Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Brecher was appointed University Professor for the subject Machine Tools at the Machine Tool Laboratory WZL of RWTH Aachen University and member of the Board of Directors of WZL and IPT (Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology) in January 2004. His main areas of expertise include machine, gearbox and control technology. Since 2012, he has also headed the Aachen Center for Integrative Lightweight Design AZL at RWTH Aachen University as a founding member together with Prof. Hopmann. Furthermore, in 2018, he became the Institute Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT.Prof. em. Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Dr.-Ing. E. h. Manfred Weck held the Chair of Machine Tools at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University from 1973 to 2004 and was Director and Head of the Division Production Machines of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, Aachen, fromits foundation in 1980 until 2004, as well as founder of the AiF Research Association “Ultra-Precision Technology e.V.” Over the years, he has received numerous honors and awards including the SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal in 2007 and induction into Manager Magazine's Hall of Fame in 2015. Prof. Weck is the recipient of the Aachen Engineering Award, honoring him for his life's achievements in 2017.
