Board of Directors

Dr. Massimo Mattucci

Chairman

Dr. Massimo Mattucci is involved in new business development of the Italian COMAU Group, a technology  and innovation leader in advanced manufacturing systems, which has more than 11,000 employees in 15 different countries worldwide

Dr. Mattucci has been with the company since 1969 and has held various leadership positions in the fields of advanced engineering, research and development, design and quality control.

In the 1980s, Dr. Mattucci was COMAU’s vice president for engineering in the USA and, following the group’s worldwide growth and expansion, has been responsible for overall business development within the company, with a focus on diversified industries.

Massimo Mattucci obtained a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin.

Professor Heinrich Flegel

Vice Chairman

Professor Heinrich Flegel is a member of the supervisory board of Daimler, which employs more than 256,000 people worldwide.

Since 1998, Professor Flegel has been director of advanced manufacturing engineering at Daimler, working in positions within CAD/CAM, process engineering and machining technology.

Aside from his company duties, Professor Flegel currently lectures on computer sciences at Stuttgart University. He is also chairman of the European technology platform MANUFUTURE, which deals with future manufacturing technologies.

Heinrich Flegel obtained a Ph.D. in applied computer sciences from Karlsruhe University.

Professor George Chryssolouris

Vice Chairman

George Chryssolouris is Professor at the department of mechanical engineering and aeronautics at the University of Patras in Greece. The department has around 70 researchers, working on production systems planning and control, software development, innovative manufacturing processes, quality control and virtual reality engineering applications.

Between 1980 and 1993, Professor Chryssolouris worked at MIT and was chief executive officer of the national Greek telecoms operator OTE from 1996 to 1999. He has published more than 200 articles in international scientific journals and was adviser to the Prime Minister of Greece on education and technology policy.

George Chryssolouris holds a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Hannover.

Mr. Adrian Harris

Treasurer

Adrian Harris is secretary general of ORGALIME, the European engineering industry association which represents the interests of the mechanical, electrical, electronic, metalworking and metal articles industries in Europe.

Mr Harris manages a team of 20 executive and support staff who cover policy areas ranging from regulation, standardisation, public procurement and the promotion of new and innovative technologies.

Before joining ORGALIME in 1996, he worked for more than two decades in various corporations in the fields of engineering and agro-industry, both with extensive overseas interests.

Adrian Harris obtained an M.A. in languages from Jesus College, Oxford, and an MBA from the Catholic University of Leuven, where he majored in finance.

Dr. Johan Ancker

Member

Dr. Johan Ancker is Senior Director of Engineering and Environment at Teknikföretagen (the Association of Swedish Engineering industries), a position that he has held since 2003.

Teknikföretagen is the major employer association for industries in Sweden. Dr. Ancker is also chairman of the Board for Jönköping School of Engineering and a board member of SWEREA Industrial Research Institute.

Previously, Dr. Ancker has worked in corporate research at ABB as Electrical Engineering Manager. He has also held the positions of Division Manager (Power Electronics and Power Semiconductors) at ABB Drives from 1983-1990, Programme Manager on the ABB Customer Focus Programme and has served as President for ABB Management Consultants Sweden.

In addition, Dr. Ancker undertook the role of Liaison Coordinator to Swedish Universities on behalf of ABB.

Dr. Ancker holds a Ph.D in Power Electronics from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

Mr. Eduardo Beltrán

Member

Mr. Eduardo Beltrán is the Innovation and Technology Director of the Mondragon Corporation, a business group containing 250 businesses that employ 84,000 people.

In the past, Mr. Beltrán has served as General Manager at Koniker S Co-op and as Technical Director at Corpreci.

Mr. Beltrán holds a Masters in Electronics and Control and a Degree in Physical Sciences (specialising in electronics and control) from the University of the Basque Country.

Dr. Rikardo Bueno

Member

Dr. Rikardo Bueno is the Director for the Research Programmes Area at Tecnalia, one of the largest private organizations in R & D in Europe with around 1500 researchers. Tecnalia is active in many areas of industrial research and has the goal of generating economic impact and business opportunities from the applied research activity.

Dr. Bueno has been active since 1989 in European research projects. His involvement has mainly been in the fields of manufacturing and industrial systems, where he has coordinated the integrated project NEXT - Next Generation Production Systems, a key research initiative for the machine-tool sector.

In the past Dr. Bueno has worked for Fatronik, a non-profit research organization, for twenty-one years, until its merger in Tecnalia to create the biggest RTO in Spain. His responsibilities went from researcher, head of the mechanical engineering department and responsible for the scientific policy to directing the research programmes area, first in Fatronik and currently at Tecnalia.

Dr. Bueno is also active in Manufuture where he coordinates the Spanish Manufuture platform and participated actively in the setting up of the Factories of the Future PPP initiative.

