 years.
His main focus has been on building partnerships, providing technical support and advancing international sales.

Author: Philip Geers  | Blasch Precision Ceramics

Phil Geers, Director of Global Business Development - Molten Metals, has been with Blasch Precision Ceramics since 2001.  Phil has over 35 years of industrial sales, engineering, marketing and management experience, where he has worked to develop partnerships with companies nationally, internationally, large and small. In his current role, he leads a team whose goal is to provide solutions for improving processes using ceramic refractories by increasing life, reducing turnaround time and improving quality in all areas to our customers.  Phil holds B.S. in Business and Marketing is a Board Member for the Investment Casting Institute.  

Author: Mark Kohler  |  Allied Mineral Products

Mark has 40 years of experience in induction melting in the United States and internationally. His area of expertise is Vacuum Induction Melting along with experience in line & medium frequency open air induction melting applications. Mark recently joined Allied Mineral Products as their Product Manager for Vacuum and Specialty Melting Technology. Before this he was Director of Induction Melting for the Metal-Technologies LLC foundry group in Auburn, Indiana, and he spent 34 years with Ajax Tocco Lectrotherm in North Canton, Ohio where he was Vacuum induction Melting and Senior Product Manager. Mark holds four (4) personal patents related to coreless induction furnace design, and a fifth induction related patent with Ajax. Mark is an active member and frequent speaker for the American Foundry Association (AFS).

Author: Dipl.-Wirt. Ing. Christof Dratner  | cunova GmbH

Christof Dratner received a master’s degree of electrical engineering (Dipl.-Ing.) with a minor of computer science from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum and a master’s degree in economy (Dipl.-Wirt. Ing.) from the FernUniversität Hagen. In 1995 he joined cunova (former KME) as a Senior Design Engineer. Since 1999 Christof is involved in the sales and technical marketing of Specialites. Today he is the Head of Technical Consulting at cunova GmbH. 

Author: Ing. Gaetano Messina  | BP Automation S.r.l.

Gaetano Messina was born in 1983 in Agrigento, a small town in Sicily.

In 2022 he moved to Bologna and started his studies in mechanical engineering where he graduated in 2006. 

In the same year he began a university course of specialization in Fluid Machines and Functional Design, completed in 2013.

Meanwhile, his passion for mechanics took him to Biella where, in 2008, he started working in the FIAT POWERTRAIN – Verrone plant.

In 2009 he started a strong collaboration with BP AUTOMATION in Cavaglià, starting a long experience in the design, construction and installation of industrial ovens and heat treatments systems.

Since 2009 supports ALD for the installation of heat treatments systems ModulTherm, ESR, VAR and VIDP for Italian customers.

He is a member of the Association of Engineers of Biella province.

Author: Exec. MBA Amine Boumediene | Saar-Metallwerke GmbH

With more than 30 years of leadership experience in the automotive and metal industries, Amine has successfully built strong customer partnerships, driven innovation, and delivered sustainable growth across international markets.

As Head of Sales, he leads the commercial activities at Saar Metal!, a company specialising in the processing of copper, copper alloys, and selected steel materials, trusted worldwide for strategic expertise and customised solutions.

Author: Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. (FH) Norbert Asamer  | BRAUN Maschinenfabrik GmbH

Norbert Asamer graduated after the technical high school at the Fernhochschule Hamburg and holds a degree in Industrial Engieering.

Norbert started his career in the metal industry back in 1989 and after many years working as a Area Sales Manager for an Austrian supplier of heat treatment facilities for steel and non-ferrous material, he joined BRAUN in 2013 an became Senior Area Sales Manager.

Author: Materials Engineer Angelo Donato | Baker Hughes

Senior Engineer, Materials Science, Disciplinary Engineering and Science

Graduated in Material Engineering at the University of Messina. Working in Baker Hughes since 2012. Twelve years experience in wet Corrosion, especially Hydrogen Embrittlement, Elemental Sulfur corrosion and Steel Metallurgy. Technical leader in many R&D projects aimed to find correlation between material microstructure and mechanical/corrosion behavior. Experience in failure analysis and polymeric material characterization.

Author: Benedikt Blitz  |   SMR Premium GmbH

Benedikt Blitz graduated from the University of Applied Sciences, Innsbruck and holds a degree in Process Technology and Environmental Technology.

Benedikt started to be active in the metal industry in 1998. In 2007, he joined SMR as a Market Analyst and became Senior Analyst. In 2015, Benedikt founded a new company named SMR Premium. His focus is the special steel industry, including forgings, remelted steels, powder metallurgy and high value metals like Titanium.

