SpeakerS  &  Abstracts

Author: Dr. Jan Oke Peters   |   Lufthansa Technik AG

Dr. Jan 0. Peters, Senior Project Manager, within the Production Engineering Department of the Engine Services Segment of Lufthansa Technik (LHT) deals with innovative inspection technologies, new materials, as well as advanced repairs to reduce both the operating and overhaul costs of today's standard and new jet engine types. After joining Lufthansa Technik in the year 2003, he held responsible engineering and team leader appointments within the Engine Parts Repair, the Propulsion System Engineering, the Overhaul Product Line and the Innovation Management Group. Dr. Peters earned his Ph.D. and MS in mechanical and materials science engineering.

Author: M. Sc. Toste Jonsäter    |   Höganäs AB

Have worked at Höganäs AB since 1997 at various positions, ranging from marketing, technical sales, product management, production, quality and process development. Since 2021 manager for Melting & Atomizing department within Global Technology. 

Author: Prof. Dr. Bernd Friedrich   |   Institute for Process Metallurgy & Metal Recycling (IME) 

Prof. Dr. Bernd Friedrich is Full Professor, Chair and Director of the Institute for Process Metallurgy & Metal Recycling (IME) at RWTH Aachen University in Aachen, Germany, since 1999. Before that he worked in industry holding various senior positions including been Plant Manager for the VARTA Portable Batteries company. IME-RWTH is among the largest metal processing research centers in Europe and the world leading in field of process design and optimization with special focus on critical waste streams aiming to support the sustainability on Circular Economy. Prof. Friedrich's research activities from pyro- and hydrometallurgy to metal refining, production of complex alloys, metal recycling, synthesis of Nano powders arid waste processing.

Author: Dr. mont. Michael Zarl    |   K1-MET GmbH

Studied Metallurgy in Leoben 2009-2021

Major Fields of Research: Alloy Development of Lead Free White Metal Alloys for BearingsBOF Simulations for Scrap Dissolution, Hydrogen based Primary Reduction with a Focus on Plasma based Processes

Senior Project Manager at K1-Met GmbH: 2021-2023

Project Lead Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Redcution Development

Author: Dr. Albert Feuerstein   |   Retired from Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. 

 Albert Feuerstein began his career with Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. in 1998. He retired from the company in 2019 as Corporate Fellow. He has contributed to the development of Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition process technology for thermal barrier coatings on aircraft turbine blades and vanes, TiN sand erosion and liquid droplet erosion abatement coatings on aircraft and IGT compressor blades, suspension plasma spray coatings, implementation of low pressure plasma spray and provided strategic guidance for coating and business development. Born and raised in Germany, Feuerstein holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Heidelberg. Prior to joining Praxair, Feuerstein had served in a wide variety of development, engineering and project management assignments for Leybold GmbH, AG A. Hering  and Howmet Corporation. 

Author: Pierre Forêt   |   Linde GmbH

Pierre Forêt, is a French engineer who joined Linde in 2009. He currently holds the position of Associate Director R&D and oversees Linde’s Technology R&D -  Additive Manufacturing in Munich, leading a team developing new gas solutions including powder atomization, laser powder-bed fusion and binder jetting. He holds an M.Sc in Material Science.

Author: Robert Tanzer   |   voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & CoKG

Robert Tanzer, employed at Böhler Edelstahl since 2005

2005 - R&D department

2009 - technological department

2018 - special steel plant shop assistant (VIM) 

Author: Michael Kügelgen   |    MK Technology

Michael Kügelgen, born in 1955, studied mechanical engineering in Aachen. From 1987 he worked for an international company as head of development and production for unmanned aerial vehicles, UAV’s.

In 1993, Michael Kügelgen decided to set up his own production facility for the development of special machines in addition to his consulting activities. A modern production facility has been established with its own R&D area as well as a training centre.

Michael Kügelgen has won sixteen innovation prices and awards with his company MK Technology GmbH and holds several patents. The company belongs to the exclusive circle of „Hidden Champions“ and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022.

Michael Kügelgen has been a pilot for over 40 years and holds a licence for airplanes and helicopters.

