February, 2010:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karl H. Spies (on the photo left) started his activities as TTZH tribology consultant in the beginning 2010. Prof. Spies studied Mechanical Engineering at University of Karlsruhe and then obtained his PhD title at the Chair of Machine Elements and Automotive Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Kollmann. Afterwards he entered the company Carl Freudenberg in Weinheim / Bergstrasse (www.freudenberg.de) and at first worked there as Head of Development. The next stations were supervision of the business units as a manager with the responsibility for 3 plants with 800 employees. After this he established R&D Department at Freudenberg Sealing and Vibration Technology, aiming to develop the fundamentals of sealing technology, new products and process engineering, and the testing methods as well. The next stations were with the central research and development of Freudenberg, build up of central advanced engineering for automotive technology and supervision of the central test technique for the tests of engines and vibration technology.

During the work as Head of R&D department Prof. Spies obtained a professorship for the subject “Sealing technology of elastomer materials” at the University of Kaiserslautern, Faculty of Mechanical Engneering. He performed these activities for more than 20 years. After 10 years professorship he received there a title of honorary professor.

During the professional activities he worked over 10 years in VDMA (www.vdma.org) in Research Association for Combustion Engines (FVV - www.fvv-net.de), as general coordinator of the planning group for tribology, fatigue strength, and materials and launched over 50 research projects.