Dr Thomas Weissgärber appointed provisional manager of Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden
Dr Thomas Weissgärber has taken over the provisional management of the Dresden branch of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology (IFAM) and Advanced Materials IFAM. He succeeds Prof Bernd Kieback, who has been head of the institute for many years and has now retired.
Dr Weissgärber, a long-time employee of the institute’s division, previously served as deputy head of Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden, and has conducted research in various fields of Powder Metallurgy. He contributed significantly to the development of the institute into one of the leading application-oriented research institutes in the field of PM technologies and materials.
He has also contributed to the strengthening of ties between science and applied research with lectures at the Technical University of Dresden on the topics of materials in energy technology, Powder Metallurgy and sintered materials, as well as thermophysical properties and high-temperature behaviour. In addition, he is involved in various committees in the field of PM.
By organising scientific events internationally, as well as at the Dresden location itself, he reportedly aims to contribute to the transfer of knowledge and the general perception of PM, and to further strengthen and expand the location as a leader in PM in Europe and worldwide. In November, he was awarded the Skaupy Prize for his achievements to date at the Hagen Symposium.
Weissgärberstated that he sees his new role as motivation to continuously expand and build on existing competencies at Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden, and to utilise the institute’s knowledge, especially in materials, PM and AM, for innovative, future-oriented solutions to generate optimal solutions in core areas such as energy technology, mobility and medical technology.
