Date: 29 March 2012
Dr. rer. nat. Jürgen Petzoldt (1935 - 2011), who was a member of the SCHOTT Board of Management from 1988 to 1996. This marked the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of the renowned researcher and entrepreneur.
Prof. Udo Ungeheuer, Chairman of the Board of Management of SCHOTT AG, praised Petzoldt as the inventor of the glass-ceramic ZERODUR, the standard material for the mirror substrates used in astronomical telescopes, and one of the fathers of CERAN glass-ceramic cooktop panels. “Jürgen Petzoldt is one of the outstanding personalities in our company’s history,” Ungeheuer noted. Petzoldt also made significant contributions toward building the Otto Schott Research Center in Mainz, one of the world’s leading glass research facilities, in 1989, and introducing the Otto Schott Research Award in 1991.
Dr. Fabio Nicoletti, President of the International Commission on Glass, spoke about Petzoldt’s global acclaim in the field of glass. Prof. Helmut Schaeffer recalled his work on behalf of the German Society of Glass Technology (DGG) and the Research Association of the German Glass Melting Industry (HVG). Finally, Prof. Wolfgang Pannhorst gave the audience an internal look at what it meant to work with Petzoldt in research and development at SCHOTT.
The second day of the colloquium that was attended by more than 100 guests was devoted to the sciences. Well-known experts from Japan, the United States, Brazil and Germany, including SCHOTT researchers, held presentations on new insights and developments in the area of glass-ceramics and related materials. The speakers also focused on the practical application of their findings, an aspect that was always a special concern of Jürgen Petzoldt.
SCHOTT is an international technology group with more than 125 years of experience in the areas of specialty glasses and materials and advanced technologies. SCHOTT ranks number one in the world with many of its products. Its core markets are the household appliance, solar power, pharmaceuticals, electronics, optics, transportation and architecture industries. The company is strongly committed to contributing to its customers’ success and making SCHOTT an important part of people’s lives with high-quality products and intelligent solutions. SCHOTT is committed to managing its business in a sustainable manner and supporting its employees, society and the environment. The SCHOTT Group maintains close proximity to its customers with manufacturing and sales units in all major markets. Its workforce of around 17,000 employees generated worldwide sales of approximately 2.9 billion euros for the 2010/2011 fiscal year. SCHOTT AG, with its headquarters in Mainz (Germany) is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation.
Vita Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Jürgen Petzoldt (1935 – 2011)
1955 – 1961:
Studied chemistry and mineralogy in Bonn, Germany
1964:
Joined SCHOTT as a research assistant
1970:
Technical head of the Optics division, also commercial head starting in 1974
1979:
Head of research and development
1988 - 1996:
Member of the SCHOTT Board of Management
1991 - 1994:
President of the International Commission on Glass (ICG)
1995 - 2001:
Chairman of the Research Association of the German Glass Melting Industry (HVG)
1995:
Honored with Aachener and Münchener Award of Technology and Applied Sciences
1998:
Presented with the ICG President’s Award, the highest international honor in the glass industry
1999:
Presented with the Golden Gehlhoff Ring, the highest honor issued by the German Society of Glass Technology (DGG)
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