Newsletter - Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - RWTH Aachen University

Dear colleagues, alumni and friends,
2011 approaches its end. AVT has experienced
many changes during the last 12 months. 2012
will hence be exciting and strategically as important
as this year.
In three AVT chairs we saw new developments:
Thomas Melin retired this year and, as planned,
Matthias Wessling has taken over the position
as head of Chemical Process Engineering
CVT. In January 2011, Wolfgang Marquardt
has been elected as president of the German
Science Council. Although this limits his input
to AVT’s operational activities, strategically he
is fortunately as active as ever. In November,
Andreas Pfennig, AVT spokesman and chairholder
Thermal Separation Processes, transferred
to TU Graz. In 2012, AVT has the opportunity to
appoint two new professors. A parallel professorship
will complement today’s Process Systems
Engineering research activities; the preparation
of the succession procedure of Andreas Pfenning
have started and will be at full swing beginning
2012.
In 2010 the AVT chairs developed a research
strategy on process engineering addressing the
sustainable exploitation of regenerative carbon
sources towards a new bio-based product value
chain. We succeeded in acquiring financial
resources to host this strategy in a new research
building: The Center for Next Generation
Products and Processes NGP 2 . The planning of
the new center NGP 2 , runs at full speed; the first
planning phases and the financial approvals are
concluded. Last details of lab infrastructure and
office need to be clarified before commissioning
procedures can start. Start of construction will
be in autumn 2012. NGP 2 will be the home of
all process engineering chairs where our shared
vision on future concepts are integrated. Of special
interest is the modular bio refinery, which will
be operated in tight cooperation with the RWTH
Cluster-of-Excellence TMFB (Tailor-Made Fuels
from Biomass).
The organizational activities within AVT were
strongly influenced by intensive preparations
for the extension proposals for the Cluster-of-
Excellence TMFB and the DFG Excellence Initiative.
We realize that AVT and its integration with
the molecular sciences at RWTH can be considered
a prototype for RWTH Aachen’s strategy
leading to an internationally recognized, integrated
and interdisciplinary technical university.
On behalf of the whole AVT I wish all readers a
peaceful and relaxing Christmas time and successful
new year.
Matthias Wessling
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