There is to be a change at the top of the Institute for Vehicle Technology and Mobility (IFM) of TÜV NORD. On 1 January 2015, Carsten Winkelbach will become Manager of the Institute, with its 130 employees. His predecessor, Axel Richter, will be retiring after 37 years at the TÜV and 19 years as Manager of the IFM. The Institute, based in Essen, is one of the leading technology support organisations in Europe; it advises the automotive industry on future themes such as exhaust gas/CO2 emissions in order to protect the environment, and also works in the fields of functional safety/networked driving and electromobility.
“The sector is changing because of technology trends such as digitisation. IFM, as a partner of the automotive industry, makes an important contribution to effective introduction of innovations to the market. We work very closely with the industry, which is highly innovative and works on the international level – and which at the moment is showing impressive growth”, said Dr. Klaus Kleinherbers, responsible for the Mobility Business Unit at TÜV NORD GROUP, in his welcome address during Axel Richter’s retirement ceremony.
The Institute has built up superb expertise in the area of exhaust gas assessment under the leadership of Axel Richter. At the moment, for example, engineers are working with a mobile system for emission measurement which can be used during travel - and therefore close to real conditions - to measure exhaust emissions precisely. The “Portable Emission Measurement System” (PEMS) measures and assesses exhaust gas emissions of vehicles and machinery whilst they are operating – and not only on the roads. PEMS can also be used for agricultural equipment and ships’ engines. Not only vehicle manufacturers profit from the measurement results, but also vehicle fleet operators, official authorities, political decisionmakers and of course the environment.
The experts at IFM are also working on the development of an exhaust gas test cycle which will apply throughout the world. From 2017/18, the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Duty Test Procedure) will provide a more realistic basis for determining passenger vehicle fuel consumption than the current procedure.
Axel Richter’s successor, Carsten Winkelbach (48), is looking forward to his new responsibilities at IFM: “The new trends in the automotive sector also present IFM with demanding challenges. Together we want to drive forward technological innovations in the automotive sector and promote traffic safety in the context of themes such as use of vehicle electronics and assistance systems and also driverless cars.”
Winkelbach graduated in aviation and space engineering. He also worked as CEO of component manufacturer Grammer Automotive in Cologne. Further staging posts included leading positions at different automotive supply companies such as C. Rob Hammerstein in Solingen, Delphi Delco Electronics and Johnson Controls.
About TÜV NORD GROUP
With over 10,000 employees, TÜV NORD GROUP is one of the largest technical service providers, offering its advisory, service and inspection expertise in over 70 countries throughout the world. Areas of activity include Industrial Services, Mobility, IT and Training. TÜV NORD GROUP occupies a unique position in the sector based on its work in the fields of natural resources and aerospace and is firmly committed to its guiding principle and watchword: “Excellence for your business”.