LZH Head of Department Dr.-Ing. Oliver Suttmann wins WLT Prize

Date Announced: 13 Sep 2017

Dr.-Ing. Oliver Suttmann, Head of the Production & Systems Department at the Laser Zentrum Hannover, has been awarded the Scientific Society Laser Technology Prize (Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Lasertechnik or “WLT”). He received his award at the Lasers in Manufacturing Conference 2017, which was recently held in Munich.

The WLT Prize is awarded each year for “outstanding accomplishments in the field of applied laser research”. Dr.-Ing. Oliver Suttmann was honored for his contribution in the fields of fiber composite, glass and micro processing. WLT president Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Schmidt handed over the award.

The WLT focuses on the scientific further development of laser radiation as a universal tool, and on opening up new interdisciplinary fields of application in optical technologies. The award is endowed with prize money of €5,000.

“In his PhD thesis, some years ago, Oliver Suttmann proved his ability to address and solve complex challenges in manufacturing technology on a scientific basis. Now, he is successfully using this ability while heading a fully third-party funded department , and thus promoting the scientific further development in the field of laser material processing,” said Prof. Schmidt in his laudatory speech.

In his acceptance speech Dr Suttmann replied, ”Only in an extraordinary environment, can a single human being become an extraordinary tool. In Hannover, the institutions have built such an environment. The close connection between the LZH and the Produktionstechnisches Zentrum Hannover and the Hannoversches Zentrum für Optische Technologien offers optimum conditions for this to happen.

“In particular, the collaborative research centers (SFB) 653, Gentelligent Components, and 123, Planar Optronic Systems, are the basis for a wide-ranging and productive cooperation.”

Dr. Suttmann studied mechanical engineering at the University of Rostock and at the Leibniz Universität Hannover and received his engineer diploma in 2007. In 2013, he received his PhD from the mechanical engineering department (production technology) at the Leibniz Universität Hannover.

His PhD thesis about the topic “Laser processes for the structuring of thin-film strain gauges made of metal” was honored with the Schaeffler Innovation Award. Since 2007, Dr.-Ing. Suttmann has been working at the LZH, since 2013 as the Head of the Production and Systems Department.

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