Speakers

Simon Althoff studied industrial engineering with a focus on mechanical engineering at the University of Paderborn. He then worked at CLAAS in pre-development and immersed himself in the fields of automation concepts, sensor development and automated driving. He then worked as a research assistant at the University of Paderborn at the Chair of Dynamics and Mechatronics, where he headed the "Ultrasonic Wire Bonding" research group. 

He has been employed by the Weidmüller company since November 2017. Initially, he worked on and managed projects related to the topics of digitalization and Industry 4.0 in technology development. Since October 2022, he has taken over the management of the Smart Connectivity Competence Center in Lemgo. At the Lemgo site, intelligent connectors and digitization solutions are developed for the Device and Field Connectivity division.

Dr Sonja Baumgartner is working in the field of additive manufacturing since 2014 and has hands-on experience in the whole process chain – from material to hardware development to post processing. After finishing mechanical engineering studies at TU Wien, she focused on optimizing printing processes and developing hybrid printing concepts, first, during her PhD, later as Project Engineer at Cubicure. She is now Cubicure’s Head of Business Development and supports industrial key accounts on-site.

Dr. Isabell Buresch studied Metallurgy at the Universität Stuttgart. After finishing her PhD 1989 at the Powder Metallurgy Laboratories of the Max-Plack-Institutes she entered Wieland Werke AG in Ulm. At Wieland she was working on several topics and in several leading functions in the R&D department and in the BU Rolled Products with the focus on Cu-strip Production, Surface Technology, Plating, Strategic Marketing and Business Development. Between 2011 and 2017 she was responsible as an expert for Surface-Technology and Plating within the BU Rolled Products worldwide. 

Beginning 2018 Isabell Buresch joined TE Connectivity GmbH Germany as a Senior Manager R&D within the Product Development Engineering for the BU Automotive leading a small team beeing responsible for surfaces & metals. Mid of 2019 she was nominated as a Fellow. Today she is supporting as an expert for metalls and surfaces the production units, product development and engineering within the BU Automotive globally and is acting as an essential link between the different divisions beginning from the suppliers over pre-development and Engineering until the End Customers.

Dr. Buresch is a member of several technical societies and standardisation commitees (ZVEI, VDE ETG/ITG, DGO/ZVO). She holds 70+ papers, 35 patents, is co-author of several technical books and acts as a lecturer at education facilities like TA Essen, THE Academy and TAW Wuppertal/Altdorf.

Silas Dobler (23) has been employed at METZ CONNECT since 2019. From there, he completed a study in industrial engineering with a specialisation in mechanical engineering, which he graduated from in September 2022. He was then hired in product management for the U|Contact business unit (PCB connection technology).

Werner Häring is head of Industrial Engineering Electromechanics in the Lacon Group and, with 30 years of experience in the EMS industry, is one of the top specialists for system cabling and assembly of all kinds.

Dipl.-Ing. Markus Klingenberg has been working for IMO Oberflächentechnik GmbH as head of research and development since 2017. After his training as an electroplater he studied surface technology and materials science at the University of Applied Sciences in Aalen. From 1997 until today he held various positions in the strip electroplating sector as head of quality assurance and production manager and has more than 20 years of expert knowledge in the field of research & development.

Ilhan Körbulak is in his function as director at the company OTMK GmbH in Pforzheim and is responsible for the machines and plant technology. Previously, he held various positions in surface technology as director, manager, technical sales, product manager and process technology at various companies. 

Since 2004 he has been working in surface technology in the areas of connectors, contacts, printed circuit boards and functional components in the automotive, aviation and medical industries. Due to his long professional experience, he knows what is important in the industry.

In addition to his career, he is also certified as an auditor as AIAG CQI-11 and IATF 16949:2016.

• Studied chemistry at Ulm University, graduating in 2010.

• Subsequently worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Electrochemistry (Ulm University).

• Since 2019 working in the metal-processing industry as a development engineer at Kern-Liebers in Schramberg. Responsible for alternative coating, joining and electrochemical processes as well as technical cleanliness.

• At the beginning of February 2022, additionally assumed the role of Sustainability Coordinator at Lead Center Schramberg.

• In July 2022, started the position as Director Corporate R&D Projects at Kern-Liebers in Schramberg.

Education/Studies:

2008 - 2012: Studied mechanical engineering at the RWTH Aachen University.  Degree:  Bachelor of Science. 

2011 - 2012: Student assistant at the Machine Tool Laboratory (WZL), Aachen

2013 - 2014: Student assistant at the Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV), Aachen

2012 - 2015: Studies in Plastics and Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University. Degree: Master of Science

2014: External master thesis at HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Lippstadt

Professional career:

2015 - 2021: Project engineer at FKuR Kunststoff GmbH, Willich. 

Application engineering & material development in the field of bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics

Current activity:

From 2021: Application engineer at AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH, Niederzissen. 

Activity with strong focus on sustainable plastics

Dr.-Ing. Martin Schäfers studied mechanical engineering with a specialization in plastics technology at the University of Paderborn. After completing his doctorate on the development of a special injection molding process, he was principal engineer at the University's Institute for Plastics Technology. Since 2011, he has been working in technology development in the "Device Connectors" business area at Phoenix Contact in Blomberg, initially as a specialist for plastics topics, and since 2014 as a team manager with a focus on the material groups of plastics, metal, and metallic surfaces.

Arndt Schafmeister (born in 1982) studied mechanical engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Ostwestfalen-Lippe in Lemgo. Since 2006, he has been working at PHOENIX CONTACT in product development for PCB connection technology. His work since 2016 has focused on the development of board-to-board connectors in the FINEPITCH product line.

Thomas Schulze (born 1989) studied industrial engineering with a focus on mechanical engineering at the University of Paderborn. Since 2014, he has been working in product management for the area of PCB connection technology. Since the end of 2019, he has been in charge of the portfolio of board-to-board connectors in the FINEPITCH product line and has shown himself to be responsible for this area as group manager since March 2023.

Wiebke Speckels works for BASF Polyurethanes GmbH since 2005. After studies of business engineering, she starts as Technical Sales and later on as Key Account Manager for automotive customers. Followed by positions within Product Management for Polyurethane systems and global Strategy for styrene plastics and biopolymers, as well as Segment Manager for Medical and Industrial applications. Since April 2022 Wiebke Speckels is Sustainability Manager Industrial.

Dipl. Ing. (TH) Ralf Tillmanns studied communication technology at the Technical University of Duisburg. He gained more than 20 years of experience in network technology. Since 2000, his focus has been on the development and measurement of data connectors and IT cabling infrastructure. In addition, Ralf Tillmanns is actively involved for the company in various national and international standardization committees. Among others, in the following committees:

German speaker IEC TC46; IEC TC 46/ WG9; IEC TC 46/SC46C WG7; IEC SC48B WG3,WG5; SC65C.

Jan Van Cauwenberge has been leading TE Connectivity’s Global Platform Engineering since 2013.

He has a master’s degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering and started his career in 1994 at Siemens in Oostkamp. Siemens Oostkamp joined TE Connectivity in 2000.

At the beginning of his career, Jan built up his technical expertise as a Tool Designer, and later, as a Product Development Engineer for the Transportation Solutions and Consumer business units. In addition to his technical functions, he took the responsibility of Project Leader for complex assembly lines and lead the Continuous Improvement strategy for the plant in Oostkamp.

Jan took over the Product & Process Engineering Department lead of Inductive Systems in 2002 and has held several management positions since.

Currently, in addition to leading the Platform Team, he is steering the strategy on Sustainability for Engineering.