Press Release
Herbert Kraibühler, Managing Director
Technology & Engineering at Arburg,
receives Georg Menges Award 2012

Award presented on occasion of 26th IKV
Colloquium
Aachen, 7 March 2012 – More than 600 national and
international plastics experts gathered for the 26th
International Plastics Technology Colloquium hosted
by the IKV in Aachen on 7 and 8 March 2012. During
the opening of the Colloquium, the VDMA (German
Engineering Federation) Plastics and Rubber
Machinery Association, PlasticsEurope Germany and
the supporting association of the IKV (Institute of
Plastics Processing) in Trade and Industry at the
RWTH University of Aachen presented the Georg
Menges Award 2012 to Herbert Kraibühler.
The award organisers praised his outstanding services in
implementing the knowledge gained in research and
development, as well as his commitment to continuous
cooperation between science and business. They pointed
out that Mr. Kraibühler’s excellent work particularly
underlined the fact that new and innovative products can
only be created through research and the consistent
implementation of the knowledge gained. They also
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Date: 12/03/2012
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Institut für
Kunststoffverarbeitung (IKV)
In Industrie und Handwerk
an der RWTH Aachen
Dipl.-Kfm. Markus Bau
Director of Press and Public
Relations Activities (PR)
Pontstr. 49
52062 Aachen
Telefon: +49 (0) 241 80-96631
Telefax: +49 (0) 241 80-92660
E-Mail: bau@ikv.rwthaachen.de
www.ikv-aachen.de
ARBURG GmbH + Co KG
Press office
Susanne Palm
Postfach 1109
72286 Loßburg
Tel.: +49 (0) 7446 33-3463
Fax: +49 (0) 7446 33-3413
presse_service@arburg.com
This press release is
available for download from
the ARBURG website at
http://www.arburg.com/press
_public
emphasised that his work has helped shape the future of
the plastics processing industry to an outstanding extent.
Herbert Kraibühler always seeks out direct contact with
scientists and academics. This enables the research
institutions to target their activities in areas that are
relevant to the plastics industry. ARBURG is thus in a
position to identify trends at an early stage and put them
into practice in an industrial setting.
These trends, which have today become established
methods, technologies and processes, include functional
integration, the modularisation of machines, automated
production, energy efficiency concepts and the process
integration of injection moulding machines (i.e. production
cells). Without responding to trends like these, it would no
longer be economically viable to produce in a high-wage
country such as Germany.
Herbert Kraibühler and ARBURG encourage research
through their exemplary support, involving both machines
and machine components. Moreover, the ARBURG
“Technology on Tour” event programme gives a broad
public from the “extended” plastics sector a chance to
learn more about technologies and trends. This public
includes not only suppliers, customers and partners,
industry representatives and trade journalists, but also
students, trainees and schoolchildren. Herbert Kraibühler
always plays an active role in these events. In this way he
helps stimulate interest in and awareness of plastics as
materials. Mr. Kraibühler also uses these activities to
promote communication between universities and the
industry.
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In all that he does, Herbert Kraibühler follows the original
principles behind the Georg Menges Award in a direct and
exemplary manner.
Photo
IKV Pressebild Georg-Menges-Preis Kraibuehler.jpg
Dipl.-Ing. Kraibühler Herbert (right) receives the “Georg
Menges Award 2012” from Professor Christian Hopmann
Photo: Hendrik Brixius /IKV)
The award-winner
Herbert Kraibühler was born in 1950. Having trained as a machine fitter at ARBURG, he
studied precision engineering in Karlsruhe, specialising in plastics technology. In 1972,
he joined the ARBURG Development Department. Having served in several positions
as Group Leader, Department Manager and Division Manager, he was appointed
Managing Director Technology & Engineering at Arburg in 1996. For decades, Mr.
Kraibühler was a close associate of technical pioneer Karl Hehl (1923 – 2010). In 1954,
Hehl developed the world’s first small injection moulding machine for in-house use.
Demand for this versatile machine was so great that it went into series production as
early as 1956, revolutionising plastics processing as a consequence.
About the Georg Menges Award
The Georg Menges Award recognises services in continuous cooperation between
science and business in the field of plastics processing. It is presented to outstanding
personalities or groups who have earned a name for themselves in implementing
information gathered from research and development between business and science
and aims to encourage dialogue and cooperation between business and research
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institutions. As is demonstrated by numerous projects implemented with research
institutions such as the IKV, Mr. Kraibühler is the embodiment of the ideals upon which
the Georg Menges Award is based.
About the IKV
The Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV) in Trade and Industry at the RWTH University
of Aachen is the largest institute in Europe dedicated to research and training in the field
of plastics technology. Over 300 employees work there, answering questions relating to
the processing of plastics and rubbers, as well as the associated materials technology
and component design. The IKV’s close links with industry and science, as well as its
outstanding equipment, provide students with comprehensive practical training. This
explains why plastics engineers from Aachen are sought-after specialists within the
industry. Roughly 50 % of German plastics engineers with a university degree studied at
the IKV. The IKV is organised into four departments: injection moulding and
polyurethane technology, extrusion and further processing, moulded part design and
materials technology, as well as fibre-reinforced plastics. Moreover, the Institute also
comprises the Centre for the Analysis and Testing of Plastics and the Training and
Further Training Department. It receives financial backing from a non-profit sponsoring
association, to which around 230 companies from the international plastics industry now
belong. The Director of the Institute and Managing Director of the supporting
association is Univ. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hopmann. He also occupies the university
chair of plastics processing at the Faculty of Engineering at the RWTH Aachen.
www.ikv-aachen.de
www.ikv-kolloquium.de
Über Arburg
Der deutsche Maschinenbauer Arburg gehört weltweit zu den führenden Herstellern von
Spritzgießmaschinen für die Kunststoffverarbeitung mit Schließkräften zwischen 125 kN
und 5.000 kN. Einsatzgebiete sind beispielsweise die Produktion von Kunststoffteilen
für Automobile, Kommunikations- und Unterhaltungselektronik, Medizintechnik,
Haushaltsgeräte und Verpackungen. Vervollständigt wird das Produktprogramm durch
Robot-Systeme, komplexe Projekte und weitere Peripherie. Im Rahmen eines
integrierten Managementsystems ist Arburg nach DIN EN ISO 9001 und 14001
zertifiziert. Arburg ist mit eigenen Organisationen in 24 Ländern an 32 Standorten und
über Handelspartner in mehr als 50 Ländern vertreten. Produziert wird jedoch
ausschließlich im Stammwerk in Loßburg (Deutschland) – mit dem Qualitätssiegel
„made by Arburg – made in Germany“. Von den insgesamt rund 2.150 ArburgMitarbeitern sind 1.800 in Deutschland beschäftigt, weitere 350 in den weltweiten
Arburg-Organisationen.
Weitere Informationen über Arburg gibt es unter www.arburg.com
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