Author: Dr. Karin Ratschbacher    |    GfE Materials and Metals GmbH

Dr. Karin Ratschbacher obtained her PhD from the Montanuniversity Leoben in Austria for inventing and upscaling an industrial process to recycle Molybdenum, Niobium, Rhenium and Tungsten alloys, used in sputter targets. After her postdoctoral assignment at FEM-Research institute for precious metals, Karin Ratschbacher joined Modine Manufacturing Company as a vacuum brazing engineer for automotive coolers, working on an assignment in Shanghai. In 2019, she joined GfE Materials and Metals GmbH as Product Manager Powders and focuses on the atomization of specialized powders on an EIGA furnace.

Author: Dr. Fuad Osmanlic   |   ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH

Fuad Osmanlic has been Vice President of Additive Manufacturing at ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH since 2018. Previously, he was the Managing Director of the Centre for Advanced Materials and Processes (ZMP) at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, where he also headed the Additive Manufacturing Group. He holds a PhD from the Chair of Materials Science and Technology of Metals at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and a degree in Physics from the Technical University of Munich.

Author: Ulf Edling   |    Alleima Tube AB

Ulf Edling, Senior Procurement Manager - Special Metallurgy & Alloys

Previous head of remelting at Sandvik Materials Technology, now Alleima Tube AB

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

Dr. Volker Kölln  is the CEO of LiVa Power Management Systems. 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: Dr.-Ing. Julio Aguilar   |    Safran Advanced Turbine Airfoils

Dr.-Ing. Julio Aguilar

Education

1985 –1990 Metallurgy at „Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico

1998 – 2000 Master studies “Metallurgical Engineering”, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

2000 –2004 PhD studies at the Foundry Institute of RWTH Aachen University, Germany

Work experience

1991 –1998 Production engineer at „Cobre y Aleaciones Cia. Ltda.“, Guatemala (Sand and continuous casting of copper and aluminum alloys)

2005 –2016 Head of Casting Processes and TechCenter at ACCESS e.V., Germany (Investment Casting, TiAl Intermetallic Alloys, EQ/DS/SX Ni superalloys, Al and Cu alloys, numerical simulation, QM, Production Management)

since 2016 Casting Expert and Deputy Manager “Safran Advanced Turbine Airfoils”, SafranTech, France

Author: Dr. Karsten Fenske    |    Busch Vacuum Solutions

Dr. Karsten Fenske, Studies in Physics, PHD in material science

Work experience: 

Glass Melting Manager, Team Manager and Technical Sales for PVD coating department at Schott AG
R&D Manager, Plant Manager and Technical Sales for solar- and high reflective PVD, CVD coatings at Alanod GmbH and Bluetec GmbHCo.KG. 

Since 2015 Market Manager Medium & High Vacuum Germany at Dr. Ing. K. Busch GmbH (Busch Vacuum Solutions)

Author: Dr. Andreas Merz   |    Leybold GmbH

Dr. Andreas Merz, Key Account Manager (LEYBOLD GmbH, Cologne, Germany) 

1983 – 1994    Studies of Experimental Physics, Doctorate and Post-doc in Physics at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern

1994 – 2001    Senior Engineer and Authorized Signatory of ISU GmbH  Engineering Company for Immission Protection,
                            Sound Engineering  and Environmental Consulting

01.11.2001     Joining the LEYBOLD VAKUUM GmbH, Cologne (since 2016 Part of the Atlas Copco Group)

since 2007     Senior Sales Manager & Key Account Manager for LEYBOLD Vacuum

Author: Phil 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 from SUNY Empire College and is a Board Member for the Investment Casting Institute.  

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. Reinhold Schneider   |    Univ. of Appl. Sciences Upper Austria

Dr. Reinhold Schneider, formerly head of R&D at Böhler Edelstahl

since 2004: Prof. for Metallurgy at the Univ. of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Wels

Author: Dr. Javad Mohsseni   |    Wacker Chemie AG

Dr. Javad 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: Christoph Genter   |   AMCG

Christoph Genter is a management consultant for business development and market intelligence. Active for customers in the special metals and engineering/plant equipment industry. Supporting companies on the transformation towards decarbonization by low emission processes and technologies.