Dr. Bueno holds a PhD in Engineering as well as a Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Mr. Dietmar Goericke

Member

Dietmar Goericke is research director at VDMA, the German association of mechanical engineering industries which has 400 staff members in six different countries worldwide.

Mr Goericke has been with the association for over 20 years and managed numerous research projects in the fields of mechanical engineering and combustion engines. In 1998, he was appointed research director and is currently responsible for pre-competitive industrial research at VDMA.

Before joining VDMA, Mr Goericke worked in industry and contributed to several projects for the Columbus laboratory of the European Space Agency.

Dietmar Goericke holds a diploma in mechanical engineering from the Technische Universität Berlin, where he focused on aeronautics and astronautics.

Dr. Magnus Granström

Member

Dr. Magnus Granström is Director for Research and Public Funding EU at Volvo Technology, the centre for innovation, research and development of the Volvo group.

Dr. Granström is responsible for the coordination of Volvo activities in the European Arena,  preparation of Volvo strategy for EU funding, collaboration with European research institutions and the coordination of the content of research proposals for EU framework programmes.

At Volvo Technology, Dr. Granström was previously Technology Area Director of Process & Manufacturing Technologies with responsibility for lean and agile product development, resource efficient manufacturing, virtual manufacturing (including data management) and sustainable supply chains.

Dr. Granström holds a PhD in Applied Physics and a Masters in Electro-technology and Applied Physics; both from Linköping University of Technology.

Mr. Christoph Hinteregger

Member

Christoph Hinteregger is a technical director and member of the board of the Austrian-Swiss company Doppelmayr, the world’s largest ropeway manufacturer which has a workforce of 2,600 employees.

Mr Hinteregger has been with Doppelmayr since 1981 and worked both on technology coordination and overall management.

He also holds various honorary positions at regional, national and European levels. He is a member of the committee of employers for the electrical and metal industries and, since 1995, has been responsible for negotiating collective wage agreements.

Christoph Hinteregger obtained a degree in mechanical engineering and business administration from the Technical University of Graz.

Dr. Bernd Korves

Member

Dr Bernd Korves is Department Head and Global Technology Field Leader for production networks and factory planning at Siemens Corporate Research and Technology.

Siemens is a German engineering conglomerate that employs 405,000 people world-wide with over 30,000 employed in research and development. The corporation’s annual research and development expenditure amounts to €4.3 billion.

Since 1999, Dr Korves has held numerous positions at Siemens including post-automation director of product development and engineering, project leader at the Executive Office and programme manager at digital factory and innovation. Prior to his time at Siemens, Dr Korves was engaged in the academic study of 3D real-time visualisation of computer assisted shop-floor layout planning.

Dr Korves holds a Doctorate from the University of Birmingham having previously studied at Technische Universität Hannover.

Mr. Edward Lambourne

Member

Edward Lambourne is technical director of Delcam, one of the world's leading suppliers of advanced CAD/CAM solutions for the manufacturing industry, based in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lambourne joined Delta in 1973 as a development engineer, where he contributed to the creation of Delcam’s original products. He was responsible for the initial introduction of CAD/CAM software into the company and was one of the founders of Delta’s CAD/CAM software business.

Mr. Lambourne was instrumental in the buyout of the CAD/CAM development business from Delta in 1989 and this business became Delcam. He holds several honorary positions and is a fellow at the institution of engineering and technology.

Having obtained a Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nottingham in 1972, Edward Lambourne was subsequently awarded a Masters from Cambridge University.

Dr. Blaz Nardin

Member

Dr. Blaž Nardin is the general manager of Gorenje Orodjarna, d.o.o., a leading tool and mould making company in Slovenia. Gorenje Orodjarna d.o.o. belongs to Gorenje Group, one of the largest producers of household appliances with more than 11.000 employees worldwide.

Dr. Blaž Nardin has been with Gorenje since 2006, before that he was Managing director of Slovenian Tool and Die Development Centre, where he was involved in several national and international project like FP5, FP6, Eureka, etc. He is also a president of Association of Metal Processing Industry in Slovenia.

At the moment he is involved in several FP7 projects with the strong focus on the advanced control of manufacturing technologies. Dr. Nardin obtained his degree at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in the field of production technologies.

Mr. Jos Pinte

Member

Jos Pinte is director of mechanical engineering at AGORIA, the Belgian federation for technology industries.

Mr Pinte has been with AGORIA since 2002 and is responsible for the mechatronics engineering, metalworking and plastics sections. He is also general director of Sirris, the research centre for Belgian technologies, where he began working as a research engineer in 1975.

At Sirris Mr. Pinte worked on the automation of production planning, CAD/CAM, flexible production, technical databanks and metal removals technology. He has also founded and managed a number of organisations, centres and clusters that promote the development of new technologies for Flemish industry.

Mr. Pinte obtained a degree in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering from the University of Leuven.

