Technology Transfer Prize for development of an optimised cutting tool

Dr. Manuela Klaus and Prof. Dr. Christoph Genzel have won the HZB Technology Transfer Prize awarded 17 October 2013. In collaboration with the Walter Company, they developed a new method for analysing and establishing the relationship between the structure and the properties of cutting tools having complicated coatings. They used synchrotron radiation for this purpose created in the electron storage ring of BESSY II. As a result of the insight gained, a production series of cutting tools having outstanding wear properties far superior to competing products was able to be patented and successfully introduced into the market.

In the name of the jury, Prof. Dr. Ehrenfried Zschech from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Microelectronics and Nanotechnology Dresden (IZFP) highlighted the significance of the work: “In collaboration with an industrial partner, the prize winners have brought residual stress analysis for micro-coated sandwich materials to a mature state, enabling them to be employed as a standard process by many companies today. The work by Manuela Klaus and Christoph Genzel is an outstanding example transferring methodology at HZB.” 

The Scientific Director of HZB, Prof. Dr. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, emphasised: “As a member of the Helmholtz Association, we research fundamental questions, but always with a view toward social challenges. With the Technology Transfer programme, we bring our knowledge from pioneering research to actual applications and thereby make a concrete contribution to maintaining our country's prosperity.  In addition, we offer industrial partners a high-value service with our major BESSY II and BER II facilities – not to mention training technical personnel for commerce.”

The 5,000 Euro (USD7000 / GBP 4250) prize for the HZB Technology Transfer award was donated by LIMO Lissotschenko Mikrooptik GmbH. The Company’s Managing Director, Dr. Paul Harten, said during the awards ceremony: “Our Company is also very active in technology transfer. We work with very closely with colleagues at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin on advancing technology, among other things. We are therefore pleased to be able to appropriately recognise the achievements of HZB in Technology Transfer with the prize.”
An external jury of experts evaluated the twelve applications from Technology Transfer projects based on their degree of innovation and market potential. Five candidates presented their designs during the awards ceremony. These presentations had an influence on the evaluations of the jury, which subsequently announced the winning team. The technology prize has been awarded by HZB for the sixth time in recognition of outstanding achievement in the area of Technology Transfer.