Author: Maximilian Dekorsy | EcoPlanet Green Operations GmbH

Maximilian Dekorsy is Co-Founder and Managing Director of ecoplanet, a Munich-based company founded in 2022 that develops AI-powered energy management software for businesses. Prior to founding ecoplanet, he gained experience at Boston Consulting Group and as a managing partner in various companies. At ecoplanet, he is primarily responsible for business development and growth, focusing on helping companies navigate the energy transition by reducing costs and enabling efficient energy use.

Author: Henrik Franz | ALD Vacuum Technologies

Henrik Franz has been active in the field of metallurgy since the late 80s. During his early years he collected several experiences in copper refining and steel industry and received his degree in metallurgy from the Technical University of Berlin. In 2000 he joined ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH in Hanau, Germany. Right from the beginning he worked as a process engineer in the R&D department of ALD. There he focused on the development of new casting processes for Titanium Aluminides. Other main topics of his work were related to improved kinetics for process optimization of vacuum induction melting processes, metal powder production by gas atomization processes, cold wall melting techniques and solar silicon crystallization. In 2008 he became head of the R&D department of the vacuum metallurgy division of ALD. Since then, he is responsible for development and optimization of different melting, re-melting, casting and crystallization processes for a broad variety of materials.   

Author: Tobias Schmidt   |  Zircoa GmbH

With more than 13 years of experience, Tobias Schmidt is a seasoned professional in the ceramic and refractory industry. 

At Zircoa, he is a sales engineer specializing in crucibles for the investment casting industry and platinum group metal castings, as well as zirconia nozzles for powder metal atomization.

His expertise in technical product management bridges manufacturing, engineering and sales teams in the United States and customers throughout Europe to deliver innovative solutions tailored to industry needs. 

He holds a degree in Materials Science Glass and Ceramics and an MBA in Engineering Management.

Prior to transitioning to sales in 2018, Tobias built a strong foundation in R&D and application engineering in the field of ceramic and metal injection molding.

Author: Frederic Schum | ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH

Frederic Schum graduated in mechanical engineering in 2015 and in year 2018 in industrial engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Friedberg, Germany.

Started his professional career at ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH (ALD) in a newly founded organization area (Automation & Industrial IT) for the digitalization and automation of ALD production plants and manufacturing processes in the fields of metallurgy and heat treatment. Responsible for business development with the aim of building up and marketing a product and service portfolio in the segments of digitalization and automation in special machine/plant engineering for the strategic business units of ALD.

Further development of the professional career within ALD to become the responsible product manager of the digitalization and automation product portfolio.

Author: Dr. Volker Kölln | LIVA Power Management Systems GmbH

Dr. Volker Kölln is the CEO of LIVA power management system. Before founding the software company phyr7, the predecessor company of LIVA power management system, he was a Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) and CEO of three European energy storage companies focused on stationary and mobile high-performance batteries. Volker was a managing partner of a consultancy for distressed M&A, restructuring and interim managements and was focused on Small- and Midcap high-tech companies in the chemical, automotive, software and energy storage sector. He started his career in the field of investment banking and strategy consultancy. Volker received his graduate degree (Diploma) from the University of Mannheim and his doctorate in mathematical economics from the University of Marburg, Germany.

Author: Eng. Roberto Sorci  | Rina Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali SpA

Graduate on Mechanical Engineering, with a specialization on Metallurgy.

Currently holds the position of Materials and Technologies for Industrial Projects Director at RINA Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali SpA.

Involved in research and technological development since 2004 on R&D and Project management in the field of Steelmaking, Melting & Casting Technologies, Superalloys, Powder Metallurgy and Prototyping.

Author: Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Gunter Schmitt  | ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Gunther Schmitt, born in 1962, studied materials engineering at Friedberg University of Applied Sciences until 1987. Afterwards he worked in application engineering for heat treatment processes at ALD Vacuum Technologies (formerly Degussa and Leybold Durferrit) in Hanau. Since 1992, he has focused on heat treatment in vacuum systems.

Author: Ing. Fabrizio Milanolo  | EBNER Thermal Solutions S.r.l.

Mechanical engineering graduate with specialization in metallurgy.

After more than 20 years of experience in the heat treatment facility sector, he joined Ebner Industrieofenbau in 2018, a leading manufacturer of heat treatment furnaces.

Since 2023 he is managing director of Ebner Thermal Solutions, daughter company of Ebner Industrieofenbau specialized in roller hearth and chamber furnaces for heat treatment of ferrous and non ferrous products.

Author: Dipl. Ing Yilmaz Yildir | ABP Induction Systems

Yilmaz Yildir was born in 1971. He is married and has two children.

He graduated as Diplom Ingenieur from RWTH Aachen. 

Since 2001, he is employed at ABB, today ABP Induction.

Today responsible for the global retrofit business.