Mr. João Paulo Pinto

Member

Mr. João Paulo Pinto is the Chief Industrial and Technological Officer at Sonnae Industria and is also a member of the boards of several of the Sonnae Industria Group. The Sonnae Industria Group employs over 5,000 people.

Mr. Pinto has worked within the Sonnae group since 1995 serving as the marketing and sales manager, business unit director for the corporate market as well as a member of the boards of several companies in Portugal and Spain.

Mr. Pinto has received training from the London Business School, Oporto University and the University of Hamburg’s Department of Wood Science. Mr. Pinto also represents Sonnae on the managing board of the European Panel Federation.

Dr. Peter Post

Member

Dr. Peter Post is responsible for global and innovation management strategy at FESTO, a worldwide leading supplier of pneumatic and electrical automation technology, with a global workforce of 13,500 employees.

Employed by FESTO since 1989, Dr. Post became head of research and technology in 2004. He is currently responsible for applied research and pre-development in industrial and process automation.

Dr. Post's main fields of activity are mechatronics, future technologies, computer-aided engineering and simulation techniques in product development, as well as intellectual property rights. Aside from his responsibilities within the company, Dr. Post holds honorary positions in national and European research organisations.

Peter Post obtained a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Siegen, where he specialised in mechanics and control theory.

Mr. Daniel Richet

Member

Daniel Richet is director for development at CETIM (the French institute for research in mechanical engineering), Vice President of the CETIM CERMAT and CERTEC laboratories, and represents the French mechanical industry on behalf of FIM (the French federation of mechanical industries).

Mr Richet graduated in mechanical engineering and automation. He is specialist in production engineering and safety. In the past Mr Richet has worked as a project manager for several major industrial companies and was CEO of the French national agency for production engineering.

Further past experience has involved his position as an expert from the French ministry of industry in most of the regional, national and international research and innovation programs (such as Eureka, FP).

Mr Richet is also actively involved in several research and technology centres and industrial labs. He is charge of European R&D policy and of the international investments strategy and business developments for the CETIM group.

Dr. Egbert-Jan Sol

Member

Dr. Egbert-Jan Sol is chief technology officer at the science and industry division of TNO, a Dutch contract research organisation which employs 4,500 people.

Dr. Sol works within the triangle of industry, government and research to help define the future contours of industry in the Netherlands. He began his career as a systems architect and project manager at Hoogovens and development manager at Philips before moving on to Ericsson, managing a 500-strong research and development centre.

In 1990-98, Dr. Sol also worked as a part time professor of technology management in manufacturing automation at the Eindhoven University of Technology. Dr. Sol is actively involved in several technology centres and initiatives in the Netherlands and is co-founder and chairman of Digital City Eindhoven.

Professor Reijo Tuokko

Member

Reijo Tuokko is Professor of automation technology at Tampere University of Technology in Finland and heads its department of production engineering.

Professor Tuokko’s interests cover automated discrete manufacturing and assembly, both in mechanical engineering and the electronics industry, from processes to machine and systems level, up to value networks.

Before entering academia, he worked for twelve years in industry. Professor Tuokko is programme coordinator of a Finnish technology programme on innovative manufacturing, which has a total budget of €82 million.  He has also participated in the review and evaluation of several manufacturing-related research centres and programmes in Finland and abroad.

Professor Tuokko is the author of over 200 technical and scientific publications and holds several honorary positions in national and international organisations

Dr. José Carlos Caldeira

Observer

Dr. José Carlos Caldeira is presently director of INESC Porto, one of the main ICT research and technology transfer institutes in Portugal. He is also member of the MANUFUTURE High Level Group and Chairman of its National and Regional Technology Platforms Group (representing the Portuguese national initiative - FÓRUM MANUFUTURE Portugal).

More recently, he became executive director of PRODUTECH, a cluster of more than 70 organizations targeting the development of production technologies for the manufacturing industry and Board member of EFFRA (as observer).

Since 2006, he is Board member of ISPIM – International Society for Professional Innovation Management.

Professor Francesco Jovane

Honorary Member

Professor Francesco Jovane is an honorary member of the EFFRA board of directors.

Professor Engelbert Westkämper

Honorary Member

Professor Engelbert Westkämper is managing director of Fraunhofer IPA, a leading institute for manufacturing engineering and automation, which employs 470 individuals and is part of the Fraunhofer group.

Professor Westkämper also teaches manufacturing management and engineering at the University of Stuttgart.

Before entering academia in 1988, he was responsible for production technologies at the major German corporations AEG and MBB, where he focused on computer-integrated manufacturing systems and the development and implementation of new technologies.

Aside from his responsibilities at IPA and the university, Professor Westkämper is active in various organisations and networks at regional, national, European and global levels.

Engelbert Westkämper obtained a Ph.D. in flexible manufacturing systems from the Technical University of Aachen.