Author: Dr. Ulrich Klotz   |   fem Research Institute

Dr. Ulrich Klotz is head of the department of metallurgy at the Research Institute for Precious Metals and Metal Chemistry (fem) in Germany. He studied metallurgy at the University of Stuttgart and earned his Ph.D. from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich. His field of experience is in the development of new alloys and the metallurgy of high temperature materials and precious metals.

Author: Dr. Jens-Uwe Heitsch   |   DANGO & DIENENTHAL Maschinenbau GmbH

Dr. Jens-Uwe Heitsch, since March 2023 managing director of DANGO & DIENENTHAL Maschinenbau GmbH and DANGO & DIENENTHAL Filtertechnik GmbH

Education: Mechanical Engineer – RWTH Aachen University, Germany; Doctorate in the field of technology management – Fraunhofer IPT (Institute for Production Technology) Aachen, Germany

Work experience: Consulting of primarily medium-sized companies in the area of business processes, technology management and product optimization. Over 20 years of work experience in the metal industry with focus on semi-finished products and plant engineering. Focus on development and realignment of organizational units, production networks and globally operating companies. Versatile international experience, especially in Europe, the USA and China 

Author: Ashish D. Patel   |   Titanium Metals Corporation (TIMET)

Ashish Patel joined TIMET in 2011, and is currently a PCC technical fellow, leading R&D efforts for developing new melting technology using simulation, sensors and control algorithms.  His team has embraced micro-controllers, embedded systems using open-source software for bench and pilot scale testing.  Industrial grade hardware and robust software is used for subsequent technology scaleup.  At present, his group is working closely with a team of engineers, consultants, and furnace manufacturers for industrial scale deployment of novel melting technologies for improving ingot quality from VAR, and EB melting process.  He is also assisting other PCC divisions to address operational challenges related to VAR, ESR and Tilt casting.

Author: Sashikumar Thangam   |   Indo-MIM 

Sashi Kumar Thangam is a post-graduate metallurgical engineer specialized in material science and engineering

18+ years of Industrial experience and having exposure in metal powder production, powder metallurgy components manufacturing

and making of fused ceramic powders, member of additive manufacturing study group formed by Indian defense research organization

- DRDO and CEMILAC.

Lifetime member of Powder metallurgy association of India

Author: Ulrich Biebricher   |  ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH

Ulrich Biebricher, Vice President Remelting and Refining

He holds a degree in mechanical engineering and started his career at the Metallurgy Group of former Leybold-Heraeus in 1985 as mechanical supervisor for installation and start-up of various furnace systems.

After gaining experience in project management and sales, Ulrich Biebricher became group manager at ALD Vacuum Technologies for the Remelting Division in 1997.
Since 2001 Ulrich Biebricher is in the position of a Vice President and presently responsible for Electron Beam Melting (EB) and Plasma Melting (PAM) furnace activities at ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH, Hanau.

Author: Adrian Mills  |  Firth Rixson Metals

Adrian Mills graduated from The University Of Sheffield with a B.met in 1983.

In a career spanning 40 years he has worked  predominantly on the processing of superalloys for Rolls-Royce, ATI specialty materials and firth Rixson. 

Author: Dr. Ole Hinrichs   |   ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH

Dr. Ole Hinrichs began his career with ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH as a process engineer in the R&D department in 2018. Currently, he is leading a team developing the Electron Beam systems of ALD.

He holds a PhD in physics from the Goethe University, Frankfurt with focus on accelerator and nuclear astrophysics and an M.Sc. in nuclear physics.

Author: Dipl.-Ing. Heiner Michels   |   Access e.V.

Heiner Michels has been working at Access e.V. Aachen since 2016. In his capacity as project engineer, he has been involved in numerous projects focussing on TiAl and FeAl materials, including the Ti64 based INNO-KOM project FINAL. Besides his project work, he is heading the process research group for Iron Aluiminides and is part of the BIP project, aiming at industrializing novel 3D printed ceramic parts for investment casting processes. Before his time at Access, he was working at MAGMA GmbH in Aachen. His time there is preceded by his work at the Foundry Institute of RWTH Aachen University.